Aren’t we all guilty of making excuses for one thing or another? Pope Francis tells us “God is calling you. Don’t make excuses.” Are you waiting for the right time? Are you open to hearing, seeing and experiencing new things? Do you listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit? Often God is providing an opportunity to have you meet a challenge and yet, this falls on deaf ears or we create an excuse not to take this opportunity. Thus was the response of Moses in Exodus 3:4-14 and 4:13-16. God could have freed the Israelites Himself, but chose to have Moses do this. When asked, Moses had five excuses:
I am not up to the task I don’t know enough People don’t take me seriously I am not good with the word I am not willing.
Do any of these excuses resonate with you? Are there times when you feel you are not up to the task and do not believe you can step out of your comfort place? Excuses can be a shield which prevents us from getting what we really want or fulfilling a dream. They can be limiting, and are a way of acting out of fear. Do we use excuses both in a good or bad way, as a means to defend our actions?
Have you heard or do you say to yourself “I am not praying – I am just not feeling it?” God hears the prayers of our heart and by that, He transforms us. Perhaps it is time to examine our excuses and eliminate those that are not beneficial to us opening new windows and seeing the incredible possibilities God has for us.