Eliminating ExcusesSýnishorn

Take responsibility for your life

In the last 3 days, we reflected on the importance of eliminating excuses so as not to miss opportunities, to value what we already have in our hands, and to not let labels limit us. How do we eliminate excuses from our lives in a practical way? The first thing we have to do is take responsibility for our lives. As we read yesterday, Jabez took responsibility for his life; he decided he was not going to live with the label that someone else put on him.

In Matthew 7, we find Jesus talking about taking responsibility. He challenges us to stop looking at the speck of sawdust in our brother’s eye and to pay attention to the plank in our own eye. In other words, He is telling us, ‘’Don’t look at the lives of others. Look at your own life. You’re not a judge in this world. Don’t look at how someone else lives, thinks, operates, or walks in life. Look at how you think, operate, and walk in life. Put down the magnifying glass you hold over everybody else and put yourself in front of a mirror.’’

Let’s not use excuses of what others do or did to us. We live in a world where most are constantly looking for someone to blame. We blame people, the government, our bosses, our neighbours, the members of our church, our relatives, and even God—we blame others, and we don’t take responsibility for our current condition.

When we live blaming others, we abandon the power to change.

You have to keep in mind that:

·You’re not responsible for how others live. You’re responsible for how you live.

·You’re not responsible for how others think. You’re responsible for how you think.

·You’re not responsible for how others believe. You’re responsible for how you believe in God.

Eliminate the excuses because God has called us for something so much bigger than what we could ever imagine.

Don’t let the behaviour of others affect your calling.

Take responsibility for your calling because The One who called you is faithful and good to fulfill what He promised. Take responsibility for your own life.

Prayer: Father, I’m sorry for speaking and saying things about others that don’t build your Kingdom. Help me to take responsibility when you show me that I have to change something. Develop in me a humble character that is not watching and judging others, but takes responsibility to think, act, and speak as is worthy of your calling. In Jesus’ name, amen.