Just Say, "NO!"
- Heidi Eva Jones
- Aug 31, 2024
- 5 min read
Volume 13 Issue 8
Greeting in His Name,
Life is filled with a lot of yeses, but there are times when we need to say no. Times when the no will be more beneficial than the yes. Sadly within a society filled with the mine syndrome we see the awful affects of the mighty YES. With that being said, today's blog is entitled Just Say, "No!" Hope you find some inspiration, conviction, and queries.
shalom and love,
heidi
"Just Say No" is a phrase coined by First Lady Nancy Reagan to discourage children from engaging in the use of drugs. It was America's "War on Drugs" campaign during the 80's and 90's. Even though we have not yet won this war, the campaign remains prevalent in our schools and continues to make many aware of the danger of drug use. Today, I use the phrase "Just Say No" because even in our day-to-day lives, it is imperative that we use the word 'NO.' I have found that often, because we view this word from a negative perspective, we subject ourselves to unnecessary pain because we simply won't tell ourselves 'No.' I have also found that 'NO' is a very healthy word with age. Just as saying 'NO' to drugs can bring about a stress-free, healthy life, we too can bring that same stress-free life when we view our daily life under the microscope of the Word of God and learn how to say 'NO' in certain situations. Effective decisions come when we properly view our situations as a whole.
Financial Dilemma (Proverbs 10:22 NLT)
The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. Within the last few months, I have, unbeknownst to myself, come across so many who are having financial hardships. I honestly wanted to ask what got them there. Yes, we have all had our day of economic suffering and did not know where the next dime would come from, but was that time of lack due to some neglect on our part? Was our appetite 'to have' what led to our neglect in making sound financial decisions? Was it our neglect to say 'NO,' or do we, like most people, blame it on the devil? Right now, I want to challenge you to write out a budget and make more sound decisions when directing your money, not let it direct you. For instance, consider limiting discretionary spending, avoiding unnecessary debt, and prioritizing savings. Yes, it will be hard, but when we discipline ourselves, we gain a two-fold great reward – more money and no sorrow!
Spiritual Dilemma (Proverbs 12:28 NLT)
The way of the godly leads to life; that path does not lead to death. I know that reading the Word of God, attending Bible study and Sunday school, and attending worship service all aid us in living a godly life. But I have to ask, "What is happening in the body of Christ ?" We see people practice these spiritual exercises with little results in their overall attitude as Christians. I believe there is a simple answer; most are not saying 'NO' to the flesh and the tendencies that often arise from sin. In this day and age, it is easy to get in trouble. With the click of a mouse, the tap of a button on a cell phone, or the turn of a channel, you can find yourself in a world of corrupt and enticing information. That is why hanging on to the word 'NO' is imperative. If we do not take seriously those things we need to do that will lead us to a godly life, we will find ourselves caught in a sinful state, which will lead to a spiritual dilemma – DEATH.
Self-Dilemma (Proverb 25:28 NLT)
A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls. My, my, my! We are helpless when we engage in ourselves when our minds are engrossed with the 'me' syndrome. When our desire is only for "me," "I," and "mine," we have lost control. What if Christ decided so selfishly not to take the weight of the world's sins? What if He decided to say 'NO' to being the ultimate sacrifice to bring us back into fellowship with the Father? We would be a defenseless city. The walls of protection would be broken down. That is why it is so important for us to practice self-control, which often leads us to (there that word comes again!) the word 'NO'! There are some things we just do not need, and there are others that, if we wait, would not add sorrow. If we play this game of life without self-control, we leave ourselves open with weak walls that are certain to be broken down.
No Catch-22 Here!!!!
A dilemma or difficult circumstance from which there is no escape because of mutually conflicting or dependent conditions – A Catch-22 situation. I am by no means saying that we can not experience a catch-22 situation, but I am saying that if we practice the Word we hear being preached, we could possibly avoid the situation. How? I am a firm believer that if I take time to incorporate God into my decision-making, and I mean really allow the Word of God to bring light and life, I have found that I have missed a lot of painful experiences by overshadowing my decisions with the Word and prayer. Do not get me wrong; I have not always gotten it right! I have a catch-22 situation stemming back from 2008 that I have yet to escape. It is, as my mother would say, "bought sense". I just believe that as I do my part to come out of this (the first thing I did was REPENT), God will work with me, and then I will have the "learned sense" to NOT go there again. Incorporating biblical principles into our decision-making process provides us with guidance and reassurance, helping us to avoid unnecessary pain and hardship. Let's free ourselves by 'Just Saying NO'!
LIFE QUOTE
“NO’ is not a negative word, sometimes saying ‘NO’ can save you from life’s greatest pains."
-Anonymous
Let Us Laugh!
A minister parked his car in a no-parking zone in a large city because he was short of time and couldn't find a space with a meter. So he put a note under the windshield wiper that read: "I have circled the block 100 times. If I don't park here, I'll miss my appointment. FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES."
When he returned, he found a citation from a police officer along with this note. "I've circled this block for 10 years. If I don't give you a ticket, I'll lose my job. LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION."
Hope to see you Next Month....
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