LOVING
TO SAY YES

Topics: Brokenness; Christian Life; Evil Desires; God’s Love; Obedience; Sin; Temptation

References: Galatians 2:20; 5:16–25

I cannot continuously say no to this or no to that unless there is something ten times more attractive to choose. Saying no to my lust, my greed, my needs, and the world’s powers takes an enormous amount of energy. The only hope is to find something so obviously real and attractive that I can devote all my energies to saying yes.

One such thing I can say yes to is when I come in touch with the fact that I am loved. Once I have found that in my total brokenness I am still loved, I become free from the compulsion of doing successful things.

—Henri Nouwen, “Hearing God’s Voice and Obeying His Word,” Leadership (Winter 1982)