1 Peter 5:8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. (NIV)

We all have reasons and excuses why we are not what God wants us to be. However, we must never let any reason or any excuse keep us from being honest�especially honest with ourselves. All of us have circumstances making us think about ourselves. However, no reason or excuse should ever keep us from being caring toward each other. All of us have conditions in our life causing others to misunderstand us. However, we have no reason and no excuse for not exerting our heart and mind to understand who they are and where they are in their life. All of us have situations in our life making us want to give up and give in. However, none of us have any reason or any excuse to give up being the kind of steadfast person God wants us to be. We have no reason and no excuse not to pray  for others more than we ever pray for ourselves. We all have experiences in life where people have hurt us and disappointed us. However, we must all be fully committed to being a person who forgives. We must need no reason to forgive, except we are willing to be forgiving in Christ's name and love. All of us have daily challenges pushing us to lose control of our heart, mind, soul, and behavior. However, as children of God, we have no reason and no excuse why we should ever surrender our self-control. All of us have memories about times when we have not been loved like we needed or always wanted. However, we must still be persons of love with no excuses for being otherwise.