I felt extra sleepy this morning, I always have the thought whenever I wake up, 

“If I just go back to bed, then I will have more energy and mental clarity to spend time with God.” 

This sounds convincing, but if I go back to bed I will actually sleep right up until I need to work, then my daughter will wake up, and then the rest of the day will get busy, and I won’t have that extra time with my Lord that my mind claimed would happen.

David Nasser gives a list of excuses on day 5 of his book:

• “I’m only going to do it just this once.”
• “Nobody’s looking.”
• “It’s not going to hurt anybody.”
• “Everybody’s doing it.”
• “Well, we’re not living in Biblical times.”
• “If I do what God wants, people will misunderstand. They’ll think I’m a religious fanatic or something.”
• “Doesn’t God want me to fit in with my old friends?”
• “It’s just too hard to do what God wants.”
• “I don’t have time.”
• “Well, it’s not exactly like that situation in the Bible when God specifically said no.”
• “I don’t really know what God wants me to do. Until he makes it clear, I’m going to keep doing what I’ve been doing.”

“I think many of us hide behind the excuses of convenience and confusion.”

Which resonates with you the most?

I’m going to add one more excuse I would hear often that is very specific but worth noting due to its frequency,

• I know she doesn’t go to church, but I love her, maybe she will become a Christian later in life.

Excuses sound so reasonable. What should we do?

Refuse to simply trust your mind. Keep in mind, that your brain’s goal is to make life as easy as possible.

We have to test every thought and impulse with scripture.

We have to remember that even in Christ, our old self is pushing against the things we know we are supposed to do.

So again, do not simply accept everything your mind tells you is right or “reasonable.”

Learn to be strategic and adaptable too. For example, if your mind and body are telling you that you need more sleep, maybe you need to go to sleep earlier instead of waking up later.

Is that all we can do?

Thankfully, there is another powerful strategy that makes obedience easier – find somebody who will hold you accountable. 

I’ll be honest with you, I would have failed this challenge and given up this week if I did this challenge in private…

I have radical accountability because if I quit, you will know it. I do not know how many people are actually following along in this challenge, but if there is anybody reading this day by day they will see if I stop uploading and will know that I gave in to my excuses.

Accountability from another believer (or a group of believers) is something I believe is necessary for us to live the Christian life well.

Jesus is worth a radical, no excuses obedience.

Again, if you fail, and we will often, give yourself grace through the understanding that Christ has lived the perfect life in our place. (Note: Giving yourself grace is different from abusing grace and I believe you know when you are doing that. Self-awareness is a powerful tool in the Christian life granted by the Holy Spirit)

Challenge: Focus on your thought life today. What is God calling you to do? What commands are you neglecting to obey? What excuses come to mind?

Also, find somebody to hold you accountable for following Jesus obediently and to continue this challenge all the way to the end (perhaps you could invite them to join you!).