EXCUSES ARE FOR PEOPLE who don’t want it bad enough. Now before you get all riled up, are there things you can’t do? Yes. You cannot fly without some kind of device or apparatus. You are not Superman, you cannot see through walls or reverse time by flying around the earth backward at the speed of light. But let’s face it, the things that don’t get done in our life are because we really don’t want to do it or we have a great amount of fear and so we make excuses.
I can find reasons why I “can’t” eat healthy. I can make a ton of excuses to why I “can’t” exercise. I can always come up with a “valid” reason to not go to church or read my Bible or get away to pray. I can make excuses as to why I “can’t” change my marriage, change my thoughts, or change my actions. Sounding familiar? The apostle Paul said quite the opposite of “I can’t”
“I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:12-13
We like to quote this scripture, well at least vs. 13, a lot. Yet, many get it twisted and it’s somehow become an NBA winning slogan. Many equate Paul’s words more to Nike than to the Word of truth. The Spirit through Paul’s affliction and suffering is calling out in victory, “I CAN DO ALL THINGS Through Christ who gives me strength!” I can accomplish anything and everything He asks of me through His strength.
I am always victorious through Christ who strengthens me. I am more than a conqueror because He loved me. I am able to overcome giants all the days of my life. I can endure any pain, all suffering, rejection and the fear of man. My heart is kept from bitterness and offense because I can endure all things through Him. I can overcome past pain and sin and any future persecution the enemy throws at me. The world can throw everything it has at me and I will be steadfast and overcome. This is what Paul was saying when he said, “I can do all things.”
Are you weak? THEN, let His strength be made perfect in you. It’s readily available to those in Him who will appropriate the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome. However, you have done work to do. You have to control your thought life and take every thought captive. You have to guard your heart with all diligence. You have to control the words of your mouth. Speak life to those dry bones of doubt. Stop saying, “I can’t, I won’t, I might, I’ll try, maybe later, tomorrow….” start saying, “I can do all things in Him”.
No more excuses.
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