Accountability

Recently, a close friend and I decided to hold each other accountable. I never understood how accountability really worked. I thought it would mean pointing out the sin in each other's lives in a way that is very blunt and that can easily leave an impression of rudeness.

What I'm learning is that accountability is pointing out the sin in each others lives and it can be blunt. In fact, it's better to be blunt than passive. However, when two brothers or two sisters hold each other accountable, they are not rude. They are loving and gentle in their words and actions.

Check out 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12. It's all about how we point out the sin in each others lives because that's part of growing and learning to be more like Jesus. It's not meant to be rude but to simple show that the person is not living in their identity of righteousness and is instead living in the identity of their sin.

It is a wonderful blessing to have a sister in Christ who tells me when I'm acting not of Christ but of myself. It is equally wonderful to be able to tell her when she isn't living righteously. Both sides of the relationship refine and mold you into the pure and righteous person you are in Christ.

Pray about who your accountability partner should be. Ask God to help you see how to hold your brother/sister accountable in a loving and gentle way. And finally, watch your partner and yourself grow to be more like Christ.

Honesty

One of the Ten Commandments in Exodus says, "Do not lie."  God is honest with us. We should be honest with Him.  We should be honest with each other.  So while I'm on the topic of honesty, I must confess that this is an area I sometimes struggle with.  I'm not saying that I intentionally lie to people or change the truth.  But, I am not honest about my emotions with most people.  If I'm having a bad day and you ask me how I am, I will most likely say that I'm good or even great.

I want to break this habit. I want you to break this habit.  Why are we satisfied with these answers? Why aren't we creating vulnerable environments and conversations with each other? Of course you're "good," but how is your heart? What have you been learning lately? What have you struggled with recently?

Maybe we need to be more intentional with the questions we ask each other along with the answers.  When we sit down to visit with friends, the question "How are you?" is not going to lead to meaningful conversation.  What questions should we ask? That, to be honest, I am not sure of.  All I know is that I wish I didn't ask this basic question and that I didn't answer with the basic answers.

Be real. Be honest.

I have also realized that not sharing everything can be considered not being honest.  There are some things in life that are not appropriate to share with every single person.  In such cases, that is not being dishonest, but is guarding the other's heart and mind.  There are many times that people are not told all of the information that they should be.  Unfortunately, this causes great damage in relationships.  Honesty means telling people the information they need to know, even if it is sad, disappointing, or unexpected.

I'm learning that honesty is difficult.  But, thank the Father in Heaven, we don't have to do it all on our own.  Jesus was honest with every person He talked to.  God is honest with us.  He tells us that not believing in Him leads to eternal death, but that believing in Him and following Him leads to eternal life.  He tells us when we are doing things that are wrong and when we are pleasing Him.  He tells us all we need to know.  And, by believing in God and following Him, we are given the power of the Holy Spirit to live and speak honestly.

New Seasons

Today really feels like summer.  The high for today is around 80 degrees.  The sun is shining. The wind is hardly blowing. (Notice that it is still blowing, but in Moorhead, there is no break from the wind.)  Today is absolutely beautiful.

This morning, I shared a wonderful conversation with my dear friend Carly.  She is recently engaged and will be getting married in August.  Carly has encouraged me in my faith and walk with the Lord so much in the last couple of years.  I treasure our friendship dearly and am truly honored to play piano in her wedding.  It is exciting to hear about this new season in her life and to be a part of it this summer.

Our conversation affirmed that I, too, am in a new season in life.  My friends are getting engaged and married and may very well soon be having babies and creating families of their own.  These are things I also desire in life, but God has not lead me to that season, yet.  

Even so, I'm in a new season.  I'm becoming an adult, a real adult.  I'm leasing a house, which means I have bills to pay.  I have to make grocery lists, something I always thought that was something for my Mom to do.  I have to budget my time and money so that little is wasted.  I'm almost finished with college.  This is both exciting and scary, as I'm sure every college graduate knows.

In this season, I hope only to grow closer to God.  I long to experience His love and realness on a deeper level.  This is a season of preparation for what's to come this fall.  I don't know what God has planned, but it's big and it's exciting.  It's going to explode.  It's going to be fantastic.  Whatever it is, I want to be ready for it and to be tuned in to the Spirit as it happens.

I'm praying over my friends on summer projects and mission trips.  I'm praying for friends that are home or doing something else this summer.  I'm praying for the Remedy at Concordia.  I'm praying for the CRU Peer Team, students, interns, and staff.  I'm praying for my family, immediate and extended.  I'm so excited for what God is doing and is going to do.

I encourage everyone to seek God in their season.  God loves you and is pursuing your heart.  God longs to spend some time with you, even if it's just 15 minutes between things in our busy schedules.  Be open and willing.  God is going to show you so many great things.  He has so much planned for you and can't wait to capture your heart.