No, Lord, Not Today

Are there songs that you love but when you hear the words you realize maybe you should not Sing that song? Have you ever been singing your heart out and hear what you are singing to the Lord and stop abruptly. I guess that’s just me. Sing with me, “I’ll say, ‘Yes, Lord, yes’ to Your will and to Your way. I’ll say, ‘Yes, Lord, yes’ I will trust You and obey. When Your Spirit speaks to me with my whole heart I’ll agree; And my answer will be, ‘Yes, Lord, yes.’” I know that is your testimony. Whatever the Lord asks, your answer is yes. Whenever the Lord asks, your answer is “Yes”? That should be our testimony but is it really? In 1988, when this song was released, I would sing it loud and proudly while telling the Lord, “No” daily with my behavior. In 1988, I attended church every Sunday and at least 2 additional days during the week. And although I was 12 years in the game, I was still a babe in Christ. My “Yes” was shaky at best and like many others I was straddling the fence. How is your “Yes”? Is it strong or weak? Is it working for Christ or hiding in the balcony? How is your “Amen”? Are you agreeing with the will and the way of the Lord in Your life? The bible tells us that, ”all of the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us" (2 Corinthians 1:20). Again, I ask, “How is your “Yes”? How is your “Amen”?

Fast-forward 12 years and I’ve grown a bit in Christ. I am now fully aware that what I say to the Lord matters. I’m fully aware that the Lord does not take promises lightly. No more, “Lord, if You get me out of this situation one more time, I promise to never do it again.”  Instead, I leaned on my own understanding. Not quite a babe in Christ but definitely a defiant young adult fighting against the will of God. And no longer singing “Yes, Lord, yes,” because that would be a lie and I was no longer willingly lying to the Lord.

How is your, “Yes”? Is it strong or muffled? Are you standing on business or hiding in the pews? In 2014, while standing strong for the Lord, “Yes,” by Shekinah Glory came out and like a brick to the face my “Yes” was questioned again. How is your “Yes”? Would your heart and soul still say “Yes”; if the Lord told you what He really needs. Would your spirit still say, “Yes” once you find out there is more that is required of you? You were stopped in your tracks also, right? Understand what is required of you from the Lord and then just say, “Yes,” open your heart and tell the Lord, “Yes!” Are you strongly saying, “I’ll obey Jesus, I won’t stray Jesus. This time, I’ve made up in my mind, I’ve truly made up in my mind that I’ll say, ‘Yes’.” This is a “Yes,” from your soul and your mind. Your “Yes,” to the Lord is to His Will, His Way, and His Word. How is your “Yes”? Is it saying, I’ll do what you want me to do? I’ll go where you want me to go? If You lead me, I’ll go? Or are you giving the Lord, maybe? Maybe I’ll share my gifts with others? Maybe, I’ll stop forsaking the assembling of ourselves together? Maybe, I’ll go Lord, if I have time? All the Lord wants is your “Yes”. Are you giving it to Him?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, help us trust in You enough to give You our “Yes”. Remove the fear and doubt from our hearts that prevent us from saying “Yes” to You. We already know the importance of trusting Your plan. We know that You are faithful to us and yet sometimes we still falter in saying, “Yes” to You. Forgive us Lord, for the “Maybes” and “Nos” and move in us so we can emphatically say “Yes” to Your Will and to Your Way. In Jesus, name, Amen.  
By Sis. Pat Towns