We live in a world with millions of words. Yet out of all those syllables and sentences, two little letters seem to hold the most power: “no.”
We fear “no.”
We avoid it.
We misunderstand it.
But being able to say and hear no is essential to surviving and thriving, to loving and being loved, to following Jesus. He actually said no a surprising amount, and usually to what looked like excellent opportunities on the surface.
No to becoming King (see John 6:15).
No to offers of instant satisfaction, wealth, and power (see Matt. 4:1–11).
No to coming right away when Lazarus became deathly ill–which then led to his miraculous resurrection (see John 11).
It’s a divine mystery: when we say and hear no freely, we give God room to work, to amaze us, to give us back to each other again. And when love purposefully and prayerfully says no along the way, it always leads us to a greater yes in the end.
What’s one thing that helps you say “no” to what’s good so you can say “yes” to God’s best?
photo by my dear friend Lisa-Jo Baker
XOXO
Holley Gerth
Inspired by my new book, You’re Loved No Matter What: Freeing Your Heart from the Need to Be Perfect
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Welcome to the Coffee for Your Heart weekly link-up! You’re an encourager so I’m asking you to pour out a little love with your words every Wednesday {link-up goes live at 5:30am CST}. Simply write an encouraging blog post and then share it here. Don’t have a blog? You can still write an encouraging comment. If you’re reading this by email, go to holleygerth.com to see all the fun and join in too.
Giveaway and Optional Writing Prompt: For the next few weeks, the Wednesday posts are going to be about getting free from the pressure to be perfect. I’ll have an optional writing prompt for you about that topic. If you write about it, link up and include my new book You’re Loved No Matter What: Freeing Your Heart from the Need to Be Perfect in your post somewhere, you’ll be entered to win a God’s Heart for You necklace {U.S. residents only}. Thanks to DaySpring for providing the necklaces! Congratulations to Jennifer Frisbie for winning last week! If you don’t have a blog, you can share today’s post on Facebook, leave a comment here saying you did and answer the prompt in your comment.
The prompt for today was: What’s your story of wrestling with trying to be “perfect”? How is God setting you free?
Next Wednesday’s prompt is: What’s one thing that helps you say “no” to what’s good so you can say “yes” to God’s best?
Pretty please use this button in your blog post so others can easily join in with us {html code in right sidebar}. And when you link up your post, take a moment to leave an encouraging comment on the one that’s linked up just before yours. Thanks, friends!
I’m having Coffee For Your Heart with my friend Holley Gerth
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