Accountability

I think it's important to have accountability partners. Those people that you've given permission to call you on whatever, smack you around and get you back in line! Sometimes it's surprising when they actually step up and say something. That takes courage. That's true friendship.

I've been under some stress lately for various different reasons and have let it at times affect my attitude in a less than positive way. While meeting with a friend for lunch at work a couple weeks ago, I was expressing my current "frustrations." Blah, blah, blah....on and on I went. And then she said, "Rodd, have you prayed about it? How's your devotional time?" 

Honestly, it kinda sucks right now. I've let other things get in the way of my relationship with God. I try to fit Him into MY schedule and on MY terms. The problem is, it doesn't really work out so well for me. Every time I try to do something on my own, I fail. It's only when I'm in right relationship with Him that I can succeed. And here's the thing, I know that. I've experienced that. I desire that.

So, why is it so hard to maintain that discipline? I'm reminded of the words of Paul in Romans 7:

¹⁴ We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. ¹⁵ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ¹⁶ And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. ¹⁸ For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

 ²¹ So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! 

I know this: I'm glad He's faithful, even when I'm not. And, I'm thankful for friends who will step up and remind me.