Accountability (Part 3)

Posted on March 4, 2019 by America's Keswick in Freedom Fighters

Last week we began looking at accountability working through Pastor Brad Hambrick’s blog, “Five Accountability Questions You Wish Your Mentor Would Ask.”

Reminder that the first two are:

1. What are you doing to enjoy life?
2. What new stressors are entering your life?

Today we want to look at two more:

3. Would you like to “just hang out”? Pastor Brad says, “If accountability partners only spend time together ‘doing accountability’ then their relationship will likely feel more like a sin-hunt. Accountability will be deemed only to be ‘working’ when sin is found.”

You will be much more apt to share your heart with someone you are hanging out with. Get to know you Accountability Partner and have him get to know you.

4. Who or what is getting too much air time in your thought life right now?

Now that is getting pretty personal, right?  Pastor Brad says: “Our mental time can be consumed by a fictional argument with someone we believe has unreasonable expectations of us. But it can also be fixated on a particular crazing or a personal ambition that is becoming too central to our identity.”

He goes on to say, “Asking this question is a great way to become self-aware of our thoughts which is very important for addictive behaviors. Too often it is passivity towards our thought life that allows temptation to gain significant momentum before we begin to resist it as temptation. Knowing you’ll be asked reminds you to pay attention.”

What is getting too much air time in your life? It may be a VERY DIFFICULT question to answer. You may have been struggling for years, and nobody ever asked you this question. Maybe you’ve prayed that nobody will EVER ask you that question. But most likely you have hope that someone WOULD ask you this question so that you could once and for all bring it into the light and be set free.

The key to a win-win accountability partner is a relationship of mutual trust. What that means is that your accountability partner is someone who is not going to take your information and blab it to the world.

Several years ago a young pastor was being encouraged by his Board Chair that he needed an accountability partner. After much badgering, the pastor decided his Board Chair was that safe person, and so he shared his heart – his struggles – his fears. The Board Chair assured the pastor that what he shared would stay with him.

That weekend a bunch of men got together for breakfast including the pastor and Board Chair. As breakfast was winding down, the Board Chair told the men that their pastor was struggling with some stuff and so that they could pray, he shared everything the young pastor had shared with him in confidence.

This dear pastor went home and told his wife, “That was the first time I ever opened up to anyone, and that will be the last time.” What a sad indictment.

Written by Bill Welte: Written by Bill Welte, President/CEO of America’s Keswick: Bill has been married to his childhood sweetheart for 40+ years and has four married kids and 11 amazing grandkids. He loves music and is an avid reader.

The Daily Bible Reading: Exodus 36-38, James 4| You can download our 2018 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

Think About This: The plain, unvarnished truth is that every one of us needs the accountability that comes from formal, regular, intimate relationships with other godly people.” – Wayne Mack

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.” – Psalm 27:8