Excuses: By Jessi Martin                               10/30/08

Excuses are a part of everyday life, they are considered acceptable reasons on "Why we didn't do something expected of us somehow releasing us from a responsibility, to defer blame or criticism for a mistake or wrongdoing, to overlook or allow somebody's wrongdoing, or release somebody from an obligation or responsibility or to justify ones actions. In other words, Excuses are the label we give to things to make us feel better about Not doing something or letting Others do it instead, things like: I'm not smart enough , pretty enough, talented enough, brave enough, somebody else would be better suited for the job, etc....

All these excuses are lies that the enemy uses to keep us from living fulfilled lives, the lives that God has planned for us. Whenever we have self doubt or fears we twist and turn them until we have manipulated them into reasonable "excuses" for getting out of whatever it is that we didn't want to do in the first place and whenever we allow our selves to make excuses we are limiting God. Instead of praying and asking God to Help us, or even Fix us or Mold us, we simply excuse it until it's not longer bothersome to us and we forget about it...when in reality all it is, is a lame excuse we have made up ourselves in order to avoid any situation that may Stretch us or Challenge us more than we believe we are capable of enduring.

Excuses are simply limits that we place on God, they are the fears the enemy places inside of us to keep us from allowing God to have full control over our lives, they are the little things that we tell ourselves are logical or the more responsible thing to do when in reality, they are the very things that make us irresponsible. They are rational fears that we encounter in view of the worlds standards, but irrational in view of God's unsurpassable power. When we fear them, we allow that to rule our lives instead of God ruling our lives. In other words, Excuses are simply unacceptable. And there comes a time in everyone's lives that we must grow up, but by whose standard do we grow up?

I've been dragged into all the traps of the enemy for too long, the traps that tell me I must do this or I must do that, I must go here or go there in order to be successful or responsible but in the life of a Christian those "excuses" that come from the society or the enemy should have no place in our lives. For when we become "responsible" adults in the worlds eyes, we actually become irresponsible to the standards of Gods word, we slowly replace the standards instilled in us by God's word with the ones that surround us on a daily basis, by becoming too "busy" for being involved in ministry, or by not taking a leap of faith based on logic and before we even realize it, we have been entrapped by the tricks of the enemy. We must recognize that God isn't ruled by logic or by earthly things & when He is in charge of my life, I have no need for excuses. I didn't have the ability to make it through college on my own nor did I have the finances, but through Him, I did it. I don't have a job, but I'm still safely in His protection and under His provision. My car is 21 years old, but still running by the Grace of God, financial stability is extremely rare in our economy today, but my finances are still secure.

It's time for us to stop letting the standard of this world be our standard. I may not have a job or a five year plan for my life, I might not even know what tomorrow brings, which I don't, but what I do know is that If God calls me to do something...I'll do it...if God doesn't...I will be still be faithful...and until the next step is revealed...one thing I know for sure...I better be ready.

I have no more excuses for Not living the life that God has for me, I'm trusting Him and Following Him, its that simple. I'm still going to be faithful in what I have, take comfort in who He is, and keep on preparing for what is to come....instead of making excuses based on the worlds views, why not make plans based on His so I can Experience All that He has for me.

I'm taking a leap of Faith and beginning a 1 month fast from sweets and pop, giving up simple earthly pleasures to starve my flesh, so God can take charge and I can be ready for all that He has planned for my life. So God can begin to break the bondage of the enemy and begin reshaping my life into a life filled with Purpose & Power. So I don't have to waste any more of my life living in a trap the enemy has laid out for me but living a life of Expectancy & Fulfillment of the all the plans and purposes for my life. No more Excuses!!!