No More Excuses—What’s in Your Hand?

God can do the extraordinary through the ordinary.

THIS WEEK’S BOLD STEP DEVOTION

“Moses answered, ‘What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, “The LORD did not appear to you”?’”
(Exodus 4:1)

When it comes to making excuses, none of us had to take a course. I’ve heard four-year-olds come up with the most creative explanations just to get out of trouble! And as adults, we only get more sophisticated in our reasoning. We dress our excuses up with logic and justification, but in the end, they do the same thing—keep us stuck instead of moving forward. That’s exactly what Moses discovered when he stood before the burning bush in Exodus 4. Faced with God’s call on his life, Moses began listing all the reasons why he couldn’t possibly do what God was asking of him.

I can relate to Moses. I’ve had moments where I’ve said, “Lord, I’m not gifted enough … not qualified enough … not the right person.” Maybe you’ve felt that way too. But notice how God responded. He didn’t ask Moses for his résumé or a list of credentials. Instead, He asked a simple but powerful question: “What is in your hand?” In other words, God was saying, “Stop focusing on what you don’t have and offer Me what you do.”

That same truth echoes throughout Scripture. Think of the young boy who brought Jesus his five loaves and two fish, or the widow who offered her small jar of oil. God took what seemed insignificant and used it to accomplish something miraculous. He doesn’t need our perfection. He desires our participation. The moment we stop making excuses and simply make ourselves available, God begins to do the extraordinary through ordinary people like you and me.

Bold Steps Challenge:
What’s in your hand today? Maybe it’s a small skill, some free time, or a relationship that needs your time and energy. Offer it to God and ask Him to use it. This week, instead of focusing on what you lack, thank God for what you have and take one bold step of obedience with it.

Prayer:
Father, forgive me for the excuses I’ve made that have kept me from obeying You fully. Help me to trust that You can use what’s already in my hand for Your glory. I surrender my abilities, my time, and my fears to You today. Do something extraordinary through my ordinary life. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Listen to the sermon: Overcoming Excuse

Part 1Part 2

Ministry Update from Mark

Christmas Day is just a few days away! As you prepare to celebrate the birth of our Messiah, Jesus, my wife Dee and I want to remind you not to forget the powerful name Immanuel, God with us. This is the essence of Christmas. For us, this is one of the most comforting names of Jesus. When we were dead in our sins, God took the incredible step of coming to us to cancel sin’s debt. As we step into a new year, and discouragement or worry try to rob you of that promise, remember this: Jesus is still Immanuel, God with us.