NO

Posted on April 11, 2016 by Graeme Wilson in Victory Call

NO. We don’t like to hear it.
NO. It’s a simple word really but its implications are powerful.
NO. The power of NO.
NO. Sometimes we just have to say NO.
NO. Sometimes we just have to say NO… to ourselves. NO.
NO. Seriously, when was the last time you said NO to yourself?

NO.  Isn’t that what Jesus said would be required to follow Him?  “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’” Matthew 16:24

NO. Sometimes we have to say NO more than once before we actually get the message.
Our flesh wants what it wants. To deny our self we must say NO to our self.  Paul said, “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” 1 Corinthians 9:27

There is power in NO.

I recently heard this quote, I do not know who said it but it fits here:

“The things you choose to say NO to strengthen the things you say YES to.”  We have said YES to Jesus that we will be His child. We will follow and obey Him.  Every time we say NO to self, we say YES to Jesus.

By faith we must chose to believe that saying NO to our self will yield YES to far greater things.  In reality we are saying NO to death and YES to life.

“Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:11

It is not easy. We may have to fight for the NO. But there is power in NO.

Celebrate the victory of NO.

Blessings,
Diane

Diane Hunt served for 16 years on the staff of America’s Keswick until recently when she and her husband relocated to North Carolina. She now continues serving as a contributing writer and Partner Care consultant. Diane is also a Biblical Counselor, speaker, teacher, and author. She delights in the opportunities she has as a women’s conference and retreat speaker to share from God’s word.  Many of her illustrations are drawn from her relational experiences as a wife, mother, and mema. They are the very relationships that bring her the greatest joy and the most fun!