Daily Scripture Reading:
1 Thessalonians 5:11 – “Encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.”
James 5:16 – “Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.”
Exercise is always easier with a friend. You know . . . someone to say: “You can do it!” “Work harder, Trish” “I’m with you!” When I turned the big 5-0, I joined a few friends to run in the Princess 5-K at Disney World. I can promise you that I never would have done this alone. However, with support and accountability, I did it – not quickly – but I did it!
Everyone needs support and accountability when they are seeking to accomplish a goal, stay clean from a substance, or just live from day to day. Accountability partners help us maintain our margins in all areas of our lives, particularly in our moral margins. A confidant can be our strength when we are faced with a tempting situation. Knowing that someone knows our struggles, is available for us, and will support us can help keep us on the right path.
The Christian community can be this accountability for us. Not everyone needs to know our struggles but everyone needs at least one person in his/her life that can be the encourager. Christ calls us to encourage, build up one another and pray for each other. Life is always easier in community!
Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for the strength of the Christian community. Give me courage to reach out during my struggles and give me compassion for others in the midst of their struggles. In Christ’s name I pray, Amen.
Reflection Question and/or Application for the Day:
Name the person or persons in your life that you call if you are struggling in some way.
If you can think of no one, ask God to show you someone today to be your confidant and accountability partner.
Ask God to show you who might need your listening ear and compassionate heart.
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Devotion from Building Margin for a Balanced Life, devotional book, small group study and sermon series
©Tim Reaves and Trish Archer
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