Give Yourself PERMISSION: To Say “NO”
“NO!”
C’mon, say it with me, “NO!”
How about if we say it like this, “No.”
Have you ever given yourself PERMISSION to say “NO” to someone or something? Do you need to?
Saying “NO” is a healthy part of being a woman, wife, friend, daughter and mom.
When you say “NO” as a woman you are establishing firm boundaries in your relationships. Sometimes it may be a very simple “No.” Other times it may be a resounding “NO!” Whatever it is, you must decide now to give yourself PERMISSION to say it so that you can say “YES” to those things in life that are not only important but also meaningful.
Just as there is no light without darkness, so you can really never say “YES” without sometimes saying “NO.”
Oh, you can think you are saying yes to things and being helpful and a good servant and a great volunteer, but in reality you’re just getting played. Since you say “YES” to everything you are being used and abused by others who know you will always bake cookies, bring a casserole, come early to make the coffee and stay late to clean up.
This is where you stick your hand up to your forehead in the shape of an “L” and look in the mirror and say “LO-ser.”
Because you always say “YES”, you got nothin’. No game. No spine. Nothin’.
It’s time to give yourself PERMISSION to say “NO.” It’s time to get on your knees and ask God to 1) forgive you and 2) show you exactly to what and to whom you need to say “NO.”
Listen, Jesus didn’t heal everybody. He healed a lot of people. But not everyone. Remember? He got into a boat and sailed away. Away from a crowd of hurting and sick people who could have majorly benefited from him saying “YES.” But He didn’t. He said “NO.”
He also passed people by, thereby saying “NO” to them. In Acts chapter 3 Peter and John went up to the temple. On their way in they healed a man who was brought up to that same spot every day to beg for money. He hadn’t just been brought there that day, he was there every day and had probably been there for years. That means that Jesus had seen him numerous times and not healed him.
I think you know why, THINKING GIRLS.
That’s right, it was something that someone else was supposed to do.
Jesus knew what He was called to do. He also knew what Peter and John were called to do in their lives and in their ministries. He was no miracle hog. Remember when we talked about pulling someone else up from behind? Here’s your biblical example.
Who are you pulling up? Uh, no one by saying “YES” to everything. Instead you are being a hog: A volunteer hog, a service hog and a giving hog. You are cheating someone else out of an opportunity to use their gifts and talents and to fulfill their own ministry.
Way to go, girl!
I’ve heard your excuse, “Well, if I don’t do it no one else will.” Pshaw!
It’s time to give yourself PERMISSION to say “NO.”
Stop cheating others out of being able to do the things God has called them, not you, to do. Start living a life of meaning where you say “YES” so some things, and you say “NO” to other things.
Give yourself PERMISSION to say “NO” and see what happens.
What or who do you need to say “NO” to today?
