The Power of ‘Yes, Lord’
In this heartfelt devotion, Dianna Hobbs reflects on the passing of her father and the power of his final words. Through her grief, she delivers a stirring message that inspires believers to surrender fully to God and give Him an unwavering “Yes,” no matter the cost.
Dianna Hobbs reflects on the loss of her father, Bishop Joseph Brinson, Sr.
Before my father, Bishop Joseph Brinson, Sr., passed away from kidney failure and other health complications at 90 years old, he was hospitalized following a medical emergency.
Thank you for all the condolences and kindness you’ve extended to me and my family during this difficult time. Your love, prayers, and support have meant more than words can express.
The last day I heard his voice started out like any other. Because of his end-stage renal disease, Daddy had dialysis treatments regularly. That day, everything seemed routine…until it wasn’t. After his session, nurses noticed something was wrong.
He became unresponsive.
He had walked into the dialysis center on his own. But after several rounds of CPR, he was wheeled out unconscious.
When he was rushed to the hospital, family gathered at his bedside. His brain had been deprived of oxygen, leaving his left side paralyzed. He couldn’t see or hear on that side, and his speech was severely impaired.
I wasn’t in Atlanta when it happened. I watched everything unfold through a family FaceTime call.
Still, even in that fragile state, he managed to say a few powerful words: “I believe God.” “Jesus is coming back.” “Hallelujah.” “Thank You, Jesus.”
And then, in a faint, trembling voice, he began to sing: “Yes, Lord.”
Yes, Lord.
That was the final time I heard his voice, offering a song of surrender to the Savior. A yes to God’s will.
It’s a moment I’ll never forget. Though my heart aches from the loss, that memory brings me comfort and joy. Even in the valley of the shadow of death, my father was found worshiping, surrendering, obeying.
And that’s what today’s devotion is about: a life that says yes to the will of God.
***
As I sat down to write this message, I heard the Spirit of the Lord speak clearly: “Encourage the hearts of the saints, those who are walking by faith and obeying My Word. Tell them that their yes is not in vain.”
So friend, hear this with your whole heart: your yes is not in vain.
Your obedience, even when it costs you everything, is not wasted. Heaven sees it. God honors it. And in due time, you will reap the harvest of your surrender.
“God said, ‘Your yes is not in vain. Because you have surrendered to My will, despite the cost, blessings and favor are on the way!”
I know obedience and surrender aren’t always easy. They come at a personal cost. They require sacrifice. They demand that you lay down your life, cast aside your desires, preferences, and ambitions, and submit fully to the will of God.
This kind of surrender often leads you through seasons of discomfort, pain, misunderstanding, uncertainty, and stretching. But make no mistake: obedience is always worth the cost.
There is power in your Yes, Lord.
***
We see this truth vividly in Joshua 7, where the Israelites faced a stunning and unexpected defeat on the heels of their greatest victory.
On their journey into the Promised Land, Israel faced Jericho (Joshua 6), a city fortified with towering walls and an intimidating reputation. From every natural standpoint, Jericho was impossible to conquer.
But here’s the miracle: when Israel obeyed God’s unusual instruction to march around the walls in silence for six days and shout on the seventh, they witnessed the supernatural. Their obedience, their Yes, Lord, unlocked victory. God caused the walls to collapse, and without swinging a single sword, Israel took the city.
Next on their conquest journey was Ai, a much smaller and far less fortified city. Compared to Jericho, Ai should have been easy.
Yet instead of victory, Israel suffered a crushing defeat.
Why?
Because this time, obedience was missing.
The culprit? A man named Achan, whose name in Hebrew means “Troubler.” He had secretly taken items from Jericho that were to be devoted to the Lord. One man’s rebellion contaminated the entire camp. His disobedience cut off God’s favor and left Israel vulnerable.
If only Achan had said Yes, Lord and done it God’s way, the outcome would have been different.
After that crushing humiliation at Ai, Achan’s sin was exposed and judged. The camp was cleansed (Joshua 7:10–24), and the site of Israel’s failure was named the Valley of Achor, meaning “Valley of Trouble.”
But there’s good news: once obedience was restored and the defilement was purged, Israel was finally positioned to reap the harvest of surrender.
God then took them back to the very place where disobedience had broken them to show them what restoration looks like when obedience is in place.
Oh, bless His name!
God issued a command in Joshua 8:1: “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land.”
In other words: This time will not be like the last time. This time, you will see the power of Yes, Lord.
***
Now, Ai’s population was roughly 12,000 people, according to Joshua 8:25. Yet God told Joshua to send 30,000 soldiers into battle (Joshua 8:3). That’s a 5:2 ratio—an overwhelming force!
Why would God send 30,000 troops to conquer a city half that size?
Because this wasn’t just about securing a win; it was about making a statement. Obedience invites Heaven’s reinforcements. It places the full weight of divine favor behind human effort, turning natural actions into supernatural outcomes.
