Wayfaring Stranger

Mending Fences

On Tuesday nights I am a participant in a Beth Moore study entitled Why Godly People Do Ungodly Things. I am one of those people who needs a Bible study that requires me to fill in blanks in order for me to have a focus. Beth Moore studies are one of my favorites. I am enjoying this one even more because we have the videos that go along with each week of homework. I have been to see Beth in person twice and it's just like watching her videos. She is one of the most personable speakers I've ever listened to. Better yet, she is not afraid to get straight to the heart of what is ailing you. She can bring me to tears and to my knees quicker than any preacher I've ever heard. Yet she is not accusing or condemning in any way.

That's why this is such a good study. She is talking about Godly people who have been spiritual and committed to their faith and suddenly find themselves looking up from the pit of sin. Her point is that this doesn't happen without warning. The problem is we don't usually see the warning flags because we either don't know what to look for or we think we've got everything under control.

I am hoping that somewhere in this study she talks about how to get yourself out of the pits when it comes and how to live after the fact. So far we have had to work through a lot of the emotions that come with difficult things in our lives. We've thought about times that we have been sabbatoged by Satan and how that felt. So far it hasn't been a feel good study but her studies usually aren't.

One of the things we are talking about is how to protect the fences around your heart and mind from Satan's attacks. She uses that temple and temple area as an example that proves that God thinks fences are a good thing because he used them to protect his people as they worshipped. She asks a lot of questions about our own personal fence and how often we check to make sure it is strong and safe. One of the ways to do that is to have an accountability partner.

The night we discussed this particular topic I was hit with this horrible sense of What did I do!!! regarding something that had happened earlier in the day. Now what I did wasn't a terrible thing to do and I didn't think anything of it. However, in that moment the Spirit convicted me and I went right home to tell my husband about the incident and make sure he knew all about what had happened. I realized that what had happened earlier that day had shown a weak spot in the fence around my heart. Believe me I do want very much to be aware of that weak spot and never again have that part of my fence collapse before Satan. So I told my husband--accountability partner number one. The next morning I confessed the same things and the reasons why I am concerned to my dear friend--accountability partner number two. Both were very good to listen, encourage and point me to how that can be a weak area as well as how to repair that part of my fence and their willingness to stand guard with me. For now I believe I have dodged that bullet.

This is only one example of the power of having an accountability partner or two or three. They make you confront yourself in hard ways that strip away the fake and reveal the true person. It's hard sometimes and scary and it makes you very humble to have to go to this person and confess what is on your heart. It makes you remember that you aren't in this by yourself and that you can't always handle everything and it isn't under control most of the time. I am so fortunate. I have a wonderful husband who I can talk to about anything. And I have two dear friends who know me for who I really am underneath the person I often pretend to be. Slowly but surely God is chipping away at the fake veneer to reveal me in wonderful ways. These people make this so much easier to deal with the discomfort and accept the results.

Today my fences are strong and sturdy. Tonight I will make that trip around my heart and mind with God and check for cracks or rot. It's a continuous effort but it's so worth it to have a strong fence and not be afraid of being overun by Satan's minions. I owe a great deal of thanks to my accountability partners. I also owe a great deal of thanks to Beth Moore! My life would probably be much different if I hadn't started working through her studies eight years ago. I know my life would be totally different if I hadn't found an accountability partner and learned to ask the hard questions and do the required heart work to build the fences I am now protecting.

If you don't have an accountabilty partner, I strongly encourage you to find one. It's scary and it can be difficult sometimes but it is so worth it. I also encourage you to be involved in intense Bible study on a regular basis. The two seem to go hand in hand in keeping our hearts whole and holy. This is a wonderful study but not one you can breeze through just filling in blanks. She makes you dig deep and bleed sometimes. Trust me, though, you'll come up feeling more free and safer than you have in a long time. Thanks Beth! As far as my accountability partners--you know who you are--Thank you for loving me so much that you won't let me stay in my messes.

posted by Dana @ 3:01 PM