Many of us have completed our first month of our new year’s resolutions. How’s it going so far? Have you chosen to add new behaviors and create healthier habits, or did you decide it was time to leave a few things behind?
Some say it’s harder to add healthier habits to the routine of your life, but isn’t it so much harder to let go of things we enjoy? We gravitate to behaviors and habits that bring you happiness, comfort, or security – even if it’s bad for you. Do you have something that you need to start denying yourself of? Have you been enjoying something that just isn’t good for you?
It is said that ‘you can have all things in moderation’ but so many of us lose sight of what healthy moderation truly is. Sometimes we just have to say No. Having less of something isn’t always enough, sometimes we need complete denial. For example, an alcoholic celebrating another year of sobriety is the first to testify that sometimes omission, not moderation, is what’s required to have a healthy life.
Jesus knew how to say No to the things that held no value so He could say Yes to the things that would matter for the kingdom. He knew that the things He would give up could not compare with the benefits He would gain! Do you have things standing between you and thins God have intended for you? Do you say ‘Yes’ to things you should say ‘No’ to? The first step is denying ourselves of the things that stand between us and God so we can gain what is truly beneficial.
Be blessed!
Jennifer
“Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.” Luke 9:23-24