So this wasn’t just a comeback for Israel. It was a complete overthrow. The sting of the previous defeat would be swallowed up in overwhelming victory.
And here’s the beauty of it: the name Ai in Hebrew means “ruin” or “heap of ruins.”
God brought the Israelites back to the place of ruin, their deepest humiliation. Not to rub it in, but to reveal a powerful truth: only obedience positions you to receive blessings that cannot be manufactured by man, only released by God.
That’s the power of Yes, Lord.
I love how the Bible captures this moment using the powerful Hebrew word herem to describe what happened during the second battle at Ai.
In biblical warfare, herem means something is wholly devoted to God through complete destruction. Nothing is left. No exceptions. It’s not just about winning a war; it’s about cleansing the land of anything that stands in the way of God’s will.
It’s about complete surrender to the purposes of God. A holy Yes, Lord.
We see this in Joshua 8:26: “For Joshua did not draw back his hand, with which he stretched out the javelin, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.”
That phrase “utterly destroyed” is herem in action. This wasn’t just a military win; it was divine justice. God used herem to reclaim the land and establish His power where Israel had once been humiliated. That kind of victory can only come from full, unreserved commitment to God.
Have I got anybody with a Yes, Lord in your spirit?
My, my, my.
Once Israel surrendered completely, God didn’t just let them win. He ensured the very thing that wounded them would never rise to defeat them again.
That’s what I sense God desires to do in your life too. That’s why He led you to this devotion.
The fruit of your Yes, Lord is about to show up. The harvest from the seeds you’ve sown in obedience is about to manifest.
Not just a small breakthrough or partial restoration, but a total reversal. A comeback so undeniable that the very place that broke you becomes the place where God blesses you.
***
And here’s the greatest news of all: the story of Joshua leads us straight to Jesus.
Both names—Joshua and Jesus—come from the same Hebrew root, Yehoshua, meaning “The Lord is salvation.” Joshua led Israel into a physical victory at Ai, reclaiming what was lost by being obedient to God’s will. Jesus leads us into eternal victory, reclaiming our souls through His perfect obedience to the Father.
The Yes, Lord Jesus gave sounded like this: “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42 NKJV).
And here’s the power of that Yes:
He went to the cross for us. He entered the grave for us. And three days later, He rose again with all power in His hands—for us. The cross looked like ruin. The tomb looked like Ai, a heap of defeat. But on the third day, God turned devastation into resurrection.
Hosea 2:15 prophesies, “I will give her the Valley of Achor as a door of hope.” That Valley of Trouble is the same place Israel once wept in defeat. And yet, God used it as a prophetic picture of redemption through Jesus Christ, the One who turns valleys of trouble into doorways of triumph.
And now, because Christ obeyed, we too can obey. Because Christ rose, we too can rise. And because Christ said yes, we too can say yes, and watch God move.
So take heart. The same God who empowered Joshua to conquer Ai and raised Jesus from the dead is now empowering you to overcome every battle in your life.
That’s the power of Yes, Lord.
***
If you want a little more proof that obedience produces blessings, just look at the widow of Zarephath. She had only a little flour and oil and was preparing her last meal. But when the prophet Elijah said, “Make me a cake first,” she obeyed. And what happened? Her jar never ran out. Her oil kept flowing. Her yes sustained her household through the famine! (1 Kings 17:7–16)
Consider the three Hebrew boys—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—who refused to bow to the king’s golden image. They said, “Even if our God doesn’t deliver us, we still won’t bow.” And because of their obedience, Jesus showed up in the fire! They came out not even smelling like smoke. Their yes brought divine protection and Kingdom promotion! (Daniel 3)
And don’t forget the Upper Room. Jesus told His disciples, “Wait in Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high.” They could’ve gone home. They could’ve gotten discouraged. But they waited. And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, the fire fell, the wind blew, and the church was born! Their yes ushered in a move of the Holy Ghost that’s still shaking the world today. (Acts 1:4–8; 2:1–4)
So don’t underestimate the power of your yes.
Obedience is the key that unlocks overflow, protection, power, and purpose.
When you say, Yes, Lord, Heaven backs you up.
To encourage you to keep surrendering to the will of God, I’m stirring the words of Jesus as the sweetener in your cup of inspiration: “Nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42 NKJV).
As you drink down the contents of your cup, know that your yes is unlocking all the Kingdom benefits, promises, and breakthroughs reserved for those who surrender to the Lord—no matter what it costs.
Now, let’s pray.
God, thank You for reminding me that my yes is not in vain and that my obedience is producing a harvest of blessing. For the rest of my days, I will surrender my plans, desires, and expectations to You. Let Your perfect will be done in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
If you need prayer, don't hesitate to request it. I would be honored to stand in faith with You. I know that prayer works. CLICK HERE to learn how to submit your prayer request.
Read More Devotions from Dianna Hobbs:
