Learn to Say “No”
Proverbs 1:10 “My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them” NIV.
One of the secrets of success in life is learning to say “No,” and mean it. We will all be subjected at sometime or another to enticement from sinners, from people whose motives are wrong, whose standards are low, whom we cannot afford to follow. It’s one of the things that happens in life.
It happens so often in our early years, at school or at college – sinners entice us. They come with attractive offers of pleasures and entertainment and forms of life that are unhealthy and evil. And if we are going to succeed in life, we’ve got to learn early in life to say “No.” “No, I won’t.” “No, my standards don’t permit me.”
And I’ve discovered this, both men and the devil himself recognize when you really mean it. You can say “No” in a tone of voice that means, “If you ask me again, you might persuade me.” Or you can say “No” in a tone of voice that means, “You’re wasting your time asking me.” And if you are going to succeed in life you’ve got to learn to say “No” with that tone of voice which means, “You’re wasting your time if you ask me again.” The devil is very clever; he doesn’t waste his time. When we say “No” with that tone of voice, the devil moves on to test somebody else.
—Derek Prince
To listen to Derek’s original audio on the DPM website click here.
Materials used by kind permission of Derek Prince Ministries.
Luke 4:1-13
King James Version (KJV)
4 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
3 And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
5 And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6 And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.