Confession (albeit a little embarrassing to admit): I love fairy tales. So much so, I have had friends call me “Linderella”.
In the fairy tale of Snow White, the queen’s desire was to hear only what she “wanted” to hear from her mirror on the wall. This was also my opinion of what any true friend should do. Tell me the good, minimize the bad. Encourage me, support me but should you correct me or tell me I am not meeting the standard, don’t bother. I am self-deprecating enough without any help, thank you very much. In the past, I only revealed the “me” I wanted you to see. I certainly never aspired to be “that woman” who always has a problem. My solution was to either show you only the surface of me, or withdraw completely when life became a struggle.
Oh, how this princess has grown! God revealed to me, that accountability is about bearing one another’s burdens, praying for one another, strengthening one another and speaking the truth out of love. Part of that truth includes pointing out and denying the lies of Satan and claiming the promises of Scripture.
One accountability partner of mine taught me,“Isolation is a tool of the devil.” It’s true, if Satan convinces me that I am a burden to others, I will withdraw. Through this withdrawal, I was not walking in the will of God. Proverbs 18:1, Hebrews 10:24-25
We will all be held accountable to the Lord for what we do with our lives (Romans 14:12). Left to our own devices we easily and continually deceive ourselves. When we enter into accountability with an individual or a group of trusted Christians, they hold up the mirror up so that we may strive to live up to the image of Christ. Through the blessing of relationships and finding community with a group of women from The Grove, I have learned that there is no condemnation. I am a work in progress. I have been encouraged to dig deep and uncover those “strongholds” that hold me back from being the woman God made me to be.
Now convicted, I want my feet held to the fire! I desire to be accountable to God. I gladly submit to those with deeper spiritual discernment than me. I recognize I do have an important place in the Body. Certainly there are still struggles, but as the spiritual battles rage we “lock shields” together against the enemy. We pray scripture over one another’s lives. Jesus reminds us that He has won the battles!
With that realization, praise rings out for Christ’s intervention in our lives! Our understanding and faith in Christ grows deeper. We seek after the things of God. There is joy, true joy. We grow in relationship with one another as the Body of Christ. Christ is indeed glorified in these things!
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16
To invest in one another’s lives for the benefit of deepening our relationship with God, is a deep act of love. Accountability, It’s part of our now and our forever after.