Saying "Yes" to the World's "No"

I recently purchased a graphic Christian t-shirt with the words, “Say Yes to the World’s No” printed on the front. While I know the “gist” of what that statement entails, (such as being fully committed to Jesus, being obedient to His Word and serving Him with gladness), I believe we can delve so much deeper into the topic. 

The story of Lot’s wife has been on my mind so much recently. I have spent many countless hours “looking back” at a history I can not change. I believe the enemy loves to use the tactics of regret and shame in our lives to keep us from wholeness. I have “meditated” on the negative for countless hours, instead of meditating on God’s Words that bring hope and life. If we, as women of God, but also His image bearers, continue to “look back”, we rob ourselves of the effective ministry we can have in the lives of others as well as the abundant peace He longs to give us. In order to say “yes to the world’s no”, we have to first understand that we are completely forgiven by a good, good Father.

His mercies are new every morning!

Prayer Tip: Pray daily for wisdom and discernment.  

Proverbs 2:6

For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of His saints.

I am fairly certain that we all want the blessings that come from asking God for this kind of wisdom. Even if we have lived a life in the past where we feel we haven’t “walked in integrity”, when we ask for forgiveness, He only sees His Sons’s righteousness. There is grace for the process! I can be set apart FOR Him because I am given wisdom FROM Him. 

Thirdly, we can “Say Yes to the World’s No” by fully believing that God remains committed to redeeming all things. Our stories are still being written by an Author whose love for us is incomprehensible. Even God’s very creation will be redeemed one day when He forms a new heaven and a new earth. In the book “Get Out of Your Head”, by Jennie Allen, we are reminded that through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross God has rendered the fights we face His fights too. Because of Jesus every fight has been ultimately won! We may not see the fulfillment of all our prayers while here on earth, however because of the eternal future we have in store for us, we can proclaim along with David,

Psalm 13:6

I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me.

In summary:

• Our Heavenly Father longs for us to face forward, towards Him and the future He has in store for us. (…”forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus”. Philippians 3:13b-14)

• God has promised to give us His wisdom if we ask believing.  We are told in 2 Corinthians 1:20 that every promise of God is “Yes and Amen” in Jesus.  Because of Jesus, we can boldly ask for wisdom and discernment and KNOW the answer will “yes and Amen”!

• God is all powerful and is fully aware of our situations, our hurts, and our hopes for the future. If we have repented from our sins and accepted HIs free gift of salvation, we are New Creations in Him, by the shed blood of Jesus. He is fully committed to continuing to redeem us, along with all the works of His hands! 

Prayer Points:

~ Father, renew my mind daily—help me meditate on Your truth instead of negative  thoughts or lies from the enemy.

~ Lord, give me wisdom and discernment in my decisions—help me walk in  integrity and follow Your ways.

~ Lord, teach me to fix my eyes on You and not on my past—help me trust the  future You are writing for me.

Almighty God, we are so thankful to be your child. You have washed us white as snow. Our sins have been cast as far as the east is from the west. We are daughters of the King of the Universe, and Your love for us has no bounds. You will continue to keep Your promises as you have done so before the creation of time. We can count on You for Your wisdom to be given to us abundantly! All Your promises are “yes and amen” through Jesus!  Father, you have a strategic plan for our lives. You won’t allow any pain we’ve experienced to be wasted if we surrender that hurt to You. You bottle our tears and count the very hairs on our heads. Thank you for the redemption process. We see though a glass dimly now and won’t understand all that happens in our lives on this side of heaven, but one day we will see face to face! (1 Corinthians 13:12). Thank You Father, we know You are in control and we trust You. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Angie Whitaker

Flourish Women's Ministry

Mid-Way Baptist Church