Asking for accountability can be a nerve-racking process. It's kind of like asking someone on a date for the first time (or so I've heard...). But if you weigh the benefits to the initial feeling of potential awkwardness, it's worth the risk. Like we said before, if you talk to anyone with good accountability in their life, they will tell you that it's been life changing. 

What to look for in accountability

If you're wondering what you should look for in accountability, here's some practical advice. Accountability needs to be of the same sex. Because of the nature of confession, this is natural. You should also look for a godly man/woman that you enjoy spending time with, and that you respect and trust. We need to be sharpened by those that are in the same stage of life as us, but also by those that may be a few steps ahead of us. Accountability should not come from people that are impressed by you. To expect those who greatly look up to you to hold you accountable would be like your boss asking you why you would fire him.

What do we talk about?

Often time, I've walked into accountability thinking, "We don't need a plan. I'll just talk about life and how I've felt lately. That will paint a picture of what I'm struggling with enough for the other person to know what to ask me." But this has RARELY ever worked for me. True accountability happened when I was willing to write down the questions I know I needed asked, and hand them to the other person. These can be questions like:

· Has Christ been alive in you this week?
· Did you share your faith this week?
· Have you been in an inappropriate position with the opposite sex?
· Have you treated you finances as a servant or as a god?
· Have you spent adequate time in prayer and study?
· What sin is still in the dark in your life that you need to confess?
· Is there anything you haven’t been surrendering to God?
· Have you dwelt on unwholesome thoughts?
· How have you dealt with the sin you confessed last week?
· Have you kept pure physically, visually, and in your thoughts?
· Have you lied about anything?

For more resources, questions, and information, check out this blog.