There is so much we can learn from toddlers. They live life in complete freedom. They are happy to walk around with food on their face, shoes that don’t match, and let’s face it, even a dirty diaper. When you think of your child’s first few words, I think most moms would agree that somewhere after mama, dada, more, and please is the word ‘no.’While we have to parent our kids and teach them when it is appropriate to say ‘no’ there is so much freedom in that word. As adults, we become conditioned to find ourselves taking on unnecessary responsibilities, people pleasing, overachieving and simply losing the power and freedom to say no.
It got me thinking about a group of people that don’t have the freedom to say no. Slaves. Slaves are stuck in a life that leaves no room to refuse anything. They don’t have a choice. I am reminded that Jesus died for us to set us free and in that freedom, we can say no.
The Israelites were slaves in Egypt with no rights. They didn’t wake up each morning with the ability to decide what they would or wouldn’t do. God sent Moses to grant them their freedom, to gift them the power of no.Are there things in your life that you need to say no to? Have you taken on too much? Do you feel responsible for things that aren’t yours to own? Maybe other people’s happiness? Have you become a slave to the pressure of saying yes? You can say no. It is part of living in freedom! Find your freedom in your NO!!