I picked up 10 pounds over Christmas. I’ve been in denial. After all, I’ve been the same weight for years. I eat healthy — except for that Key Lime pie I had the other day, and that donut they were handing out before church and. . .
I work out. Well, I walk a lot.
Okay, sometimes I don’t walk. Like when it rains.
But I subscribe to Daily Burn. . . but I haven’t used it much.
Oh crud.
I’m out of excuses.
And this extra 10 pounds isn’t a vanity issue. It’s a “get-in-my-way-issue.” The reality is that I really do want to live a long, healthy life. I want to run with my grandkids. I want my clothes to fit. I want to run up stairs and ride bikes on sunny summer days.
And that muffin-top move I make with my jeans, I’m kind of over it.
The extra 10 pounds has to go and the first thing I will shed in that process is my excuses.
I know that this is a hard topic. It makes you think of finger wagging and “shoulds” and “you ought to’s.” But it’s not. Not at all. It’s just being honest with myself — in a good way. It’s admitting that I have things I want to do, and something is in the way.
Years ago I wanted nothing more than to be whole. To feel like myself, the real self I knew existed somewhere in there. I sensed God gently beckoning me to deeper waters, higher paths, more adventure, greater intimacy with Him, new horizons.
What a beautiful gift, so what did I offer Him in response?
Excuses.
I’ll take you on that offer when she says she’s sorry.
I’ll go deeper when I feel more secure.
I’ll forgive when the memories aren’t so real.
I’ll trust in You when I’m more assured of me.
My excuses became self-made mountains I refused to climb.
Which meant that, despite the fact that I wanted to be whole, that I wanted nothing more than to live and love and laugh fully, those excuses stood in the way.
What does it look like to stop offering excuses to God?
It’s surrender.
I know that I talk about this word a lot, but when I don’t know how to do it on my own and there’s a lot of stuff tangled in there that makes it seem impossible, it’s all I have to offer Him.
It’s so much greater a response than an.excuse.
Surrender looks like this:
I’ll heal whether anyone else wants to be fixed or not.
I’ll go deeper because He is waiting in those deeper waters for me.
I’ll forgive old memories so I can make new ones, not just for me but for my children.
I’ll trust that He sees something in me and that’s enough.
Giving up excuses completely changes the trajectory of your thinking.
It completely changes you.
And this is something I had no way of knowing way back then. It changes relationships and people.
Those you love see you tackling that mountain with His help and they are changed, too.
What is your excuse?
No finger wagging, “you oughta” tone here. We’re just a bunch of brave girls holding out our hands for all that God desires to give.
And I’m just a friend who’s putting on her walking shoes and preparing for a nice, long walk — on the pavement and in my heart.
Just a friend wishing you were here to walk with me.
Suzie
“Giving up excuses completely changes the trajectory of your thinking.”
That is so true. I love what you said about excuses becoming self-made mountains. It seems the more excuses we make, the more we feel the need to make. The beauty of it is that once we start tearing them down, we recognize the freedom that comes from kicking that habit.
Thanks for sharing this today and for tying up your sneakers & walking with me through #livefreeThursday.
I really shouldn’t be posting at 4 a.m. I wind up being accidentally anonymous! This thanks was from me!
“Giving up excuses completely changes the trajectory of your thinking.”
That is so true. I love what you said about excuses becoming self-made mountains. It seems the more excuses we make, the more we feel the need to make. The beauty of it is that once we start tearing them down, we recognize the freedom that comes from kicking that habit.
Thanks for sharing this today and for tying up your sneakers & walking with me through #livefreeThursday
4 a.m. Ooh, no one likes 4 a.m. <3 But I'm glad you are with me today. Get rested, friend!
My walking shoes are on and im ready to hit the road! Let’s go!
I love how honest you are. I get paid to listen to excuses so this level of self awareness makes my heart rejoice.
Excuses certainly keep us from jumping into that unknown, don’t they? Thanks for this good word today:)
“What does it look like to stop offering excuses to God? It’s surrender.” Whoa! Reading this was a “stop-me-in-my-tracks” moment. Thank you for your words, Suzie. Since moving back to the mainland three years ago, I’ve gained 20 lbs. Sound familiar? Very few clothing items fit, and I keep saying, “Monday I’ll start….”. I was all gung-ho after reading Made to Crave. It spoke. There was power on the pages of that book, but I couldn’t do it. In fact, I GAINED more weight. It’s time to face that there’s a heart issue at the base of all of this. It’s nice to know I’m not alone, but it’s even sweeter to see how another is facing and fighting this battle.
Surrender, welcome to my prayer closet. (deep sigh) Thanks, Suzie.
Grab your shoes, Kristi! There’s mountains to climb, things to see, things to do!
Oh sweet Suzie, I can SO relate! I love this: “My excuses became self-made mountains I refused to climb.” Wish I was there to walk with you as I am SO ready to give up those excuses and surrender once and for all. Thanks for the inspiration today and for hosting an awesome linkup!
This is one of my favorite days of the week because of the conversation that takes place. And the community. Kim, I so appreciate you and your willingness to jump in and be a part of whatever good is taking place. Your smile and your words make a difference. YOU make a difference.
