“Friends, if we be honest with ourselves,
we shall be honest with each other.”
~ George MacDonald ~
Accountability to one another. Accountability is a theme that is occassionally talked about in the church, but is alot more difficult to actually implement. It is hard to do, because it involves much honesty and openness.
I have an accountability partner. She is "allowed" (or requested) to ask the hard questions. She has been given the right to ask how my quiet time is going, if I'm praying more than grace-at-the-table prayers, if I've yelled at my kids today, whether I'm staying on my diet, and if I'm honoring my husband in all aspects of our marriage, just for starters. As we have built up a relationship, we have encouraged each other to ask the hard questions. We've learned the weak points, and we have learned that we are stronger when we share those weaknesses.
The funny thing is, she rarely asks the questions. Somedays I wished she would...because then I would have to answer the questions aloud and truly confront some of the ugliness in my life. But, more often, she doesn't need to ask the question. Because I know that we will be meeting, I evaluate where I'm at in those areas. Just knowing that she could ask forces me to be honest with myself. Then in the course of our conversation and prayer time, I am more apt to be honest with her about prayer support I need. It is a circle: having someone to whom I'm accountable leads me to honestly look at my walk with God, which inevitably reveals the ugliness and weakness of me, leading me to honestly share with that person for prayer.
The honesty, whether in private reflection on my life or in poignant conversation with a friend, always draws me into deeper relationship with Jesus. Isn't that the goal of accountability?
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
If one falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
~Ecclesiastes 4:9-10~
Lynnette Kraft is our hostess this week for IOW. Please join us at her blog. I'm sure you will be blessed!
11 comments:
Simply beautiful.
Thanks for sharing Miriam.
Lynnette
This was a beautiful post. Honesty and accountability are so important!
Mipa....
We need those disciples in our lives who "keep us honest and accountable..." I loved this!
peace,
lori
What a great post! I love the idea of having an accountability partner, maybe I should get me one of those!
Oh, Mipa, I love that passage in Ephesians. I've lived too much of my life isolated (a downside of being a military wife) from those who could be there to help me up...yet when there was a true need and I stretched out my hand, God placed the hands of those He chose in mine to lift me up.
Thank you for your post today. It was just what I needed this morning.
Happy Tuesday!
Patricia,
Thanks for your comment. Of course, when you go to look for that passage look in Ecclesiastes not Ephesians. My fingers were not engaged with my brain!
It is about being accountable. To ourselves, others and to God. Thanks
MiPa...I tagged you on my blog.
You are so right about accountability being difficult to implement. Even accountability partners aren't always truly holding the other partner accountable. It is wonderful you have someone who is willing to do this for you. She must someone very dear.
~Amy
I love accountability partners simply because they DO ask the tough questions - and force me to answer them thoughtfully and honestly.
Thanks for a great post.
AVA
Accountability is a biggie for me... and something I'm seeking in my own walk. Thank you for sharing...
Found you on the LWG blogroll...
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