Just Say No…vember

Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”And immediately they left their nets and followed him. Mark 1:16-18

Simon and Andrew could have been doing nothing better than fishing.  God had gifted them as fishermen.  And if they are anything like my husband, being outdoors and tinkering with fishing gear brought them life, both figuratively and literally.  Catching fish was not only a thrill.  It was their livelihood.

Jesus could have called these two game-changing men into His ministry any time.   But He did it here.  Along the shore of Galilee, doing what arguably brought them the most life.  Fishing. He called them away from “good” so they could follow the Great.

This post was birthed in me two months ago.  An afternoon early in September.  I stood with my head in my hands leaning against the kitchen island, rubbing my temples, completely overwhelmed by the level of “life-giving” responsibilities on my to-do list.

Brent, my A+ problem-solving husband, leaned beside me, “Let’s write it all down.  Let’s make a list of everything on your plate and see what I can help you do.”

“There’s nothing you can do.  None of it can be delegated.”

All of my favorite hobbies were hitting at once.  In the month of September,  I was co-director of the 5K for my boys’ school, I was speaking at a women’s ministry breakfast that Saturday, I had just been added to the Beautifully Rooted contributor list and had a few deadlines to meet, my boys’ soccer and football practices were beginning that week (of course I didn’t want to miss that)… There was nothing to change or hand off.

“I love everything on my plate. It all brings me so much life.”

And the next words from Brent’s mouth I will never forget.  Never.

“But then how is it,” he said, “that the things that bring you so much life, can bring us so much death.  You are saying “yes” to so many good  things, but saying “no” to the things that matter most.”

Silence.

He was right.

All of my life-giving activities were great, but the weight of them all at once were making me a snappy, sassy, cranky, cry-ie, messy mom.  I was there but not present.  Often on my phone or typing on my computer.  By saying “yes” to so much, I was saying “no” to my kids.  “No” to my husband.  “No” to my friends.

No to peace. Yes to crazy.

“You are right.” I said. “You. Are. So. Right.”

I sat in Brent’s words for a few days.  Praying and asking God to help me make sense of all the “fish” on my plate.

Unlike Andrew and Simon, I didn’t feel the freedom to drop all of my nets just then.  I had made commitments.  It was important that I saw them to completion.  But I resolved in my heart (and on my knees) that when all of my “yes’s” were finished, my answer would be NO.

No to busy.  Yes to Jesus.

No to busy. Yes to my husband.

No to busy. Yes to my children.

No to busy.  Yes to the holidays.

November.  The month of No.

Just say NO…vember.

Sigh. I have waited so long for this day.  My hands are a bit calloused from the tight grip on the net handle, but today I release it.  My commitments have slowed or stopped.  Halloween is behind us.  The holidays are before us.

Jesus.  Our precious Emmanuel.

I say YES to His Word  And YES to His presence.  I say YES to peace.  And YES to quiet.  

Yes! Yes! Yes!.

Today, I set down my net.  And follow Him.

What is in your hand this morning?  Are your nets full of busy?  Can you set them down?  And follow Him?

Imagine, if those two disciples said “yes” to fishing and “no” to Jesus.  What they would have missed!

I refuse to miss anymore.

DO YOU HEAR ME BUSY!?  NO! NO! NO!

This month will you join me in saying NO?

Lord Jesus, you know who this is for today.  Stir in us a desire for You like never before.  Draw us to Yourself and give us vision for the next two months.  Let us see the nets in our lives that are full of so many “good” things.  Let us say “no” to the good and “yes” to the great.  You.  Our family.  Our spiritual growth.  I ask a blessing over the holidays.  I pray that spiritually we will never be the same again.  Make us fishers of men, Lord Jesus.  We say “yes” to You, today. Yes.  In Jesus Name, yes!  Amen.

Respond and Reflect:

What stirs in you today?  Is this resonating with you?  Share what’s on your heart…