There is Freedom in Saying NO
Just say a simple, Yes, I will or No, I won’t. Anything beyond this is from the evil one. [Matthew 5:37]
Do you ever feel overwhelmed and exhausted? In this crazy world where busyness is glorified and saying yes to everything that comes along seems like the default response, it’s time to learn how to say NO. Saying no isn’t about rejecting opportunities; it’s about wisely choosing activities that align with your God-given vision, goals, values, and priorities.
It’s easy sometimes to get into the habit of saying yes to everything. I’ve been there done that. But what happens when we say yes to too many things? I know for me, I missed deadlines and missed appointments, and overall I didn’t do a good job at anything – trying to do everything.
NOTE: as always there is more depth for each section on the podcast, as this is only an outline.
WHAT IS WORKING AND WHAT ISN’T
The first step in learning to say no is taking a look at what is working in our lives and what isn’t. If I’m dropping the ball on things and not doing a good job then the first thing I always want to ask myself is the activity that I’m doing is part of my overall vision and will this activity get me closer to that vision.
As a child of God, we have a mighty secret source of wisdom. We can go to the Lord in prayer and ask for guidance on how to structure our lives and everything that we are participating in.
Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment. [Proverbs 4:7]
BE WILLING TO SAY A LOT OF NO’S
Saying no for some people can be uncomfortable, especially when we fear disappointing others or missing out on opportunities. However, learning to say no to things that don’t align with our current goals and overall vision actually will free us up to devote our time and resources to what truly matters.
However, most of the time when the Lord calls us to do something, we will need to learn to say a lot of NO’s, in order to focus on our current assignment!
For example, saying yes to attending Charis Bible College gave me the perfect opportunity to say no to many, many other things. My next step was to go back to Florida and continue running my food trailer on the beach and to again travel from campsite to campsite (on beaches) ministering to people! However, the Lord had different plans for me. In my spirit, I knew the Lord wanted me to be physically present at the school and not do the online courses.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. [John 10:27]
SAYING NO MAKES ROOM FOR THE RIGHT THINGS
Now in order to know what to say no or yes to – we need to refer to our vision and our goals. If you don’t have these in a written format you will not have the clear ability to evaluate, and this is when we end up saying yes to everything!!
Be clear on what your vision or your particular assignment is right now that the Lord wants you to be doing.
Not everything we do is productive or beneficial. Some tasks or activities are just time fillers or even a waste of time; especially if they are not aligned with our goals. By identifying these activities and being willing to let them go, we create the time to focus on what is productive and helping us move forward.
Every yes comes with an opportunity cost. By saying no to the wrong things, we create space for the right opportunities to emerge. Saying NO gives us the freedom and ability to prioritize what truly matters. Time is a precious gift and we only have so many hours in each day – as a believer we want to every single second to be with purpose and intention.
So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. [Ephesians 5:15-17]
NO SHOULD BE SAID MORE THAN YES
When you know that you are exactly where God wants you to be, it makes it easy to say NO more than YES. The reason is because you know your vision, you have specific goals, and so when something is presented to you, you will be able to quickly discern if this is in line with what you should do or not. Decisions become really easy and can be made quickly. To be honest you will only have time to do what your current assignments are!!
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. [Matthew 6:33]
JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN DO SOMETHING, DOESN’T MEAN YOU SHOULD DO IT
Just because we have the ability or opportunity to do something doesn’t mean it’s worth our time and effort. I used to be so guilty of this because of my desire to have things perfect and because the Lord has blessed me with several skills and abilities to do many things. However, we are called to do specific things NOT all things! 😊
Instead of spreading ourselves thin by trying to do everything, we should focus on what aligns with our long-term goals and vision.
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. [Colossians 3:23-24]
A PERSON WHO TRIES TO CATCH TWO RABBITS, CATCHES NONE
This proverbial wisdom reminds us that by trying to pursue multiple goals simultaneously, we risk diluting our efforts and achieving nothing substantial.
Multitasking is often seen as a skill or a superpower. But that isn’t the case, research actually suggests that it leads to decreased productivity and more errors. Instead of trying to do a zillion things at one time (guilty again), we should focus our full attention and effort on one task at a time. By doing so, we can achieve better results in less time.
We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. [Proverbs 16:9]
In conclusion, there is freedom in saying no to things that are not in alignment with your overall vision and specific smart goals. Again, it’s not rejection or losing out on opportunities. It’s being focused and intentional on doing your current assignment.