Yeses and No's

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

^1-3The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

Why do I say yes when I need to say no?

Struggle with that? I sometimes do. Always makes me think of this passage.

Romans 7:18-19

I want to do the things that are good, but I do not do them. I do not do the good things I want to do, but I do the bad things I do not want to do.

In other words saying yes when a no would be the right answer and visa verse.

So what should we do when those “yeses” surface when a no should take the lead?

First, stay focused on God's purposes and not your own. Often these little quandaries come with a familiar temptation or a desire to “serve ourselves”. If you have a GOD focus throughout the day, perhaps setting little reminders here and there (sticky note in the car, a devotional by the computer) then when you encounter temptation, you'll see those temptations more clearly as a distraction from GOD and a dangerous diversion from more important and healthy activities!

Psalm 119:1-3

Great blessings belong to those who live pure lives!

They follow the Lord’s teachings.

2 Great blessings belong to those who follow his rules!

They seek him with all their heart.

3 They don’t do wrong.

They follow his ways.

Second, seek a little accountability. It is amazing what a quick text or phone call can do to “reset” the mind and action! Set up some time with some trusted companions for “realness”. My buddy Tom Thompson is a huge proponent of “getting it out there so GOD can heal it!”

James 5:16

So always tell each other the wrong things you have done. Then pray for each other. Do this so that God can heal you. Anyone who lives the way God wants can pray, and great things will happen.

Talk with them regularly and honestly about how you're doing. Confess times you've given into temptation and ask them to pray for you when you know you'll be encountering temptation in the future.

Lastly, be honest with yourself.

Separate your needs from your desires. Ask God to help you recognize what you truly need and what is merely something that you want. Don't let "wants" become so urgent that you lose your perspective on them, paving the way for you to try to obtain your desires in wrong ways.

Galatians 5:16

So I tell you, live the way the Spirit leads you. Then you will not do the evil things your sinful self wants.

Remember my friends that all temptations on earth are temporary. Focus on what is eternal - your relationship with God. Then you will start to learn when “yeses should be yeses and when no’s should be no’s!”

James 4:7

So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud NO to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet YES to God and he’ll be there in no time.

Have a blessed weekend!

I love you all…

Freedom Church

Pastor GDelaney