Have you ever thought about how many times you say "no"? In any given day, I probably say it dozens of times. No, I won't wake up early to work out. No, I won't spend an extra 30 minutes in my bible or praying. No, I won't take out the trash for the 12th time in one day. No, I don't want to walk all the way into town for internet. No, I don't want to split a meal with you because I'm too hungry. No, I don't want to play a game. No, I don't want to let you borrow my clothes.
No. No. No.
Sometimes, I'm overwhelmed by the requests in one day. It's amazing, to look back over just 24 hours and see how many times we are asked to do and give for others and even from ourselves. The funniest part is that I would consider myself a pretty generous person, but looking back over just one day, I can find so many places where I could have given more. I could have stretched myself just one more time, and it wouldn't even have been an inconvenience- I was just too lazy!
Sometimes it's easy to say no to the little things in life. Things that cost a little effort, a little money, a little time or a little energy & focus that we feel we just can't spare at the moment because our lives are too full of other things we are giving to. It's true- The Lord desires rest for His people. He knows we need it and it is a blessing when we can find it. But I wonder if I use the excuse of "rest" to stop me from doing the things I just don't want to stretch my limits for.
I have been asking The Lord to do something big in my life. Here I am, halfway around the world for a year away from everyone I love and things I know, and I'm asking Him for MORE. I want to know I'm giving my all to follow Him. I want Him to be so confident in me, that He challenges me to the big things. Like Katie (Kisses from Katie), a young woman who moved to Uganda at the age of 19, opened an orphanage, has now adopted and raises 14 young girls on her own while having time to constantly care for sick guests in her home, host food clinics, medical clinics, food deliveries, and welcomes families and children at her home for dinner every night for fellowship and worship. Why can't I do something like that God? Something where I feel like I'm actually making a difference in this world for your Kingdom?
He answered.
"Because you say no."
"God! When have I said no to helping orphans? Or feeding the homeless for a living? When have you even asked me to move to Africa and adopt a bunch of kids and start a ministry?"
"You say no every day to the little things. Why would you say yes to the big when you choose to ignore the small ones?"
The world does not need BIG things. The world is changed one day at a time by people saying "yes" to what seems like the small things. If you asked anyone who seems to do the BIG acts of faith, they would probably just look at you in confusion- "What BIG things? This is everyday stuff for me, it's just how I live."
"Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness." Matthew 25:21
I want to be the kind of person who chooses to be faithful in the little things. I want to choose to serve The Lord in every detail of my life. I want to give more. To love more. To laugh more. To give more time, more money, more energy, more of my things, more of my heart and more of my life to others around me. And I pray to give all of myself (heart, soul, mind, strength) for serving and loving and spending time with Jesus in what seems like the every day things. May it become normal for me to do the inconvenient, to love a little more, a little better and a little less for something in return.
Questions like, "Can I borrow that?" "Can you play with me?" "Will you walk to town with me?" "Can I eat this?" "Will you lend me some money?" "I'm hungry, will you feed me?" "Will you stop and talk with me?" and "Will you just give me your time?" are a chance for me to say yes. It's a chance to love more, to serve Jesus more and to change the world, one small extra step at a time.
Today, may I be a woman who says "yes" to the things in life- no matter how small and no matter the cost.
