We are masters of excuses. We can make excuses good enough to fool even ourselves! There are so many things in our lives that we will miss out on because of those excuses. If we allow them to control us we can become stuck. They hold us back from being complete. Excuses are not new, the Bible is full of stories of people who gave excuses, but God always has an answer to every excuse you can come up with. In the Old Testament, God was preparing to deliver his people from Egypt. He invited Moses to join Him, but when Moses met with God at the burning bush what did he say?
Who am I, that I should go?...What would I tell them?... What if they don't believe me?... I have never been good at speaking....LORD, PLEASE SEND SOMEONE ELSE! (Exodus 3-4)
God had an answer for everyone of Moses' questions and then some. In the end, Moses obeyed God, but because of his excuses God used Moses brother Aaron to accomplish His will.
Jeremiah had excuses :
Jeremiah 1:4 The Lord said to me, 5 “I knew you before you were formed within your mother’s womb; before you were born I sanctified you and appointed you as my spokesman to the world.”
6 “O Lord God,” I said, “I can’t do that! I’m far too young! I’m only a youth! [insert your own excuses here]”
7 “Don’t say that,” He replied, “for you will go wherever I send you and speak whatever I tell you to. 8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I, the Lord, will be with you and see you through...I am watching, and I will certainly carry out all my plans.”
“Get up and prepare for action.
Go out and tell them everything I tell you to say.
Do not be afraid of them,
or I will make you look foolish in front of them.
18 For see, today I have made you strong...
19 They will fight you, but they will fail.
For I am with you, and I will take care of you.
I, the Lord, have spoken!”
It is ok to ask questions, but don't let your excuses stop you from moving your life into God's will. He will be with you every step of the way.
Have you ever had that moment when you felt like God wanted you to go talk to someone, help someone, or share your faith? Your brain starts spouting off a million excuses as to why that is not a logical or practical course of action. Have you ever tried reasoning with God? [Let me give you a hint..it doesn't work] Fears, insecurities, and lack of time usually top the excuses chart. What is God asking you to do? Spend more time in the Word of God? Develop a real prayer life? Get involved in a church? Reach out and share your faith with a co-worker or family member? Take a step of faith concerning a big decision? God invites us to join Him in His work, in a relationship with Him, and to live with Him in eternity. If we keep making excuses, He will eventually stop asking. God will always find someone to accept his invitation, He doesn't need you- but He wants to give you the very best.
Jesus told a story [parable] that went like this:
“A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I now have a wife, so I can’t come.’ [fill in the blank with your own personal excuses]
“The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.”Luke 14:16-24
Don't let your excuses cause you to miss out on the banquet that God has prepared for you.
Who am I, that I should go?...What would I tell them?... What if they don't believe me?... I have never been good at speaking....LORD, PLEASE SEND SOMEONE ELSE! (Exodus 3-4)
God had an answer for everyone of Moses' questions and then some. In the end, Moses obeyed God, but because of his excuses God used Moses brother Aaron to accomplish His will.
Jeremiah had excuses :
Jeremiah 1:4 The Lord said to me, 5 “I knew you before you were formed within your mother’s womb; before you were born I sanctified you and appointed you as my spokesman to the world.”
6 “O Lord God,” I said, “I can’t do that! I’m far too young! I’m only a youth! [insert your own excuses here]”
7 “Don’t say that,” He replied, “for you will go wherever I send you and speak whatever I tell you to. 8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I, the Lord, will be with you and see you through...I am watching, and I will certainly carry out all my plans.”
“Get up and prepare for action.
Go out and tell them everything I tell you to say.
Do not be afraid of them,
or I will make you look foolish in front of them.
18 For see, today I have made you strong...
19 They will fight you, but they will fail.
For I am with you, and I will take care of you.
I, the Lord, have spoken!”
It is ok to ask questions, but don't let your excuses stop you from moving your life into God's will. He will be with you every step of the way.
Have you ever had that moment when you felt like God wanted you to go talk to someone, help someone, or share your faith? Your brain starts spouting off a million excuses as to why that is not a logical or practical course of action. Have you ever tried reasoning with God? [Let me give you a hint..it doesn't work] Fears, insecurities, and lack of time usually top the excuses chart. What is God asking you to do? Spend more time in the Word of God? Develop a real prayer life? Get involved in a church? Reach out and share your faith with a co-worker or family member? Take a step of faith concerning a big decision? God invites us to join Him in His work, in a relationship with Him, and to live with Him in eternity. If we keep making excuses, He will eventually stop asking. God will always find someone to accept his invitation, He doesn't need you- but He wants to give you the very best.
Jesus told a story [parable] that went like this:
“A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ Another said, ‘I now have a wife, so I can’t come.’ [fill in the blank with your own personal excuses]
“The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.”Luke 14:16-24
Don't let your excuses cause you to miss out on the banquet that God has prepared for you.