SUNDAY THOUGHTS: NO

Note how people respond to your “No”. 

Do they respond with understanding or hostility? 

Is there sarcasm? Character attack? Anger? Manipulation? 

Do they try to make you feel stupid, guilty, confused, or small? 

Do they compare you to others they’ve successfully suckered? 

Does their narrative, after your “no” paint you as difficult? 

Do they boast of all of the other people they could get to do what they wanted you to do? 
If so, imagine the time, resource, and energy-consuming rabbit hole you would have endured had you said, “Yes.”

There are things I no longer tolerate. 

I suppose that means some doors will close, and some will never open. 

History has taught me to be thankful. My discernment is keen, although I haven’t always followed it. 

You know stuff. God shows you—sometimes repeatedly. Question is, do you want to see what he shows you? 

Do you realize when you’ve been rescued, saved, snatched, protected, spared, or covered? 

When your gut speaks, screams, sounds alarms, or rumbles, believe it— the first time.

Every association, enterprise, or opportunity is not for you, even if you do have the skills to carry it out. Don’t let opportunists use you. They see and know your value. They want to be able to control you; mishandle you; make you jump through hoops, and take credit for what God has placed in you. Yep. Some people will actually take credit, not only for your accomplishments and talent, but for your very being—and will not only try to convince you that it is truth, but that you owe them.

Some people are so enamored with themselves, their accomplishments, their notoriety, or their public reputation, that they think you should be, too. 

Sometimes we tolerate a lot because of fear; because we give people God status. That is a mistake. No one is God except God, and he knows a lot of people who will genuinely bless you— people who aren’t arrogant, manipulative, abusive, unreasonable, unloving, narcissistic, dishonest, self-seeking, annoying, or mean-spirited. 

Life is stressful enough without inviting stress. Every seemingly good opportunity is not a God opportunity. A gallows is a platform, too.

Your “no” may mean you’ll be berated, criticized, bad-mouthed or ostracized, but you know your limitations. 

Remember God’s work. You’ve seen how he handles those who mess with his children, and you’ve seen how he’s kept you.

Preserve your peace.