I’m ready to go on that walk with you, Suzie! Let’s do this. 🙂
Grab your shoes, friend!
My excuses were often steeped in self-contempt. I had bought into the lies of the evil one that I was not good enough to be used of God. My loving, heavenly Father was whispering promises of a ministry sharing my story of healing, but for a time I made excuses about how I would never be able to do that. After all, I would say, I’m still on the journey, and anyway, who would ever want to listen to me? When I finally stopped making excuses, and started sharing my story on my blog, I was overwhelmed by God’s faithfulness. Not only were people there, ready to listen, but these beautiful people showered me with love and understanding – which has been so encouraging. God has blessed my obedience beyond my wildest imaginings!
Many blessings to you this Easter Suzie,
Kamea
Kamea, there is so much insight in this. I think when we are honest is when people can listen. We’ll never be perfect and that’s not the goal. There’s so much healing as we start telling our stories and we do so with the angle of “this is what God is doing, want to join in?”.
I love what you shared. Thank you.
Great post! Thanks for being so eye-opening honest. Love your inspiring words. Putting on my shoes, ready to run away from excuses!
Dear Suzie,
I love that you are asking to walk together, there is something profound about ‘pounding pavement’ with others who are radically pursing hope, it’s contagious… infectious…life altering. And there is something else, it is active. It sheds layers by letting us open up our hearts for what grace invokes rather than inviting the stagnancy that hiding holds us to.
No more excuses … stepping out and letting love find me and embracing, no accepting His radical pursuit of my life. Thanks for the invitation!
Blessings,
Dawn
“My excuses became self-made mountains I refused to climb.” Oh such truth here! I became such an awesome mountain builder! Well God is a mountain mover and He moved mine! But there’s more ahead, more He’s telling me to do so I am putting on my shoes too! Let’s do this! Let’s be women who #livefree!!
This was my favorite: I’ll heal whether anyone else wants to be fixed or not! So true Suzie. We need not look around at what others are doing, we just need to follow Christ with no more excuses!
You know that you caught my attention and my heart with the lead in on this! Bye-Bye excuses!
Faithfully fit, right? <3 I love what you do with the women in your ministry. It’s such a beautiful combination of friendship, faith, and fitness.
Thank you Suzie! And we always say, “Once an FF girl, always an FF girl!” …so you are in our hearts forever! Happy Easter!
Great post Suzie. I really needed this reminder. I’ve made so many excuses in different areas of my life.
Mercy friend. How is it that where He leads you is so often the place I need to go? The timing of this is perfect. A hard “no-excuses” conversation is just hours away. Not looking forward to it. But the reality is that what lies ahead is what real love looks like and it leaves me bowed at the knee with no excuses. Real love wouldn’t look the other way. Real love wouldn’t ignore. Thank you for this today Suzie. No link up today for me. Time needed to be spent in preparation for this “no excuses” talk. I’ll just savor the wisdom and fellowship from you and the others. Have a blessed Easter!
AMEN. Let me be one that walks along you ybecause all of us are in this together. God bless you and keep you. Thank you so much for speaking your heart and being such a blessing for us. Lots of love.
Oh Suzie,
Fab post. It’s got me thinking, surrender/give it to God, what does it actually mean? Maybe I should actually know that answer but I’m not sure I do. Or maybe Ive fallen into a trap of false surrender, oh I don’t know. For a million reasons from my past and life now, excuses have been my self imposed prison. Its also so hard when you think you’ve made progress, to discover you haven’t really. Side note-I love as a community of women, it’s being honest and sharing faith. Being real even if it’s via blogs and various timezones. Thank You!!
Awesome! I have been breaking free of those excuses this year and feel more whole and closer to the Lord than I have in a long time. Thank you for sharing what my heart is crying out!
Oh Suzie, thanks for another timely reminder. My excuse sounds something like, “If people only knew, they’d feed so sorry for me”. And that way of thinking feeds into pitying myself and allowing myself “small indulgences” in the form of overeating and spending on unnecessary, and sometimes even unwanted, items!
God is challenging me to switch the “poor me” thinking to thankfulness-even when it makes no sense to be thankful! Habitual thankfulness frees me from the limits I place on myself, others, and ultimately on the work He wants to do on my behalf.
I’m with you, Suzie! Praying for all of us who are shedding our excuses and shedding those things that hinder God’s progress in us. Great post!
I love this: “What does it look like to stop offering excuses to God? It’s surrender. ” Thank you for this post and this link – I needed this! xoxo Letetia
Suzie,
I’ve been going through a 3 year process of accepting the truth of my past abuse, it was what it was. I worked through forgiving my Mom. And starting working on thanking God for her. And then, bam! It hit me like a brick like it always does. When I mess up, all I can hear is my Mom’s voice and words to me and I get in a fog of worthlessness. I know God wants to heal me completely. I don’t know how to get that “truth” out of my head in those times. I study His Word every day, beg for His truth to replace the lies. What do I do? And please, pray for me and for my broken Mother.