So let God work his will in you. Yell a loud no to the Devil and watch him scamper. Say a quiet yes to God and he’ll be there in no time. Quit dabbling in sin.

Purify your inner life. Quit playing the field. Hit bottom, and cry your eyes out. The fun and games are over. Get serious, really serious. Get down on your knees before the Master; it’s the only way you’ll get on your feet.

James 4:7-10 (MSG)

When we first say yes to God and become a Christian, He takes our yes, fills us with His Holy Spirit, and immediately begins the process of renewing our hearts. He uses the circumstances in our lives, every struggle and every sorrow, and our small steps of obedience to transform our hearts to look like His. 

When we first decided to follow Jesus, we didn’t just say yes in that moment; we made a commitment, a pledge to keep saying yes to Him! Unfortunately, we don’t always respond that way, and rarely do our lives look much like Jesus’. He gives us opportunity after opportunity, gently nudging our hearts toward a lifestyle of YESES, but our insecurity, our fear, and our lack of trust keep pushing out nos instead. 

We say no to God in many ways every day. We’re essentially saying no every time we compare, rather than showing compassion, choose selfishness over sacrifice, embrace pride but not purity, count our belongings rather than our blessings, allow greed to rule our hearts rather than grace, wring our hands with worry rather than raising them in worship, or dress to draw the eyes of others to ourselves rather than to the cross. 

Where are you telling God NO when He asks for your YES? When you step out of the fear and self-doubt and courageously say YES to Jesus, that’s when your heart truly begins to look like His. If you must say no, say it to the enemy of your heart and watch him run! Then your faith will overpower your fear, and your heart will soar! Take the leap…He will catch you! You are loved! 

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 (ESV)