But This, But That – Excuses Get In The Way

Does your ‘But’ get in the way?

We all have them, they are usually pretty big, though some may be bigger than most, but we all have them. Some are so big that others try to hide behind them.  We all use our buts but some of us use them more than others, however they always end up getting in the way.

But I can’t.
But I’m over 40.
But I don’t have an education.
But I don’t have any money.
But I’m in the wrong job.
But I’m in bad health.
But I’ve been through so much.
But I don’t have anything to offer the church.

But, but, but….My what big buts we have.

Notice how they all start…. “But I…” God had a big but too, you know.

His ‘but’ is always in response to our excuses – We say no – but God says yes. We say can’t – but God says can. We say won’t – but God says will. We say stop – but God says go. We say don’t – but God says do. We say defeat – but God says victory!

See the difference here?

Our but is an excuse.  An excuse not to do something.

There is a quote that puts it into more perspective- The origin of every excuse is the failure to do something.

So now that we all understand our buts, let’s look at ways of getting off them, after all we don’t want to add to our buts in the near future.

Jesus calls us to follow him and he wants to make us fishers of people (Matthew 4:19) and Paul says that Christians must “become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12).We have all probably heard this but our buts have got in the way of our doing anything about it.

The new year is upon us and time is racing away so let me tell you a little story and offer you a wonderful opportunity to get started.

Over 20 years ago Doctor Bruce and Nellie Litchfield had a vision to grow and mature every Christian in Australia.

The means by which they could achieve it was for every Christian to be a trained counsellor, so that, they could minister effectively to others inside and outside their churches.

In consultation with many experts, locally and overseas the Australian Institute of Family Counselling (aifc) was birthed.

It is a Registered Training Organization, accredited by the Australian Government, CCAA and ACA and PACFA (The Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia), meeting all the professional training standards.

The courses run are a Diploma and Advanced Diploma and a Graduate Diploma in Christian Counselling.

Students enrolling are aged between 18 years plus to seniors.

A couple of years ago aifc received recognition within the industry to be the most popular course in Australia and has continued that popularity by having over 500 students enrol across Australia in 2015.

Great vision!  Great training!

Imagine with me what it would look like for you if you were to enrol and complete the course:

1. You will be trained in active listening with empathic skills to be truly there for others.
2. You will have a solid grounding in theology and have a balanced approach to training, effectively integrating theology, psychology and spirituality.
3. You will be trained in the understanding and use of psychotherapies that are compatible with Christian principles,
4. You will have learnt a model of counselling which applies to both Christian and non-Christian clients, and
5. You will have worked on many of your own issues let alone ready to be there for others.

Wouldn’t that be a giant step forward? And, think of the ministry or career opportunities that will open up for you.

Remember, excuses have a price so let’s quit letting our ‘buts’ get between us and our Lord

By David Mitchelmore
Credentials – B Theol; Master in Counselling; Grad. Dip. Ch. Counselling; Adv. Dip. CFT; Cert. IV TAE.

Orignally published in 2015 as ‘Does your ‘But’ get in the way?’