Learning to say “Yes!”
The great American, and 26th President, Theodore Roosevelt offered some wonderful advice about confidence and nurturing a willing attitude:
“Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell ‘em, ‘certainly I can!’, then get busy and find out how to do it.”
The life of TR is filled with examples of how he lived up to his own advice. No one knew how to go about creating National Parks – it had never been done before. He did it. No one had written a how-to guide on being the youngest American President. When President McKinley was assassinated, “Teddy” didn’t shirk the job.
When asked to take on a new task, or join a new activity, the natural reaction for most of us is “I don’t know how.” While certainly the importance of qualification, and need for training cannot be over looked, finding the way to say “Yes!” starts with developing the right attitude. And it doesn’t come easy. At first.
In 1880 Isaiah Baltzell wrote a wonderful hymn which we often sing. But when we sing “I Want to Be a Worker” do we really think about the meaning of those words, or do we only remember the tempo, pitch, and tune?
I want to be a worker for the Lord
I want to love and trust His holy word
I want to sing and pray, and be busy every day,
In the vineyard of the Lord
No, saying “Yes!” doesn’t come easy at first. But the funny thing is, the more you say it, the easier ”Yes!” becomes, until it just happens naturally. And I promise you will never regret saying “Yes!” to the Lord’s work. One more thing – remember we have been given the perfect how-to guide, our Bible.
At every opportunity, let us avail ourselves to be His servants. May we dedicate each day to finding a way to say “Yes!” to the work of the Lord. We can indeed be those that follow the example of young Samuel:
And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth. 1 Samuel 3:10
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Authors, Gregg Alexander
on August 22nd, 2008
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