Accountable

Accountable

I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.

“I WANT YOU TO HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE in the way that I speak about others,” I told a friend not long ago. I’d been careless with my words and knew that I needed to change some of my words and the thoughts that were behind those words. I told a dear friend who knows me well of my struggle. She knows the good and the bad and loves me anyway. I knew that she would be able to hold me accountable in a loving way.

Every so often she’d check in with me, just to see how I was doing. She’d ask hard questions and chuckle when I got annoyed by her reminders to watch the way that I spoke about others. But the truth was, when I stepped back and looked at the big picture, I appreciated her honesty and ability to speak in a way that challenged me, while still fully loving me. Her accountability helped me change a behavior that was unhealthy and allowed me to develop a new, healthier way to be.

Accountability is hard. We live in a culture that often wants to put the blame on others. We try desperately not to be at fault. And even as Christians it can be hard to take accountability for our thoughts and actions. Sometimes it’s easier to hide parts of ourselves we’d rather others didn’t know about or see. That’s why it’s important that we have a community of people in our lives who love us enough to hold us accountable, while still encouraging us, knowing the good and the not so good about us—much in the same way that God treats us. We’ll give an account for everything we speak. This should be enough of an encouragement (and a warning) for us to want to hold ourselves accountable now.

Lord, help us to be courageous enough to hold ourselves and those around us accountable for our words and actions. Amen.

-Kendra

One Good Step: In what area of your life do you need some accountability? What good friend could be an accountability partner for you? Be sure to pick someone who will love and encourage you.