Accountability Sustains A Second Chance!

January 30

Accountability Sustains A Second Chance!

We have reached the end of January.  I don’t know how you are doing with your New Year Resolutions.  But, I pray you have not compromised your goal or quit altogether. 

Statistically, however, most of you have already begun to slack off or have totally given up on your second chance at getting fit, restoring a broken relationship, losing weight, making a new friend, cleaning the bedroom, asking for a promotion at work, etc. etc.

Many of you are wearing out on the whole idea of New Year’s Resolutions.  You are becoming more and more convinced that resolutions don’t work for you, second chances never change things, and new beginnings are not lasting. 

You have done everything you could; you wrote down a realistic goal, you made a plan to change, and you gave it all your energy.  And still, not much has changed except that your sense of failure has been revived again. 

For some personality types, it takes a while to learn that we cannot bring about lasting change in our lives by ourselves.  In other words, many of us cannot make anything out of the second chance that has been given to us by doing it alone.

+Think about weight loss; there is Weight Watchers because we need other people to hold us accountable.

+Think about addiction recovery; there is Alcoholics Anonymous because we need other people to hold us accountable.

+Think about physical fitness; there are gyms because we need other people to hold us accountable.

+Think about healing a relationship; there are counselors and support groups because we need other people to hold us accountable.

+Think about Bible study; there are small groups because we need other people to hold us accountable.

Accountability sustains a second chance!

In Romans 14:12 the Apostle Paul writes; “So then, each one of us will be held accountable.” 

We need other people who care about us enough to hold us accountable to the dream we (or Jesus has!) have for our life.  But, we need more than just the accountability provided to us by other people; we also need the accountability provided by the Lord God. 

Accountability sustains a second chance!

In Romans 3:19 Paul writes; “Now we know that, whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God.”

When a second chance comes our way through our confession, the experience of forgiveness, our commitment to repentance, and the encouragement provided by other people, we will discover we need one more thing in order to sustain that second chance.  We need the accountability of other people who care about us and the accountability of the Lord God who loves us.

Accountability sustains a second chance!

When another person cares enough about us they will, with our permission, ask the hard questions that will help us to succeed.  Accountability is best facilitated by engaging with the other person around some focused questions.

Here is a list of some possible questions.

+How can I hold you accountable in a way that encourages and supports you?

+Can you be any more clear about your expectations for your “second chance” goal?

+How are you going to measure your progress towards your goal?

+What progress did you make on your “second chance” goal this week?

+What struggles are you encountering as you implement your action plan?

+What difference are you and your “second chance” making this week?

+What are you learning from your mistakes this week?

+What is your next opportunity to grow towards your “second chance” dream?

+How would you like me to follow up with you next week?

Accountability sustains a second chance!

Only when I hold myself accountable, invite other people to hold me accountable, and know that the Lord God wants to hold me accountable will I grow at a rate that brings joy to me and honor to the Lord God.  When I grow more and more into the likeness of Christ, my heart will fill with joy and my soul will delight in the Lord. 

A friend who cares enough about me to hold me accountable will help me sustain my growth and achieve my goals. 

Do you have a “second chance” goal that matters enough to ask someone to hold you accountable for this next season?  Identify that person and then extend the invitation for them to hold you accountable.

By the way, a new season begins with the start of Lent on March 5!  Lent could be a great time to begin a new part of your journey as you take more and more delight in the Lord.

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug