Momentum: How To Ignite Your FaithSample

SAYING NO REQUIRES A HIGHER YES

Tony Blair, former British prime minister, once said, “The art of leadership is saying no, not yes. It is very easy to say yes.”

God has commanded us to live separate from the world’s values, and that means we have to learn how to say no. But let’s be honest: saying no to the world is not easy. The world system is seductive and alluring.

Here is the key to victory: saying no requires a higher yes. Saying yes to an intimate relationship with my heavenly Father, helps me to say no to anything that could damage that relationship.

Daniel serves as a great example of this truth. By chapter 6, Daniel was one of the top political leaders in the entire kingdom of Babylon. This caused jealousy among other political leaders, and they began to look for a way to discredit Daniel.

There was just one problem. They couldn’t dig up any dirt on Daniel. So these political adversaries devised a plot to bring him down. They knew the one thing Daniel wouldn’t compromise was his relationship with God.

They got the king to sign an edict that for thirty days people could only pray to the king. Interestingly, Daniel’s enemies were absolutely right: Daniel wasn’t about to compromise his cherished prayer times with his heavenly Father. When Daniel heard about the new law he went home and prayed with his window open towards Jerusalem.

Daniel’s obedience to God meant disobedience to the king and landed him in the lions’ den. Even though he spent the entire night surrounded by lions, he was not harmed. At the first light of dawn, the king rushed to the lions’ den to see if, by some miracle, Daniel’s God had rescued him.

Notice Daniel’s words. He said, “My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions” (Daniel 6:21). Daniel didn’t say, “The great creator God has spared me.” No, his response is far more personal. “My God, the God I spend time with every day, has rescued me.” His deep communion with God led to deep conviction about God, which resulted in deep courage for God.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?
What distractions or temptations from the world keep you from a more intimate relationship with God?

Today’s Takeaway
Saying no to the world is connected to your desire to say yes to God.