--- title: "No Excuses, Only Obedience | The Tree Church" url: https://thetree.church/blog/2026/03/12/no-excuses-only-obedience description: "We are masterful at creating excuses for why we can't serve:" lang: en --- 721 N. Memorial Drive, Lancaster, OH 43130✦ Main Service: Sunday 9 & 11am✦ Movement Youth Sunday 5:30pm✦ Lancaster & Logan, Ohio✦ 721 N. Memorial Drive, Lancaster, OH 43130✦ Main Service: Sunday 9 & 11am✦ Movement Youth Sunday 5:30pm✦ Lancaster & Logan, Ohio✦ Blog (https://thetree.church/blog) Take 20: https://thetree.church/blog/category/take-20 # No Excuses, Only Obedience March 12th, 2026 by Tree Church Everyday Image: No Excuses, Only Obedience (https://base44.app/api/apps/6ac2bb755fa612c2228960ca/files/mp/public/6ac2bb755fa612c2228960ca/a90d39cf9_18228690_1024x1024_2500.jpg) Take 2-3 minutes to quiet yourself and ask God to speak to you today through your devotional time. Reading: **James 2:14-26** Be sure to highlight or note anything that stands out to you while you read. After reading the passage, take the next 5-10 minutes and spend time reflecting on what you read. You can write these things down in a journal or record them in your phone. Be attentive to both what you highlighted in the passage and what is going on in your life. ** We are masterful at creating excuses for why we can't serve: "They don't deserve it," "I'm too busy," "I'm not qualified," "I'm hurting too much." But serving isn't optional for followers of Jesus—it's commanded. God has strategically placed you in your family, workplace, neighborhood, and church to be His hands and feet. Your skill level has never been a prerequisite for God's service; your availability is what matters. If you're hurting, the body should help you, but even in healing, you have something to offer. If you're too busy, you've made an idol of your schedule. Faith without works is dead, and obedience without action is merely agreement. Today, examine your excuses honestly before God. What is the real reason you're not serving? Ask Him to give you the courage to move past it.** Now, take 10 minutes to seek God in prayer… 1. Begin your time in prayer by taking 1-3 minutes to sit in silence (You can take longer if you sense the Spirit already beginning to speak to you). 2. Pray through the things you sensed God speaking to you through the Scriptures or pray the following prayer: **“Father, reveal the excuses I’ve been hiding behind. Replace hesitation with obedience. Give me courage to move from agreement to action.”** 3. Close by taking 5 minutes to sit in silence, asking God if there is anything else He wants to speak to you today. **Faith Steps:** 1. Write down your biggest excuse for not serving. Pray over it—and then take one small step that directly challenges it. 2. Offer your availability to God today by praying, “Here I am. Send me,” and mean it. Posted in Take 20 (https://thetree.church/blog/category/take-20)Availability (https://thetree.church/blog/tag/availability)Unstoppable Force (https://thetree.church/blog/tag/unstoppable-force)obedience (https://thetree.church/blog/tag/obedience)