December 8 - Excuses

Now the word of the LORD came to me, saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth." But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a youth'; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord." Jeremiah 1:4-10 ESV

You know that feeling. You're asked to do something important, and you feel SO inadequate with confidence at sub-zero. But you know, we're in it with good company – far from unique. 'Think of some of the people we read of in the Bible whom God used. They were utterly unqualified by human standards. Moses was a murderer. Jacob was a liar. Rahab was a prostitute. David had an affair. Elijah was suicidal at one point. Jonah ran from God. Jeremiah was considered too young. John the Baptist ate bugs. The Samaritan woman was divorced more than once. The disciples fell asleep when they were supposed to be praying. Peter denied Christ. Timothy had an ulcer. So what is your excuse?' (“Harvest:Greg Laurie”)

God had called each of these men and women to help Him with projects He had in hand that would not only change them, but the world also. But they were weak – inadequate – human. Over the years defeat had become etched into heir minds like a river carving itself through a mountain canyonb. Deeper and deeper it flows until it has sapped the very last dregs of confidence.

Most failures come from a history of excuses and a lack of perseverance. The excuses we make in our lives gives us permission to settle for less than God's best. It seems we always have an excuse for our shortcomings. We always have something or someone else to blame for our less-than-stellar lot in life. It is never our fault. We continuously brand our insecurities through seemingly justifiable alibis. We declare this is how it always is for us, for our families. We inhale the status quo and exhale the mundane.

When God called Moses, he came up with five cracking excuses, (Exodus 3:1-10). He was perhaps the most surprising person to pull the inadequacy excuse – to deny his calling, considering he had had a very privileged up-bringing as an adopted prince living in a royal palace, with the best available education. But still, when God called him, his courage failed and he saw himself as less than worthy.

'Closed doors don't always mean NO. Most of the time they mean that God has a bigger and better door. We must move forward and keep knocking.

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7 ESV

We get so immersed in the past and caught up on old technicalities we can't see hope staring at us through the dirty windows of our own self-appointed limitations. We are confined only by the walls we build ourselves. We can get so stuck in the rut of excuses we even make excuses for our excuses.

The Bible is littered with excuse-makers, starting off with Eve claiming it was all the serpent's fault and its erroneous ability to deceive her.

"Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate." Genesis 3:13 ESV

God is saying enough!

It's time to receive the victory God has in store for you. You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength! He can give you supernatural qualifications. He can cause you to be at the right place at the right time. If you speak life into your situation and speak faith into your circumstances, the favor of God and the blessings of Heaven will chase you down when you stop excusing them away.

The grace of God will supply all you need. Consequently, you will have no need for further rationalizations for lack of personal victory in your life.  Trust the Word of God and the plans He has for your life! God's plan says He will give you a new hope and a bright future.  Success will ultimately come to you when your dreams become bigger than your excuses.

Put to rest forever the old, makeshift justifications. Peel back the layers of excuse after excuse that are holding you back from God's best. Become a new creation in Christ and let the blood of Jesus and His salvation promises justify you, vindicate you, and excuse you from your excuses!

Through Christ, you are made new and made whole in every area of your life. Stop excusing away your dreams. Instead, grab hold of them. Start speaking life into your life. Let the promises of God settle in your heart, declare these truths, and let them override your regrets and rationalizations now.

When you give up your excuses you will find your results.

(Acknowledgments CBN)

Today's music, appropriately, is “Be Not Afraid” sung by Marilla Ness. Click on the picture as usual to listen.