Stronger Than Excuses
by Diana Scothorn
I’ve made so many excuses in my life! Over the years, I’ve learned that any excuse I come up with to justify poor decisions or behavior is nothing more than giving myself a pardon, to do what I should or should not, do again!
Excuses not only become a reason to justify why we do what we do but also…
…permission to continue it! It’s not what happens that makes us unhappy. It’s our attitude and how we handle what happens that has the final outcome!
If we’re not careful, our current circumstances can become a permanent excuse! We may find ourselves five years after given birth, justifying our twenty-five extra pounds! We may be using the excuse of our mommy or daddy duties not to have time to make our spouse a priority! We may be tired from a temporary work schedule to get out of debt to justify our short patience or crumby disposition as a reason not to be approachable!
At twenty-one years of age, I was a struggling single parent with a small baby throwing a newspaper route to make ends meet. I had to do whatever was needed to provide and take responsibility for my situation. I learned quickly to find a way, not an excuse!
It’s never too late to get a fresh attitude and begin again. Where we start does not have to be where we stay! It’s not where Jesus intends us to finish our race. We can decide to change today. John 16:33 says, “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
We must keep moving forward when disappointment comes and not allow our disappointment to be an excuse to live unhappily! When doors are closed, it can bring disappointment. However, most times in my life, God would lead me into new doors by first closings old doors! One closed door is an opportunity for another door to open! Great news!
An excuse will overlook opportunities while we are hiding behind our problem. All the while, God has provided our answer, in front of the door we are hiding behind! God provides a way in and a way out, but we have to be responsible to own our mistakes, as well as take responsibility for our future!
We have authority in the name of Jesus to keep our problems from overcoming us and becoming an excuse to live an unhappy life. 1 John 5:4 says, “For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” We have the faith to overcome, and we can conquer our excuses!
John 10:10 days, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have an abundant life and have it to the full.
The devil will gladly excuse me from living the abundant life Jesus died to give me! It’s up to me to step in and not allow excuses to exclude me from living out my destiny. I’ve learned to be stronger than my excuses!
We’re not exempt from a problem-free life, but we are exempt from overcoming our problems and becoming an excuse to consume us. Romans 8:37 says, Yet in all these, “We are more than conquerors,” so excuse me, while I quit making excuses!
We are strong in the Lord, therefore stronger than our excuses. Excuses will keep us from being free to live a quality life, and either we can continue to make excuses, or we can enjoy our life and live it to the full!
~Diana
Diana Scothorn has a heart for helping women succeed, with a focus on a strong, spiritual, mental, and physical core. Diana’s background in the health and fitness world began with one of the most iconic names in fitness, Richard Simons. Overseeing ladies’ health clubs for 10 plus years allowed Diana to step into a passion for marketplace ministry even before ministering the gospel in business was widely accepted.
She’s been married to her prince charming, Stewart, going on 12 years, and they enjoy spending time with their 4 kids and 8 grandchildren. Both are ordained ministers of the Gospel, serve on the board of several well-known ministries, and are also co-owners of, The Benefit Link, Inc., a market place ministry business, which has been number one in the field for over 25 years and is licensed in all 50 States, serving senior citizens in need of compassion, prayer, and guidance when facing the challenges of the Medicare maze.
Diana’s been featured in Society Magazine’s Successful Business Women of the Year for 2018, 2019, and 2020. As an international speaker, Diana has traveled abroad for over 10 years, along with her husband, to help support missions throughout Europe and South America, focusing on funding the Kingdom and advancing the gospel.
Connect with Diana on Instagram and Facebook, where she has “Diana’s Daily Devotionals” encouraging and inspiring women to live daily in victory.
