Accountability – This Can Protect You From Trouble!

Accountability – This Can Protect You From Trouble!

Hmm, so today, we are talking about accountability!

Wondering what accountability is and why you need it?

Well, accountability simply means to hold yourself responsible to someone, especially in the areas where you struggle. Accountability is important because it removes the element of isolation from our Christian walk. Of course, our primary accountability is to God, but being accountable to someone can help us stand strong in areas where we can fall (Heb 10:24-25, Ecc 4:9-12).

In our generation accountability and submission is looked down upon or rarely understood.

Hebrews 13:17 (ESV) says, Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping a watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
The Bible clearly says it will be of advantage to you (not your authority).

accountability

How accountability helps?

We have seen so many young girls who have great zeal and passion for the kingdom of God and yet they are not accountable to someone, which is dangerous. Many of them lose track and fall especially in the area of relationships, taking them completely off course from their calling. And, they end up hurting themselves and blaming God. You see, you can have a revelation of a specific area but lack in other areas and that’s why you have God-ordained leaders who can guide you. When you prayerfully expose these vulnerable areas, it begins your healing process.

Some of us feel dependence is a sign of weakness, for others, you find it difficult to put your trust in someone because others have broken it in the past. However, in consistent accountability is your protection. Self-sufficiency says I don’t need anyone, but humility shouts for help from those God has placed in our lives.

Your accountability partners can, through years of wisdom and walking with the Lord, see warning signs that you may tend to miss. It is wise to learn and seek their advice rather than waste your time learning from hard knocks, pain and years of struggle. (There are many who like to be ‘accountable’ to an online pastor or mentor. But remember an ‘offline’ pastor can see a side of you that no online pastor can. Oh ya, many times even you can’t!)

So, ask God to show you someone who you can trust, who can correct you and who will encourage you to run after the heart of God, and submit to the authority of this person. (Mind you, submission doesn’t mean control or manipulation). Remember when they give you advice or tell you the truth, it’s never to hurt you but to protect you. This trust gets built over a period of time, but it’s worth investing in.

accountability

Beware:

Always submit to the same sex leaders and never the opposite sex. We have seen many girls fall in this area. Women love to listen to men but when another woman tells the same, they won’t consider it of much value. However, you need to look at the man of God and his wife in the same place as they are one and they minister with the same Holy Spirit.

Build an accountability circle

You can even be a part of the accountability circle of God-fearing friends. Have a godly standard for your friendships based on unconditional love and mutual trust. Of course, no friendship is perfect but stay close to those who are on fire for Jesus and make you love Jesus more.

XOXO,
Team Soar Girls

 

Stay Inspired! Join Our Community for Exclusive Content!

By signing up I agree to have my personal information transfered to Mad Mimi (more information)

Watch Out: 5 Signs of An Independent Spirit

Watch Out: 5 Signs of An Independent Spirit

 

An independent spirit is one that seeks self glory, operates in conceit and often is in rebellion to the authority established by God (and hence against the Word of God).  People with independent spirits are barriers to the works of the kingdom of God and can destroy marriages, churches, families and businesses. We need to constantly guard our hearts against it and ask the Holy Spirit to break the power of independent spirit within us, else it may drift us away from the purposes of God.

Here are five common signs of people with an independent spirit

1. They are never in complete obedience to the word of God and do only what they feel is right.
As a messenger of God, Samuel instructs king Saul to totally destroy the Amalekites and everything that belonged to them. (1 Samuel 15:3). However Saul spares the King of Amalekites and the best of the sheep, cattle, lambs etc and everything that was good. (1 Samuel 15:9). Saul was seeking the praise of his fellowmen than obeying God and allowed the independent spirit to take the better of him. Result? God rejects Saul as king.

 2. They are led by fleshly motives
Gehazi, the servant of prophet Elisha ran after Namaan to ‘get something from him’ , clearly in contrast to the nature of Elisha (2 Kings5:21-23). A man who walked so closely with God’s anointed allowed the flesh to lead. Gehazi’s end would have been very different, had he not allowed the independent spirit to take over.
Removing a Mask
3. They wear a mask of spirituality
People with independent spirits often base themselves on their partial knowledge of scripture and sometimes make erroneous doctrines out of it. What they do or say may seem spiritual, but often it is not. Because it is not based on the solid foundation of the Word of God, when they are tested they crumble and fall.

4.  They are in rebellion to the authority and will do a lot of things without telling them
Joab was one of Israel’s greatest warriors and the right hand of king David. However there were many occasions where  he displayed signs of an independent spirit. When David decided to make a peace treaty with Abner, Joab was not very happy about it for his personal reasons and kills Abner. (2Samuel 3). Again when David commanded his men to be gentle in the battle with his revolting son Absalom (2 Samuel 18:5), Joab shows no mercy and kills Absalom (2 Samuel 18: 14-15).

5. A hardened heart gives ground for the independent spirit to thrive
A hardened heart is one that lacks spiritual perception( Mark 8:17) and is not able to see and hear the things of God (Mark 8:18).  There may be various causes for this like continual living in sin, lack of word knowledge, bitterness, hurt etc. A hardened heart is the perfect breeding ground for an independent spirit. One way we can prevent our hearts from getting hardened is by always reminding ourselves of the works of God. Look at the psalms of David, he always found courage and strength when he reminded himself of the goodness of God.

Pray: Lord, break the independent spirit within me.