Flashback Friday Devotion #15 [Accountability]

Hi, Everyone.
We'll continue with the mini-devotional series on God's Armor (and the Shield of Faith) on Monday. I appreciate your prayers, as I seek the Lord daily for this series.
It has been so much fun to get to know you through your replies. I love reading feedback to my devotions! Keep them coming.
Today's devotion is from my personal journal dated April 23, 2007.

Flashback Friday Devotion #15 [Accountability]

     In prayer this morning, I was thanking God for those He has put in my life, to help me. Pastor Scott helps me learn and grow spiritually. Debra encourages me to stretch my faith and to live a life empowered by the Holy Spirit. Connie loves me and reminds me that God is faithful. Dean pushes me exactly when I need to be pushed, even though I may balk at it. How I thank God for these precious friends! God reminded me that I am accountable to each one of these friends and accountable to Him for what I'm doing with the life lessons I've learned.
     Accountable. That seemed to be the word on which to focus today. I'd just been reading the other day about the importance of having a spiritual accountability partner. Why not have one for this journey I'm on...living a life free from the bondage to food and gluttony/overeating.
     I'm in Ecclesiastes in my Quiet Time, so Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 seemed especially helpful. "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart."
     From those verses in Ecclesiastes 4, I see that two working together can 1) produce spiritual fruit (v. 9), 2) provide spiritual restoration (v. 10), 3) prompt spiritual zeal (v. 11), and 4) provide spiritual protection (v. 12).
     For so long, I've avoided even talking about my problem with food, because I was so ashamed that I lacked self-control and because I did not want to admit that I felt absolutely helpless and defeated. Who wants to hear that! Unlike those addicted to other types of sins, the result of my sin is right there, for all the world to see that I, a born-again believer, deny Christ's lordship with a knife and fork.
     I know God is helping me. I'm overwhelmed that He has promised to teach and lead me on this journey. Now, I believe He wants me to have an accountability partner.
     Based on what I've read about having and/or being an accountability partner, I need someone who fits Galatians 6:1, "If anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted."
     My accountability partner:
          --must be spiritual
          --must be able to "restore"
          --must have a spirit of gentleness
          --must guard herself against temptation
     My part is to:
          --be open and honest about my daily struggle
          --prepare and share how I plan to cooperate with God, to break the habit of overeating
          --give my accountability partner the freedom to ask the hard questions, without taking offense
          --take the initiative, to "check in" with my partner, to keep her informed in how I'm doing in these 3 areas:  1) "feasting" on the Lord (in prayer and in Bible reading), 2) eating with thanksgiving and discipline, and 3) exercising in some way daily.
     I recognize that Satan has had me in a stronghold of gluttony, and he is not going to give up without a fight. I need to seek help, to be victorious.
     I'm reminded of the story of Joab, in II Samuel 10:9-12. He outfitted his brother, Abishai, and himself with an army. It was agreed that whichever one experienced battle with the strong Arameans, the other would come to help. Joab encouraged Abishai with these words, "Be strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of our people and for the cities of our God..." Together they were victorious; separately, they would have been conquered.
     I am making it a matter of prayer, asking the Lord to show me the person who may be willing to come alongside me, as I go into battle. Who will "have my back," Lord?

Today, ask yourself if you have an accountability partner. If so, reflect on how well that relationship is working, both on your end and that of your partner's. If you don't have an accountability partner, consider asking someone to be that for you.

Blessings,
Mary