By Johnson Omomadia

Is it not a shame that so many are limited today in life because of excuses. Look all around you and you will find multitudes whose destinies are not fulfilled. So many have not even tried and yet they are quick to say I can’t. Check the history of those who have failed in life or given up and you will find one thing in common amongst them. That common thing is excuse. Know for definite that people who are fond of excuses hardly breakthrough in life. They find it difficult discovering insights. They can hardly advance or progress in any given situation.

Listen to me, no matter the form it takes, an excuse is no reason for non-performance. Let’s look at a case in the bible in Gen. 3:9-13. “And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And He said, who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? And the man said, the woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the woman, what is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, the serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.”

This text states the origin of the fall of man. When God confronted Adam about his sin Adam blamed the woman. Similarly the woman blamed the devil. Instead of both of them to take responsibility for their actions they passed the buck. They gave excuses that could not bring restoration rather resulted in them been driven away from the garden of  Eden. They lost the presence of God wherein is fullness of joy and entered into sorrow, pain and all of its associates.

Beloved, do know that no matter your excuse God always know the truth and He usual holds us responsible for our actions. Also, know that what you make excuse for, you never repent of. No one can hardly succeed in life with excuse if they don’t confront their faults. Whatever form it takes an excuse is no reason for non-performance. Prov. 22:13 states, “the slothful man saith, there is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets”.

The lazy person will always look for excuses not to do something. They will give you uncountable reasons why the task was not done. Now in Daniel 6, a decree was signed that no one should call on the name of any other god for thirty days or else such a person would be thrown into the lions’ den. This decree would have been a perfect excuse for Daniel not to pray so that he can be alive. But to Daniel the threat of death was not strong enough to make him give excuse as to why he could not pray. What about the three Hebrew boys, while others were bowing to strange gods they refused to bow. Not even the threat of the king to increase the heat of the furnace seven times more could make them give excuse so that they too could bow. At the end of both cases you will find out that victories was their portion at the end of the day.

Until you stop making excuses, you never rise above your present level. Listen, no one is responsible for your present status. Stop blaming people or the family that you came from as being the cause of the hardship. So many say the reason they did not go to school was because there was no one to train them. This is not true. If you look beside you or read history very well you will find people whose cases were worse than yours but stepped out and conquered their situation. Gideon in Judges 6, was arguing with the angel that he is not a mighty man of valour because of the things he saw physically. The angel however encouraged him to in this his might. When he arose he won the battle. You see, most failures occur with people who have the habit of making excuses.

People who are in the habit of making excuses never get entrusted with greater responsibilities. Remember the case of the man with one talent in Matt. 25:15 & 25-28. He gave his master excuse for not using the one talent and ended up losing the talent while those who utilized their talent where given greater assignments.

Let me close by asking you a simple question. What do you think would have become of Barrack Obama, who is now the president of the United States of America, if he had decided not to contest for the presidency because he is a black man and that no black man had ever become president. His life would have been miserable and full of regrets. Thank God he refused to make excuses.

Hear the word of the Lord. There is greatness inside of you. Rise beyond and above mediocrity. You can make it. Don’t allow the devil to lie to you. Confront all your excuses and you will find out that they have no strength. STOP MAKING EXCUSES.

Have you given your life to Jesus? If not, please pray this prayer. Father, I come to you as I am. I invite Jesus into my life to be my personal Lord and Saviour. Wash me cleanse with the blood of Jesus and empower me with the power of your Holy Spirit. Thank you Father for saving my soul and making me your child.