“It’s time to stop making excuses and start getting well.”

A thought by Craig Groeschel (2015-10-27) from his book, #Struggles: Following Jesus in a Selfie-Centered World (p. 201). Zondervan. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

I don’t know how you are finishing this year and what you are carrying into the new year. Is it the same thing that you started 2015 with? Craig gives some great advice. Oh I know. My dad used to say that advice not asked for stinks. I know that can be true. But this thought could make all the difference in the new year ahead. Here it is, “It’s time to stop making excuses and start getting well.” That is very good stuff.

Over in John 5:8-9 we find Jesus looking at a crippled man and He said to him, “‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.” Maybe that is what he is saying to you at the end of 2015.

Craig said, “Jesus didn’t heal the man a month later; it happened immediately. In the same way, when you surrender this challenge to Jesus, he can do more in that moment than you can even imagine. You might not feel any different, and the change might not happen all at once, but Jesus’ power will be working in you.”

He continues, “Jesus told the invalid to get up and start walking. That’s a pretty hefty assignment for a guy who most likely had never walked in his life. Jesus told him to do what everyone else would have considered impossible. Notice that the guy didn’t even ask Jesus to heal him. Jesus just did it because he’s Jesus.”

And then Craig gives another good thought, “When you get close to Jesus, he will do things you don’t even ask him to do. He’s just that good.”

Craig then says, “Right now Jesus may be saying to you, ‘I don’t want to hear your excuses. I want you to believe that I have something even better, something richer for you. Something that will satisfy your longing that nothing else can quench.’”

Is that what He is saying to you?

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