Grace Notes By Sadell Bradley: WEDNESDAY'S WORD - NO - Sadell Bradley 02/24/16

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

WEDNESDAY'S WORD - NO - Sadell Bradley 02/24/16 - New Life Covenant Cincinnati

The question in the meme is loaded! NO packs a lot of punch for a two letter word! It can mean none or hardly any; or the opposite of what is being specified, "It was no easy task." It can forbid a behavior, "No Smoking." NO is powerfully used in exclamation. It is a one word sentence that conveys a negative response or decision. Jesus taught us, "All you need to say is simply Yes, or No: anything beyond this comes from the evil one." (Matthew 5:37) No can be used to express agreement or disagreement, shock or disappointment. "No can do, no longer, no more, no place, no sooner than, no two ways about it, no way!" Do you have trouble taking NO for answer? Is it hard for you to say NO without explaining or feeling guilty? No is sometimes a difficult word to say, and to hear. Life would be simpler if it were used more. Try saying NO when needed this week!

Does God say NO? We were discussing praying the will of God yesterday. 1 John 5:14-15 says, "This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him." (NASB) If...then clauses are a favorite because they bring clarity. This one says there is a possibility that we may be out of God's will when we pray. If that is the case, the answer will be a straight out NO! not a yes, or a wait. Doors will close shut and favor will not be granted, despite your many requests and attempts to swing things open. James 4:3 reiterates, "And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong--you want only what gives you pleasure." (NLT) Because it's not often preached, many Christians are unaware that NO is a potential answer to prayer. Sometimes we stubbornly hold on too long to desires/dreams/plans/people and things that God has refused.

Like any good parent, the Father loves us, and even His NO is always working together for our good...though it doesn't feel that way sometimes. (Rom. 8:28) Maturity means being able to receive NO from others, say NO when necessary, and hear NO from the LORD when His thoughts and ways differ from our own.

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Our first event was Monday at CAIN Ministry, we served 117 people! Glory to God!!