No doubt the title of this podcast it got you thinking twice: the permission of no? How is that permission? Well, let me explain.
In my last podcast I spoke of living a life that God loves and defined it as a life guided by Jesus. When our actions, thoughts, and words reflect Jesus’ influence we truly are living a life that God loves. And perhaps of those three areas, it is our thoughts that are most decisive.
The apostle Paul makes it clear in Romans 12:2 that what we do with our thoughts either advances our transformation in the Christian life or thwarts it. But here’s the problem — and I suspect that I’m not the only one — I don’t have the strength or whatever it takes to keep unwanted thoughts away. My earth-bound desires are simply too strong for me and they constantly serve up foolish thought-suggestions.
In the words of Jesus, “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41
So here’s the situation: the upper limit of my strength to resist thoughts that I don’t want is to say no to them. But as usual they don’t listen to me. So I cut a deal, if you will, with a higher authority, a greater power than these thoughts that is able to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5b
I said to the Holy Spirit, “whenever I say no to a thought I don’t want, would you please simultaneously consider that permission for you to sweep it from my mind beyond my recall?” And sure enough. The Holy Spirit delights in doing what he came to do, one big part of which is to set us free from thoughts that, if harbored, would undermine our friendship with Jesus. In the words of the apostle Paul, “now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17
