Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Accountability




Hope everyone's week has been good. We talked last week about being a warrior and about bringing everything to God. We also talked about honest assessment of where our relationship was with our Heavenly Father. This week I am going to talk about accountability.

In the second lesson in the War Room, they talk about real accountability. When we talk about accountability it can get a little uncomfortable. Come on lets face it, we are still like children, we don't like to be told that we are doing something wrong. Sometimes, we can even throw a fit when confronted. On the flip side of accountability, sometimes we don't want to tell a friend or family member that what they are doing is wrong. For one, we don't want them to be mad at us or hurt their feelings. But, God wants us to help hold each other accountable and to hold each other up in Love. The study used Psalm 141:3-5a as a prayer:
"Lord, set up a guard for my mouth:
Keep watch at the door of my lips.
Do not let my heart turn to any evil thing
or perform wicked acts
with men who commit sin.
Do not let me feast on their delicacies.
Let the righteous one strike me-
It is an act of faithful love;
Let him rebuke me-
It is oil for my head;
Let me not refuse it."
My, my, my, that is powerful! Sometimes, even as a Christian community this can be abused. I have witnessed it first hand. When we go to a fellow believer we are to do it in Love! We don't want that person to think that we are trying to be their judge! We all have that, God! Also, we have to be careful not to spread gossip. Sometimes we don't even mean to do it. I think as Christians we do have to try harder and think harder about what we say and even who we say it to. People look at us more than non-christians. They want to know how we are going to act or react to a situation. Now, do we sometimes get it wrong? Why yes, we are just human! But, when we do get it wrong, we need to repent and ask for forgiveness. Another verse that I thought was powerful was Proverbs 27:5-6:
"Better is open rebuke, than love that is concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy." (NASB)
Wow! Faithful are the wounds of a friend, deceitful are the kisses of an enemy! I don't know about y'all but, I would much rather my friend come to me and rebuke me than my enemy give me a pat on my back!

I love how this verse just sort of spells it out. It is our duty as Christians to go to our breathen let them know what they are doing is wrong and try to help them and to carry their burden too. This helps to fulfill his law! Oh but wait!! It also gives a warning! Watch yourself, or you too may also be tempted!! We should always have on our full armor of God! 


So many times in the Bible does it talk about lifting each other up, carrying each others burdens, and Praying for one another. It so good that God did not want us to fight this battle or go through this journey alone! Praise God! I leave you this week with the following verse! I hope it speaks to you! Till next week...


Tuesday, November 3, 2015

Warriors!

God uses warriors for his glory. when I am talking about warriors, I am talking about All of God's children. We are all called to fight spiritual battles daily. In Ephesians 6:11-12, We are told: "Put on the Full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For OUR struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against... the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." So, I ask you if God were counting spiritual warriors-ones who are prepared to fight for truth-would you be counted?




In the intro for the War Room it says Prayer is a Powerful Weapon. Oh how true this is. If we all made battle plans, searched our Bible for answers, and prayed to Our Heavenly Father, oh what battles would be won! You see God even told us to bring everything to him; Our lives, our families, our health, our marriages, our children, our jobs, everything. Just like a war needs a war plan so do we! It is called PRAYER!


In the first session of this study it asks questions and asks for an Honest Evaluation of our relationship with God. It is so easy for our everyday life to get in the way of our relationship with our creator. But, we should realize this, repent and pray to fix it. We should spend time daily with our creator. In his word and in prayer to him. It says, "But be doers of the word and not hearers only. Deceiving yourselves." James 1:22.
So, I ask you this....Are you a doer or just a hearer? My prayer for you is that you become a doer!! Till next time....