Don't just say it... LIVE IT!

I am terrible at saying "No." Anybody out there with me on that one? (If you say "yes" because you can't say no, then yes, you are in that group...) 

Honestly, I have gotten a little bit better at saying no over the years, thanks to the spiritual growth I have experienced. When it comes to big life decisions, I at least usually stop for a breath before I blurt out the word "YES." And since getting married and becoming an army wife, I think twice about agreeing to excessive commitments that might interfere with the minimal hubby time that could end up on the calendar... 

But if there is one thing I am worse at than saying no, it is changing a yes to no. Those are some awkward moments when I have to de-commit myself to something. Fortunately, I don't have to do that very often... but when I do... YIKES. (Insert awkward moment here.) 

As a birthday present, my beloved boss Kelli gave me a copy of Ann Voskamp's book "One Thousand Gifts." I am trying to read it slowly so I can fully absorb the richness that is woven throughout the pages of this book. I always thought I was a person filled with gratitude... but lately, in my "YES" excitement, I started to wonder. 

To learn more about this awesome book, check
out One Thousand Gifts.com.

I came across a quote last night in her book that REALLY struck me: "If I'm ruthlessly honest, I may have said yes to God, yes to Christianity but really I have lived the no." Oh dang. This sounded familiar to me. 

For the most part, I am an optimistic, upbeat and enthusiastic person (if you haven't noticed the excessive exclamation points throughout my blog posts.) I have done a lot of things that some people might call crazy if they didn't know my God (master's degree, call to ministry, marrying into the military.) But the quote about saying yes but living the no really struck my heart. 

Saying YES to God and living the YES are two different things. I can say YES to Him all day long at work, throughout my blog and personal ministry... but its those times when I'm struggling or am about to blow a gasket per army "logic" that I stop living the YES and transition to living more of a "maybe" or even a straight up no. 

When I start to doubt/question or even start thinking I need to "See to believe" (check out yesterday's post) is the point of living the no. But here's the thing-- God doesn't want me to live the NO. I don't want to live the NO. But The Enemy does. Enter stage left the sin of ingratitude. Sigh. 

Here's the awesome part... by simply being aware of whether or not we are living the yes or no can help us to pray to live a life of YES. 

Have you said yes to God? How about Christianity? If not, take a few moments to pray and invite Jesus into your heart. 

If you have already said yes to God, let's live a life of yes. With this constant answer YES, there is no awkward moments when you try to back. You can't back out-- Because God has our back. 

So don't just say it... Live it!

SGK 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. --Colossians 3:16

PS: Don't forget to leave a comment here and share this blog with your friends now though next Monday for a chance to win the "Leadership & Faith" prize package to celebrate the completion of my masters and upcoming 100th blog post. Check out "Happy Dance Celebration" for more information.