October 19

It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age, — Titus 2:12 BSB

Let us say "No" to the desires of the flesh, the allure of the world, and the selfishness of our own hearts. This kind of self-denial forms a major part of the life of obedience. We should make no provisions for the flesh, give no room for the lower, earthly life. Say "No" to everything that is self-serving or worldly. Much of the life of faith consists simply in denying ourselves.

We begin our journey of faith by saying "Yes" to God, but that "Yes" is accompanied by a lifelong "No" to ourselves, the world, the flesh, and the devil.

If you look at the Ten Commandments, you’ll notice that many of them are “Thou shalt not” commandments. Similarly, when you read the beautiful description of love in 1 Corinthians 13, you’ll see that most of the characteristics of love are expressed negatively—what love does not do, what love is not, and what love thinks not. In the same way, much of the life of consecration involves learning to say "No."

“I am not my own,
I belong to Him.
I am His alone,
I belong to Him.”