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Thursday’s Thoughts — “The Power of No”


Have we ever said “yes” to something… and instantly regretted it?

Like agreeing to help someone move in July in Las Vegas.
Or clicking “I accept” on the Terms and Conditions without realizing we just gave away our firstborn child and our Netflix password.

Here’s the deeper truth: Every “yes” is already a “no” to something else.
So what might we be unintentionally saying no to?

Jesus modeled this with perfect clarity.

He said no to the devil in the desert.
He said no to power and prestige—so He could say yes to a towel and a basin.
He said no to fear—so He could say yes to the cross and yes to our salvation.

Sometimes the most Christlike word we can speak is “No.”

Not out of stubbornness.
Not out of fear.
But because we want to say yes to what matters most:

  • Yes to rest.

  • Yes to joy.

  • Yes to holy purpose.

  • Yes to God's voice above the world’s expectations.

This week, let us pause before offering a quick “yes.”
Let us ask:
What might this yes quietly push off our plate?
And let us pray:
Is God inviting us into a bold, beautiful no—so we can say yes to the things of eternal value?

Our souls only have so much space.
Let us not fill them with salad and miss the steak!

As Jesus said:

“Let your ‘Yes’ be yes, and your ‘No,’ no; anything more comes from the evil one.”
— Matthew 5:37

May our yes be deliberate.
May our no be courageous.
And may both draw us nearer to Christ.

Grace and peace,
Laugh often and Fear not!
David