Before You Say Yes

We live in a world that constantly demands our yes—to every opportunity, every request, every good thing that comes our way. But what if our greatest spiritual struggle isn't saying no to bad things, but saying yes to too many good things that crowd out the best things? This message challenges us to examine the chaos in our schedules and recognize that we don't have a time problem—we have a wisdom problem. Drawing from Ephesians 5 and Romans 12, we're reminded to be careful how we live, not like fools but like those who are wise, making the most of every opportunity. The core issue isn't that our lives are necessarily bad; they're just out of order. When we follow the patterns of the world instead of God's divine order, we end up stressed, exhausted, and wondering why we can't experience the peace God promises. The solution begins with transforming our thinking—fixing our thoughts on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable, as Philippians 4 instructs. Before we say yes to another commitment, we need to ask not just 'Can I do this?' or 'Is this wrong?' but 'Is this wise?' When we anchor our souls in Christ first—giving Him the first fifteen minutes of each day, the first day of each week, the first portion of our year—we discover that margin isn't about doing less, it's about doing what matters most with God at the center.