By MARY GEISEN
Have you said “yes” today?
Yes to starting your day with God. Yes to coffee with a friend. Or yes to that one thing you really don’t want to do.
Consider Romans 2:14-15: “When outsiders who have never heard of God’s law follow it more or less by instinct, they confirm its truth by their obedience. They show that God’s law is not something alien, imposed on us from without, but woven into the very fabric of our creation. There is something deep within them that echoes God’s yes and no, right and wrong. Their response to God’s yes and no will become public knowledge on the day God makes his final decision about every man and woman.” Can you imagine the power of your “yes” when it aligns with God’s “yes” for your life?
Saying “yes” seems so easy and yet I realize I reach for the “no” too often. My time seems more precious or the task too hard. Maybe saying “yes” means making a sacrifice that I am not willing to make.
My pastor made a statement recently that stopped me in my tracks. He said, “The power of the kingdom grows every time you say ‘yes.'” I want to be a kingdom-grower. If I declare I am God’s child, my desires, thoughts, and actions should align with His. It’s that simple and hard all at the same time.
I am faced with hundreds of choices every day. From deciding what to eat to making a choice about my future, I have the chance to say “yes” or “no.” I wonder how many times I miss an opportunity laid out just for me because of my stubbornness or pride?
Maybe you are like me in that your “no” sounds louder than the “yes” God is whispering to you. Maybe you are caught up in the busyness of life and have forgotten how the gift of saying “yes” will make a difference in someone’s life. Or maybe you start out the day with good intentions but end up just trying to make it through.
The good news is that God loves you anyway. He knows your heart and the secrets hidden there. God loves when you lean in close and treasures each and every “yes” that leaves your mouth. God craves your agreement with Him and releases it for others to feel.
FOR FURTHER THOUGHT God placed a call on my life years ago that continues to grow even today. There are times the choice is easy and other times I find myself shaking at the unknown. The best part of walking in obedience is how God walks with me (1 Samuel 15:22 NLT). What would it look like to start your day with a “yes” that honors God? Could you become a kingdom-grower just in the simple act of allowing God to work in and through you? Consider making time this week to make a personal connection, whether it is smiling and saying “hi” to the cashier at your local store, or taking time for a coffee date with a friend. That one act will produce a little more brightness in your corner of the world.
PRAYER Father God, Thank you for the choices you allow me. May I grow in my ability to say “yes” knowing you are with me through it all. When I find myself caught up in life and all I want is to make it to the end of the day, show me the way to you. Provide the strength I need to make it through every minute of the day. Show me that you never leave my side, but instead, stand as my beacon, protector, and guide to what my next steps will be. Thank you for the gift of obedience that leads me into a deeper relationship with you. You are all I need. Your graciousness is more than I deserve. In Jesus name. Amen.
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