No Excuses
And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” Luke 1:18
Zacharias wanted a sign to know that the angel was telling the truth about his future. He said to the angel, how can I know for sure that what you are telling me is really going to happen. He also told the angel why his words were impossible because he and his wife were both old now and it was too late for them to have children. However, the angel gave a rebuke to Zacharias and told him that because he didn’t believe what Gabriel told him, he would not be able to speak until all these things were fulfilled.
How many times have we made excuses when God showed us something He wanted to do in our lives or wanted us to do for His kingdom? How many times have we ignored the direction that God was giving, because we were not interested, or the circumstances didn’t look like they were lining up right. I know many times in my life, I didn’t do things God wanted me to simply because I didn’t realize it was God directing me and my flesh just didn’t feel like it today.
This is serious business. In this passage, we can plainly see the consequences of doubt and unbelief. Zacharias’ speech was gone for almost a year. That doesn’t seem like a long time 2000 years later, but to Zacharias, it probably felt like an eternity when he was going through it. At least he knew it was only until the angel, Gabriel’s words were completed.
What about us today? Is it just a random stream of bad luck coming against us when things look like they are always wrong? Does it seem like you are making excuses every time an opportunity comes? It never seems to be the right timing for next steps because you are always taking steps back or sideways? Do you hear your self defending why you cannot move forward? “My alarm didn’t go off,” “my car broke down.” “I don’t feel well today” or “I got stuck in traffic?”
Here’s the thing: Each time you ignore or say no to the things the Holy Spirit is leading you to, His voice not only becomes harder to discern, but that also begins to open a gap for the enemy to enter into your circumstances to hold you back. The longer you put off the steps of faith that you are given, the wider that gap becomes and the more trouble you are letting in.
I do have some good news, though. You can take steps today. What ever you know you have been avoiding from God or the things on your heart to do that you have put off because it is just not the perfect timing, you can turn in that direction today. Tell the Lord that you repent from not stepping into the things He is calling you to and ask Him to empower you to begin to walk out the things He has planned. It may feel like rowing up stream for a while and that is because you let yourself drift for so long. If you do not know or cannot remember what that thing is, ask the Holy Spirit to remind you where you got off track or what that next step is that you have not been in tune with. Then pay attention to the things He brings to your memory and if you are not sure when the thoughts come, ask Him if that is the thing. Don’t avoid or put off the plans He has for you. I can assure you that they are good plans and keeping in step and on mission with Him will keep that gap closed so the enemy will not be able to get in.
Today I want to encourage you to put excuses and bad timing away from you. Step into all that God has for your life by stepping into the things His is leading you to right now. I promise you they will be good plans. Like Zacharias, that is when you will see your miracle come and that is when your life will feel complete.
Today’s scripture reading: Luke 1:18-25
18 And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”
19 And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.
20 But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.”
21 And the people waited for Zacharias, and marveled that he lingered so long in the temple.
22 But when he came out, he could not speak to them; and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple, for he beckoned to them and remained speechless.
23 So it was, as soon as the days of his service were completed, that he departed to his own house.
24 Now after those days his wife Elizabeth conceived; and she hid herself five months, saying,
25 “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.”
The Daily Dose 