I wanted to hide. I tried to avoid eye contact, but couldn’t. She was the last person I wanted to run into. Our eyes met, and my insides cringed. I prayed, “Lord, help.” I was able to show love. We had a short conversation; it was surface, but it felt good that God’s power gave compassionate words.
This was not being fake. In a split second I chose to behave my feelings into submission because I had become accountable. Weekly I met with my accountability partner; I shared my struggle, forgave my offender, and trusted God for the outcome. Believers need each other. We must encourage one another. Hebrews 10:24–25 says, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the day approaching.”
We must choose to trust each other. We have a responsibility to help each other grow closer to God. In accountability, I allowed a close friend to see a part of me that was wounded. At first I was afraid of being judged because I cared about what she thought. An amazing thing happened when I shared my pain with her: My clouds of depression lifted. Discernment is the ability to see through masks. Accountability invites others to see through us. We need discernment and accountability help us walk in strong faith.
We are driven by the need to be loved, safe, and important. Now, in Christ, we are spiritually alive children of God who are accepted, secure, and significant. You and I are no longer guilty, unprotected, alone, or abandoned. Because of Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, we are significant. You and I are no longer worthless, helpless, or hopeless. We are free forever from condemnation. We are assured that all things work together for good. We are free from condemning charges against us.
In Christ, we are totally secure. He wants us to remember that we have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. We can find grace and mercy to help in time of need. We are born of God, and the evil one cannot touch us. In Christ we are no longer rejected, unloved, or dirty. In Christ, we are completely accepted. We are God’s children, Christ’s friends. We are justified and united with the Lord, one in spirit with Him. We have been bought with a price. We belong to God. You are a member of Christ’s body. We are saints. We have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit. We have been redeemed and forgiven for all our sins. In Christ, we are complete.
“In Christ, we find out who we are and what we are living for.” —Ephesians 1:11 (MSG)
Let’s pray:
Father, help us to remember what you say about us is true. Help us to keep our eyes on you. Remind us today of who we are in Christ. Let me be open and honest before you. Give me someone to be open with, who will hold me accountable to be more like you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
You and I are desperate for people who can see through our lives. In partnership with the Holy Spirit and them, we can begin practicing lives of inside-out honesty. Are you living a see-through life? What are you waiting for?
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