Years ago, the Reader’s Digest had an article addressing the art of saying “no.”

I don’t remember anything about the article. Like most people, I have a problem of saying “no” and then saying “yes” to something I didn’t want to do.

Sunday morning, I listened to a message by Charles Stanley titled, “The Courage to say “No.”

He started with: “As a follower of Jesus Christ, are you a floater?” (sometimes in the Will of God for your life and other times going against the Will of God.)

Then he asked, “Do you have discernment to decide what is godly and what is evil?  “Are you real?”  “Are you a double-minded Christian, (a floater), or do you have the courage to say no when it disagrees with God’s Will?

He closed his message with:  Sin always has a consequence. It will cost you something and it’s not cheap.

The fear of not saying no is caused by possibly being rejected.

As I’ve matured as a Christian, I’ve come to realize that saying no to something out of God’s Will can make you feel good.

Believe me, I haven’t mastered the courage to say no, but I’m growing in that area.

A few years ago, on a bus trip to Shreveport with Jeanne and other parents and friends to see one of my grandsons play baseball, I was tested by the bus driver who I knew personally.

He announced that he was going to show a movie that may be a little raunchy in parts. I stood up and said, “I object and don’t care to see it.”

He was shocked and so were a few others.

I continued, “I paid for a bus ticket, not a filthy movie. If the others want to see it, put me down and give me a refund.”

The driver was embarrassed and a little mad, but he didn’t show the movie. That’s one time I had the courage to say no. It felt great not allowing the driver to do what he wanted to do, but doing what God wanted me to do.

If you have any questions or comments, please write Harold Keller at Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084, call 985-542-8477 or email hkeller@comcast.net.