Excuses are explanations, vindications, theories, hypothesis or alibis put forward so as to cover up failure and not look bad .if you settle for excuses and it becomes a habit, you develop the failure –prone disease of excuse making and that will keep you bound in poverty regardless of your other good qualities. Excuses are actually done in consideration of oneself, “what I want others to think of me” or an attempt to be in control through manipulation.

The more you choose to make excuses, the more you become open to failure in life. Successful people have overcome this bad habit. Unsuccessful people are full of excuses and the habits put them permanently in a defensive stand of powerlessness. Successful people make no excuses and accept none. This stand brings about enlightenment, motivation, power and a sense of control over ones destiny.

Forms of Excuses.

Excuse come in various forms and shapes: am not feeling well. my back won’t let me, I don’t have an education, am not smart enough, am too old or too young, I have bad luck, am cursed,I don’t have enough time,I don’t know how(admit that you’re lazy), I don’t have the money, etc. The bad thing about excuse is that we have used them for long that we actually now believe them.

Christians have their own unique excuses “spiritual excuses’’ e.g. it is probably not the will of God for me, I need deliverance from demonic powers, God will have to do a miracle for me to get that, I am living by faith, I am waiting on the lord etc. All these religious statements are true but in the wrong context. They are dangerous excuses. How can you know the difference, firstly ,you must never put things off on God until you are absolutely sure you have done all that can humanly possibly be done about the solution. Secondly, if you have been saying them for too long, they are excuses for sure. You need to stop doing that now. One man said he had been waiting for God for five years, God said no; I have been waiting for you to take action.

Excuses keep you from dominating, makes a victim out of you instead of a victor, makes you blame others, circumstances or even God, makes you foolishly pray for God to change the other person or some times the situation, opens you to bitterness and resentment, keeps everlasting poverty and prevents you from accomplishing your goals and dreams.

1. A person who makes excuses has accepted defeat. It puts us in a victim position, which encourages anger, frustration, and bitterness.

2. A person who makes excuses cannot sincerely repent and if you cannot repent, neither can you confess. Proverb 28:13 ‘Whoever conceals his faults will not prosper, but he who confesses and renounces them will be shown mercy.” excuses are cover ups. They clearly hinder prosperity and success.

3. A person who makes excuses is in denial. In denial, you can neither grow nor be healed. Confessing faults is the exact opposite of what we do when we make excuses.

4. A person who makes excuses is lying first to himself /herself and then to others. Truth sets us free and lies hold us in bondage.

5. A person who makes excuses loses authority. You cannot be effective either in prayers or in spiritual warfare. You cannot be effective in leadership because you are trying to avoid blames. Effective leaders accept blame.

6. A person who makes excuses cannot prosper. Fortune actually follows the bold and humble. This type of humility actually brings prosperity. It causes people to be inquisitive, to ask questions, to listen instead of talking and show off, to seek knowledge, to attend helpful meetings, to read books. It makes people identify errors quickly, correct situation immediately and save money. Prudence brings prosperity.

Solution

Write all the excuses you use constantly, watch out daily for more. Mentally renounce them all. Ask God for forgiveness. Mentally determine a different statement from those excuses that is proactive, makes you responsible and puts you in control of situation and your destiny e.g. iam responsible for that, I apologize forgive me. I will do better next time and make sure you spend time and think about it, asking God for wisdom and find out where you went wrong and mentally correct the problem. Finally, do not accept excuses from others. You are expected to love your neighbour as your self. If you don’t accept your excuses, you should not accept theirs. Make this a new habit; if you do any thing consistently for 21days, it becomes a habit. You are on the path to success.