A Partner for Accountability

A Partner for Accountability

By Dr. Charles StanleyGalatians 6:1-10

An accountability partner is able to perceive what we can't see when blind spots and weaknesses block our vision. Such a person serves as a tool in God's hand to promote spiritual growth, and he or she watches out for our best interest. When choosing this type of confidant, look for these characteristics:

1. Godly. A person who walks in the Spirit will offer genuine wisdom based on biblical principles rather than personal opinion.

2. Trustworthy. No matter what you share with this individual, you must be certain that he or she will keep everything in the strictest confidence.

3. Accepting. He or she must allow you to be yourself--frailties and all--and not try to remake you into someone "perfect."

4. Courageous. A good accountability partner will lovingly confront you with the truth, even when it hurts (Eph. 4:15).

5. Forgiving. When you make mistakes, trust is built through mutual forgiveness.

6. Edifying. Don't choose someone with an overly critical attitude that will make you feel worthless. Love edifies and builds up (Eph. 4:29). It never destroys.

7. Encouraging. You don't want someone with a checklist, who judges or acts like a prophet. Instead, choose someone who takes great joy in encouraging you.

We all can benefit from someone who is able to say what we need to hear without making us feel threatened. Answerability provides checks and balances that promote spiritual growth and protect us from pitfalls. If you don't already have an accountability partner, pray for that person today.

When the Lord Calls, He Equips

When the Lord Calls, He Equips
by Jennifer Waddle

When God called Moses to approach Pharaoh and insist that he set the nation of 

Israel free from slavery, Moses was full of arguments. His questions were, Who am I? What shall I say? What if they do not believe me? But Moses wasn’t the only one who doubted God’s call. Many who were chosen to do hard things questioned the Lord, 

argued with Him, and even ran away.

Gideon doubted God’s call to deliver Israel from the Midianites, insisting he was the 

least of the least.

Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save 

Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?” So he said to Him, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the 

least in my father’s house.” Judges 6:14-15

Jonah ran from God when he was commanded to warn Nineveh of impending 

judgment.

But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to 

Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid the fare, and went down into it,

 to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. Jonah 1: 3

Jeremiah argued with God’s direction, stating he was only a youth and could not 

speak to the rebellious nation of Israel.

Then said I: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.” Jeremiah 1:6

Most of us are happy to step up to the plate when the task is easy. But when the Lord draws us out of our comfort zones and into the unknown, that is when we wrestle 

with His assignment.

We may not feel worthy of God’s call, but nevertheless, He makes us complete in 

every good work that aligns with His will and equips us with whatever is needed to 

carry out His divine purpose.

Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great 

Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you 

complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in 

His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21 (emphasis mine)

Moses argued with the Lord, to the point of provoking Him to anger. In the end, 

Moses’ brother Aaron ended up being God’s mouthpiece.(Exodus 4:14-16) How might it have been different if Moses had yielded to God and trusted that He would equip him to speak?

We, too, might doubt God’s abilities, but by His Spirit, we will be given exactly what 

we need at the exact time we need it.

“Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy 

Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” Luke 12:11-12

Just as the Lord assured Gideon, Jonah and Jeremiah, He assures us that He will put 

the words in our mouths and the tools in our hands to accomplish the work He has 

begun in us.

What You Should Do

What You Should Do
by John UpChurch

And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.  - Colossians 1:10-12

Hundreds of times I’ve found myself bemoaning some predicament or difficult decision. Often, I’m on the floor and staring up at the ceiling. Although the words may vary somewhat, they all pretty much amount to this:

"God, can’t you just tell me what to do?"

I’m a planner. So, what I really mean is this: “If You could just spell out every step for the next few months—or years—that’d be great. Maybe a detailed list?”

What I keep forgetting is that God already did that. He even put it all in a list for me in Colossians. Sure, it isn’t exactly a step-by-step guide, but close enough. His planner for our daily life goes like this:

Bearing fruit in every good work: Since He’s prepared good works for us to do (Ephesians 2:10), that makes this one even more straightforward. But how can we identify these? By…

Growing in the knowledge of God: He’s the one who prepared these good works. So, He’s the one we should cozy up to and learn from through His Word and consistent communication. And when we do, we get some boom to go with it…

Being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might: God is radioactive. As we walk in those good works by getting to know Him, His power rubs off. True, we don’t get the X-Men glowing face like Moses, but we can still put on quite the light show (Matthew 5:16). You get that power…

So that you may have great endurance and patience: When good works flow from our knowledge of God and His strength, we suddenly care a lot less about those worries that used to drag us down. We can endure because God’s Kingdom is present in our life right now (Matthew 6:33). With such a focus, that means we should be…

Joyfully giving thanks to the Father: Rolling in those pre-prepared good works with God-strength and God-focus makes us want to do the God-is-good electric slide (your results and dance moves may vary). We just can’t keep our mouths shut because He…

Has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light: In fact, that’s the biggest, boldest thing on our God-given to-do list. We do the good works He’s planned with His strength and our eyes on Him, all because He qualified us.

Intersecting Faith & Life: So many times I want God to spell things out for me each step of the way. And sometimes He does. But most often, He points me—gently or not so gently—back to Colossians. I’ve been given instructions for the day-to-day race that will one day end with Him. Faith means leaving the details in His hands.

Deliverance

Deliverance
by Max Lucado

You’ll get through this! You fear you won’t.  We all do. We feel stuck, trapped, locked in.  Will we ever exit this pit?  Yes!  Deliverance is to the Bible what jazz music is to Mardi Gras: bold, brassy, and everywhere. Out of the lion’s den for Daniel, the whale’s belly for Jonah, and the prison for Paul.

Through the Red Sea onto dry ground. Through the wilderness, through the valley of the shadow of death. Through!  It’s a favorite word of God’s. Isaiah 43:2 says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you… when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned.”

It won’t be painless. Have you wept your final tear, received your last round of chemotherapy?  Not necessarily. Does God guarantee the absence of struggle? Not in this life. We see Satan’s tricks and ploys, but God sees Satan tripped and foiled. You’ll get through this!