Overwhelmed by the demands you’re facing?
Ever wondered how saying ‘no’ could lead to a more fulfilling life?
Ready to break free from the people-pleasing and focus on what truly matters?
If you’ve responded with a ‘yes’ to any of these questions, here’s the good news – the Bible is a valuable guide to help you navigate through and offer answers!
Lysa TerKeurst’s ‘The Best Yes‘ also offers valuable insights for navigating a world filled with constant demands, guiding readers to make wise decisions in the midst of life’s endless pressures.
Contents
Overcoming the “shoulds”
The book says
Do you feel that everyone around you keeps asking for favors? You would be exhausted if you said Yes to them all. This is the should trap mentioned in the book.
Say “NO” to the good things so you can say a big, happy “Yes!” to the most important things.
The Bible says
14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
John 6:14-15
People were amazed about what Jesus could do. They want to make him king. Or at least instantly gain a large following.
You know it’s not a bad thing to have a big social media account! He can surely use the sudden boost of influence for a good purpose.
But Jesus knew that was a distraction. That was not what he came to the Earth for. The greater influence would come with the pressure of doing things to please the crowd.
Instead, he chose to withdraw himself, pray, and continue to focus on his mission: Sacrificing for us.
The Grip of Urgent Demands
The book says
Have you ever encountered an urgent request? Out of empathy, it is tempting to say yes.
Urgent tasks can overshadow important ones. They lead us to say yes to things that are not truly important in the long run.
The Bible says
Remember the story of Mary and Martha? Martha is preoccupied with the urgent tasks of cooking and serving, while Mary chooses to be with Jesus and listen to his teachings.
Jesus affirms Mary’s choice. She prioritizes what is truly important over the urgency of the moment.
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:41-42
Setting healthy boundaries
The book says
In The Best Yes, the author says it’s important to set boundaries to protect your time, energy, and resources so that you can commit to the things that matter most.
The Bible says
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Proverbs 4:23
Be vigilant about what you allow to influence your heart and life. Set a healthy emotional and spiritual boundaries.
Don’t let mindlessly everything in — the commercials, the next autoplay Youtube video. We are what we consume.
Here’s another one:
Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Galatians 1:10 (NIV)
This scripture underscores the importance of prioritizing pleasing God over pleasing people.
Do you say yes to please people?
Would the yes you say hurt your ability to please God?
The Best Yes Questions
- Can you identify a recent situation where you could have benefited from not saying yes?
- Are there areas in your life where you feel you need to re-evaluate your priorities?
- What are some of the ‘shoulds’ in your life that you struggle with? How do you overcome them with the Best Yes?
- Share your experiences or challenges with setting boundaries. How do you maintain healthier boundaries?
- How do you see the role of faith and prayer in making wise decisions?
- How do you balance your commitments to ensure you’re not spreading yourself too thin and neglecting your own well-being?
- Share a time when you made a decision that wasn’t a Best Yes. What did you learn from that experience?
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