Did you make any New Year’s resolutions?  I’m sure that if you are like me there are many things you would like to see different about your life, even things you feel that God himself wants you to do:   Lose weight, read the Bible more, be a better spouse, parent, etc.  The problem is, as soon I as I decide to be different.  I’ll have plenty of excuses to keep me from doing what is right.

In Exodus 4 we see Moses making excuse to God. God wanted Moses to free his own people from slavery. God picked Moses for this task, but Moses said to the Lord, “O Lord, I HAVE NEVER BEEN ELOQUENT, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I AM SLOW OF SPEECH AND TONGUE.” [i]

We are just like Moses. Which is exactly why, at the end of January, 40% of New Year’s resolutions are already gone.  By February 15th, 75% of people have given up on their New Year’s resolutions.  Excuses become our reality.  Resolutions are good intentions.  The problem arises when we rely on our own strength which has limits.

Do you have good intentions or God intentions?  There’s a big difference.  Good intentions center around us.  Good intentions are me centered. God intentions are God centered. When we say, “This is what God wants to be different about my life.”  Instead of being based on my own abilities, my own strength, my own resolve, if I’ve got a God intention, then I can rely fully on God’s power to do what God wants me to do.

When you know what God of the universe wants for you; and when you agree with God that this should be different, there is no excuse on earth that can keep it from happening.  If God is for you, who can be against you?[ii] If God is the author of the change and you have every power available to you from Him, then there is no excuse that will keep you from the perfect will of God. Why? Because this isn’t a me-centered good intention, this is a God-centered God intention! This is what He wants and no force on earth will keep me from His will.

I want to live with, no more excuses and I pray you will too.

What is it that God wants to be different?  Be prepared: He’s going to ask you to do something that you don’t think is possible.  That’s even more evidence that it’s God asking you, because He loves to get the glory when He helps you to do things you couldn’t do on your own.

In Exodus 4 God says, ‘Moses, you’re my guy.’ Moses says, ‘No God, I’m not your guy!’

Moses in effect says, ‘I don’t like public speaking and leaders have to speak publicly.

And what was Moses doing in response to God’s challenge? He was looking at his own inabilities rather than God’s unlimited abilities. He was looking at his own very limited power, rather than God’s unlimited power.

Two truths, from Exodus 4 that God is saying to Moses and to you:

1.  Do what I can do.

God goes on to say this to Moses in verse 12, Moses quit making excuses:

…Now go!  Exodus 4:12a

‘Do what you can do, now go! I’ve told you what to do now go! No excuses, quit thinking about it, quit talking about it, quit stressing about it.  Go!  Do it, do it!’   Just start taking steps in the right direction. 

What is it you can do?  Pray? Ask for accountability? Buy some gym shoes? Set your alarm? Get a workout partner?  Join a Growth Group?  Stop eating seconds? Stop buying cigarettes?  Do what you can do.

It’s almost like God implied ‘Go and when you go I will help you and teach you.’, ‘I’m not going to help you and teach you until you go. You do what you can do, there are some things I won’t do for you.

Which Leads to the Second Truth:

2.      Trust God to Do What I Cannot Do

…I will help you speak and will teach you what to say. Exodus 4:12b

Rick Warren has said that there are over 365 promises from God in the Bible, one for every day of the year.    Do you know what God’s most common promise is?  I will be with you.  I will never leave you or forsake you.[iii]   What God has called you to do, he will help you to do.  What God wants you to do, he will teach you to do.  You are never alone. 

Some of you I hope you can say, I have faith for what God has asked me to do. I have faith for it. If He directs it, He will protect it. I have faith for this.

Think about what could be different in your life, in the lives of those around you if you would say, “no more excuses?”  No more good ideas, you have God ideas, centered around Him, His power and His glory. You do what you can do and you trust God to do what you cannot do and He will get all of the glory.

Darrell

For more about the series, “No More”  go to www.Ridgefellowship.com