You have to be able to say "yes" in order to say "no"

I don't know why, but when I run God seems to give me things.  This morning as I ran, I was thinking about all the pain in the world because it's so hard to say "no" to some things.  Just think if we could say "no" to unhealthy lifestyles, we'd render the healthcare debate moot.  You do realize that most disease is a lifestyle issue and could be avoided by changing your behavior?  What if we could say "no" to impulsive buying, we could totally defeat this whole credit crisis that the world is experiencing.  If we could say "no" to our emotions, we could see real relationships blossom and thrive.                          

This is the thought I had:

  Saying "yes" to God enables you to say "no" to all the wrong stuff.

When an unclean spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. 44 Then it says, "I will return to the person I came from." So it returns and finds its former home empty, swept, and in order.  matt. 12:43-44

An empty house will deteriorate in an unbelievably short amount of time.  That's why empty homes don't sell well, nor do they age well.  Emptiness means they respond to the environment around them.  When it's cold, the house is cold, when it's hot, the house is hot.  Hot and cold means expansion and contraction and will ruin a house.  That's why we keep our homes a constant temperature.
  Saying "yes" to Jesus fills your house with Him.  Continually saying "yes" to Jesus, continually fills your house with Him.  It produces a constant spiritual temp that wards off the unclean looking for someone who's empty.  Note that your house can be swept and in order, but still a destination for something unclean.  Neat and orderly cannot replace being filled.  It's not enough to get your life in order, but you must say "yes" to God's plan for you, then you'll be filled with purpose, direction, passion, and love.  Then it'll be much easier to say "no" to the unclean things that try your life.
     If you are having trouble saying "no" to some unhealthy things in life, why don't you try taking and moment and say "yes" to Jesus.

Jeremiah 7:23 (New International Version, ©2011)

²³ but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you.