Without Excuses

Song: 24 ~ Artist: Switchfoot ~ Album: Beautiful Letdown

Twenty four oceans
Twenty four skies
Twenty four failures
Twenty four tries
Twenty four finds me
In twenty-fourth place
Twenty four drop outs
At the end of the day
Life is not what I thought it was
Twenty four hours ago

Still I'm singing Spirit take me up in arms with You
And I'm not who I thought I was twenty four hours ago
Still I'm singing Spirit take me up in arms with You

Twenty four reasons to admit that I'm wrong
With all my excuses still twenty four strong

See I'm not copping out not copping out not copping out
When You're raising the dead in me
Oh, oh I am the second man
Oh, oh I am the second man now
Oh, oh I am the second man now

And You're raising these twenty four voices
With twenty four hearts
With all of my symphonies
In twenty four parts
But I wan to be one today
Centered and true

I'm singing Spirit take me up in arms with You
You're raising the dead in me
Oh, oh I am the second man
Oh, oh I am the second man now
Oh, oh I am the second man now
And You're raising the dead in me

I want to see miracles, see the world change
Wrestled the angel, for more than a name
For more than a feeling
For more than a cause
I'm singing Spirit take me up in arms with You
And You're raising the dead in me
Twenty four voices
With twenty four hearts
With all of my symphonies
In twenty four parts.
I'm not copping out. Not copping out. Not copping out.

This song has had a profound affect on my life. Everytime I hear these words I'm challenged in my walk with the Lord. I'm also reminded of the times that I have made excuses for not doing or being all that the Lord wants. The Spirit of God is raising the dead in me. He's quickening my gifts, He's directing me toward a closer walk with the Lord, and He's reminding me of God's Word; and yet, I still fail.

When will I stand up to my excuses? When will I realize that life can be different every hour of every day? The reference to Jacob (later known as Israel) reminds me that I don't have to be what the world expects me to be. I can be more. I just have to get over myself. I have to overcome my tendency to be lazy or content. I have to recognize the blessings that God has placed within my life and do that which the Spirit of God prompts me to do.

A life without excuses...can you imagine how God would use us?