Filed under: Conviction Hurts, Daily Living, Faith, God, Leadership, Legacy Fellowship, Religion, church | Tags: accountability, sin, talking to yourself, The Holy Spirit
Every week the men on staff at Legacy Fellowship fill out an accountability report. This is a form with eight simple questions that we answer and we return to our pastor. When I say “simple questions” I mean to say, “Terribly difficult, pride swallowing questions”. There are weeks I blow throw the form in a few minutes and I feel great. I know that I have had a great week. I think I have had two of those in the last two years (I gave myself a trophy).
Today was accountability report day. Today was a hard day. I hate admitting when I have failed in any area of my life. I hate admitting that I am not Superman. I don’t want to need prayer and encouragement for anything. I want to be the guy that prays for and encourages someone that is struggling. Clearly, I am a prideful person. I didn’t mention that in my report.
As much as I hate doing the report sometimes, I know that it helps to keep me in line. I think to myself, “Self, what are you going to write on your report if you do this?” 99% of the time I listen to myself and turn from whatever it is I am tempted to do. Is it at these moments I know the Holy Spirit is the voice I am hearing. If it were my own voice it would say something like, “Self, I think it’s time you look out for number one! Have a little fun. Do what you wanna do. ‘Report’, what report?”
Thank God for the Holy Spirit and that small, still voice. Thank God for accountability reports.
I am a dog owner. I have a young male Terriersaurus Rex…err…Terrier mix. I love that stupid dog with all my heart. He brings so much joy to mine and Cheri’s lives. At the same time he brings so much grief.
This dog is the biggest pain in the butt I have EVER had to deal with. Raising children has got to be easy compared to raising this little fartknocker. He is high-strung, sneaky and headstrong. He is also so loving I can’t stay mad at him. There is nothing in this world that drives me so completely bonkers or that makes me so incredibly angry yet I can’t help but adore with every fiber of my being.
Do you think that’s how God thinks of us? Do we drive God bonkers? We are headstrong and selfish. We run from Him when He calls us. We take His blessings and bury them or lose them. And yet, He continues to bountifully dole out blessings upon us.
I was just thinking about this because Grissom was driving me crazy this morning but I know I will go home to a bouncing, panting puppy waiting to jump into my arms and lick my face. I bet God longs for the times we run to Him and jump in His arms. He probably doesn’t want us licking His face though; He knows where our mouths have been.
