{"id":22782,"date":"2018-04-08T03:30:17","date_gmt":"2018-04-08T10:30:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=22782"},"modified":"2018-04-05T10:35:39","modified_gmt":"2018-04-05T17:35:39","slug":"april-8-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2018\/04\/08\/april-8-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"April 8, 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201c\u2026 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/em>Philippians 3:10<\/p>\n

The Thundering \u201cNo\u201d<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Sometimes we just have to say no\u00a0<\/strong>to some things, so that our yes\u00a0<\/strong>means something. We have to exhale the old and inhale the new. We have to crucify the flesh so the spirit can live. We can\u2019t have it both ways.<\/p>\n

I say\u00a0no\u00a0<\/strong>to the shallows of merely knowing about God, and yes\u00a0<\/strong>to experiencing the depths of Him.<\/p>\n

I say no\u00a0<\/strong>to the indecision in making a commitment, and yes\u00a0<\/strong>to identification with Him.<\/p>\n

I say no\u00a0<\/strong>to wishful thinking, and yes\u00a0<\/strong>to the firm hope that is in Him.<\/p>\n

I say no\u00a0<\/strong>to saving my reputation, and yes\u00a0<\/strong>to laying my life down for Him.<\/p>\n

I say no\u00a0<\/strong>to deception and lies, and yes\u00a0<\/strong>to the truth of the Word of God.<\/p>\n

I say no\u00a0<\/strong>to the ways of the world, and yes\u00a0<\/strong>to life in Christ.<\/p>\n

I say no\u00a0<\/strong>to discouragement, and yes\u00a0<\/strong>to patience with His process.<\/p>\n

I say no\u00a0<\/strong>to fear, and yes\u00a0<\/strong>to the courage that comes with trusting the Almighty One.<\/p>\n

I say no\u00a0<\/strong>to living my life as I see best, and yes\u00a0<\/strong>to being found hidden in Him by faith.<\/p>\n

I say a thundering no\u00a0<\/strong>to lesser pursuits, and a roaring, reverberating\u00a0<\/strong>yes\u00a0<\/strong>to passionately seeking God in this life.<\/p>\n

I say yes\u00a0<\/strong>to whatever it takes to fully turn my eyes upon Jesus, and yes\u00a0<\/strong>to any process necessary to purify me, to teach me to worship in Spirit and in truth, and to make the meditations of my heart acceptable to Him. I say yes\u00a0<\/strong>to His pruning, yes\u00a0<\/strong>to His correction, yes\u00a0<\/strong>to His discipline, yes\u00a0<\/strong>to His fences and walls that surround me.<\/p>\n

I say yes\u00a0<\/strong>to fervency of spirit, no matter what others may think of me. I say yes\u00a0<\/strong>to holiness, no matter how the world may disdain me. I say yes\u00a0<\/strong>to loss, if only I may gain Christ. I say yes\u00a0<\/strong>to suffering, if it allows me to know Him in His sufferings. I say yes\u00a0<\/strong>to weakness, if it teaches me His resurrection power.<\/p>\n

I say yes\u00a0<\/strong>to Christ, and His narrow road, and no\u00a0<\/strong>to the wide way of this world.<\/p>\n

This is my confession. So be it.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur Father, make us thirsty for You in this life, that we may come to Your waters and drink. Teach us the “yesses” and “noes” of a life hidden in You. On the day You call us home, may we be found entrenched in You, firmly attached, still seeking for more of You. May we never be complacent, as if we had already attained, but may we ever be committed to pressing on in passionate pursuit of You, by the work of Your Holy Spirit in each of us. In Jesus\u2019 Name, and for His glory, Amen.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>

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