Accountability...

Who are you accountable to? Are you accountable to God? Your husband/wife? Your kids? Maybe a friend or loved one? Accountability is a great tool for any Christian to use in their walk with the Lord. I recently gave a lock with a bandanna on it to the pastor of my church. I did this because I felt like God wanted me to give it to him to show him that God was moving in the hearts of those who attend our church and that God was working in the church. Something told me it was important for me to do this not only for me but for my pastor.
He took it from me after I explained to him that I used to take this and knock off car mirrors and break car windows when someone cut me off or came too close to me when I was riding my motorcycle. I told him that this represented the old man I used to be and that I needed to get rid of it and that God led me to give it to him. He asked if he could share my testimony with the church and I said yes. Little did I know that he would talk about me and the changes I had made and that this weapon that I used to carry represented the life I left behind to follow after Jesus and His path for my life. It was liberating, because now everyone who was at 1st and 2nd service, watched the pod cast or got the CD of the service had heard my story... I then realized that God had used this giving of the lock on a bandanna as a way to keep me accountable to my church body and to all those who were blessed by this service. WOW!!! It made me realize that I have a commitment to keep to God and that I have to make sure that I continue to serve Him and not fall back into my sinful ways!!! It's an awesome thing when God takes something sinful and bad, and uses it for the glory of His Kingdom!
Accountability is a tool that can help you with any struggle you are facing in your walk. Be it alcohol, pornography, lust, cursing, smoking, fighting or just going places that God doesn't want us as Christians to go. Pray to God, then call a Christian friend, a saved family member or a Minister the next time you feel tempted to sin. That one phone call or text message may be the thing that keeps you from making a mistake and going down a path of sin that God doesn't want you to go down!!!
2 Corinthians 5:10 (NLT) For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.
James 5:16 (NLT) Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of the righteous person has great power and produces great results.