Excuses

I once heard a preacher say that an excuse was “the skin off of a reason, stuffed with a lie”. I was a youngster when I heard that, but it made quite an impression on me.  I have caught myself making excuses for something I don’t want to do, even though I know I should do it. There have been times recently that I’ve booked my calendar a bit to aggressively and arrived late to an appointment. (That is a “pet peeve” of mine.) I have to take responsibility for me. I have to take responsibilities for my actions. If I look for someone else to blame, I believe that I lose integrity in the eyes of others. I must own my mistakes and my choices instead of make excuses for them.

If there is anyone I shouldn’t make excuses too, it’s the Lord. He knows me like no one else. He knows what my personal plans, hopes and dreams look like. He knows if He’s part of them as well.

I started reading through the writings of Jeremiah this morning and out of the gate, Jeremiah makes excuses before the Lord and the Lord calls him out. Check this out….

⁴ The Lord gave me this message:

⁵ “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb.
    Before you were born I set you apart
    and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

⁶ “O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”

⁷ The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. ⁸ And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” ⁹ Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said,

“Look, I have put my words in your mouth!
¹⁰ Today I appoint you to stand up
    against nations and kingdoms.
Some you must uproot and tear down,
    destroy and overthrow.
Others you must build up
    and plant.”(Jeremiah 1:4-10 NLT)

I was reminded this morning that when the Lord calls me, I fully intend to answer. I don’t need to make excuses or ignore His call. I need to listen and act upon His call. I have been on this journey to read His Word first thing in the morning for several years now. I felt called to start writing about what the Lord was saying to me. This became my inspirational blog. I’ve asked a few times if I could stop now and just write for me, but He keeps calling me to continue. I plan to be faithful to Him until He releases me.  I hope that anyone who reads these words, does not put me on any sort of pedestal. I’m a simple man who loves the Lord and I want Him to direct my path as I seek Him every day – no excuses. I want to be faithful to His call.

Pressing On!

Dwayne