“Most of us are all too willing to latch on to the first excuse we can find to explain why our health is out of our control.”

A thought by Nelson Searcy from his book, The New You: A Guide to Better Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Wellness (p. 28). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

Excuses are so much easier to use than self-control but it's not maybe the way we really want to go.

Nelson says, “Here are a few excuses specifically related to physical health:

-       I’m just big-boned.

-       I don’t have time to work out.

-       Since God is in control, he will take care of my body.

-       I have an issue that makes losing weight impossible.

-       I don’t like the taste of healthy foods.

-       Obesity, diabetes, and heart disease run in my family. They are genetic.

Nelson goes on, “That last one reminds me of a joke I heard recently. An overweight man goes to his family doctor for a checkup. When the doctor shows concern over his weight, the man says, ‘Doc, the problem is that obesity runs in my family.’ The doctor replies, ‘No, the problem is that no one in your family runs!’ The excuses that fill our minds make us believe that we are at the mercy of things beyond our control. So we throw up our hands, convince ourselves that we are doing okay compared to the next person, and forge ahead with life, excuses firmly in place. Even if we can recognize the pattern of blame shifting, it is hard to break because—let’s face it—being a victim takes the responsibility off our shoulders. We feel better about ourselves and have an easier time justifying the poor health choices in our lives if we can blame our current health situation on something other than our own daily decisions.

“But no matter how much we try to outrun it, we can’t get away from the truth that the apostle Paul so clearly levied in a letter he wrote to some friends thousands of years ago: ‘Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows’ (Gal. 6:7 NIV).

“If you sow seeds of poor health into your life, poor health is what you will end up with. But the good news is that the truth works both ways. If you are intentional about sowing seeds that lead to good health, you will reap good health. If you sow seeds necessary for good relationships, you will reap good relationships. If you sow seeds of rest and restoration, you will experience less stress and less fatigue. If you sow seeds of connection with God, you will experience more of his presence. You get the idea.”

He then says, “Sowing good seeds looks a lot like taking responsibility for your life. It looks a lot like taking a hard look at where you are and where you want to be and deciding to do what needs to be done to bridge the gap. It is refusing to make excuses and choosing instead to make better choices—choices that lead to health and wholeness and to the life you want to be living. And, again, it is never too late to get started.”

So, would you with me stop making excuses and start being intentional at planting good seeds?  Will you?

Yes, yes!