“All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” (Mt 5:37)

A couple of months ago, I wrote about the transitions I would face after moving into the past president position of the Oklahoma Writers’ Federation, Inc. (OWFI). (You can read that post here.) Currently, I’m in the middle of that transition period. While I knew that adjusting to a new routine would take time, I’ve struggled more than I thought I would.

After devoting so much of my time to OWFI, I’m now able to take on other projects. But lest I burn out (a very real possibility), I’ve decided not to take on any new projects for at least six months, maybe even a year.

I love to say yes to all the things. There’s so much to do, so many people to see, so many projects to start, so many groups to join. As I evaluate decisions through the lens of my word for the year, “bold,” I’ve realized that sometimes the boldest choice I can make is to say no.

My calendar is still full of activities and events, but each one has been carefully chosen and prayed over. While my knee-jerk reaction is to say yes to everything, I’m learning to slow down, evaluate, and most importantly, pray before making a commitment. I want to give my best to each person or thing, not just what I have leftover.

Prioritizing the following helps me keep things in perspective:

• Spend time with God. Taking a break from my busy schedule means I have more time to learn about God, read his word, start a Bible study, and spend time in prayer. I’ve started a study of James that I put on the back burner for a long time. This month seemed like a good time to dive in and learn.
• Spend time with people. When I first moved to Oklahoma City three years ago, my goal was to meet new people. At the time, my world had grown very small. Now, my goal is to invest in the people in my life. Family and friends have stepped up to walk alongside me in my journey. They make time for me, support me, and encourage me, and I want to do the same for them.
• Spend time pursuing my calling. This includes attending local writing group meetings and critique group meetings. This means brainstorming with writing friends. This means writing, both alone and with friends. This ties into my previous points. Through writing, I get to know God better and spend time with friends. Writing is also an investment in myself and my future.

Activities and projects come and go, and I need to monitor how I spend my time and energy so that I put it into the things God wants me to do. What’s the bold choice? God knows, and he will lead me there.

Dear Jesus, thank you for helping me learn to say no. Help me to evaluate my schedule and use my time and energy in the best way possible to draw closer to you. Amen.