How Difficult Is It to Hide Who You Really Are?

There are special occasions when dressing up in costumes and wearing a mask is acceptable and fun. Every year young and not so young children come knocking at the door holding out their bags expecting to receive a treat.

A high school student told me he put on an imaginary mask to pretend he was happy and all was well at home. He was forbidden to tell friends his parents were separated with divorce impending. Facades and false impressions rarely hide the real person.

The good news is it’s impossible to hide and cover up who you are from God because he knows your heart, mind and soul. Think about it: if others can see through your facades and false impressions, how much more in depth does God see you? God’s unconditional love tells you to take off the mask and come to him just as you are and make a new beginning free of falsehoods and cover-ups.

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 For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.  

~2 Chronicles 16:9 English Standard Version 

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What Do Parents Need Most from Their Children?

Child development professionals affirm an important reinforcement for successful parenting is a child’s innate desire to please the parents. Parents desire to please their children by providing the necessities of life and meeting their reasonable desires.

Of course, parents love their children, and children respond favorably to that love by returning affection and obeying rules and boundaries. The desire to please is motivated by a deep, intrinsic need to make favorable impressions on others.

Parents need for their children to make good impressions on grandparents, friends, teachers and peer groups. Yet children learn to create facades and false impressions to cover up dissatisfaction with the person they are becoming. 

Genesis 1 informs us we were created in God’s image, and this truth serves as a reminder that God’s love purifies us from all that has contaminated our heart and soul.                      

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My friends, watch out! Don’t let evil thoughts or doubts make any of you turn from the living God. You must encourage one another each day. And you must keep on while there is still a time that can be called “today.” If you don’t, then sin may fool some of you and make you stubborn… “If you hear his voice today, don’t be stubborn like those who rebelled.”  

~Hebrews 3:12-13,15 Contemporary English Version

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Is It Possible to Change from Giving False Impressions?

Living with false impressions is a way to cope with life when feelings of dissatisfaction with one’s personal identity are on display. A person may masquerade in sheep’s clothing to hide a ferocious wolf’s intent to deceive, according to Matthew 7:15.

The objective is to cover up distasteful character or behavioral flaws. Character flaws exist in each person, much to our dismay. However, each Christian should desire to live for Christ Jesus, but coping with character flaws can be discouraging.

The Christian life is an ever-maturing quest in need of God’s grace and restoration. False impressions cover up weaknesses of character capable of surfacing at any moment. The best defense against false impressions is to permit honesty and truth to saturate your consciousness. Honesty encased in humility reflects Christ Jesus within you. This is your best hope. 

                    

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You will earn the respect and trust of others if you work for good; if you work for evil, you’re making a mistake. ~ Proverbs 14:22 Good News Bible  

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How Difficult Is It to Remain Faithful to Jesus Christ?

Saying one thing but meaning something else gives a false impression of who you are and your purpose for living. Taking false impressions to the extreme, the terrorists of 911 masqueraded as guests, but their intent was to kill and destroy.

While the majority of false impressions do not fit into this extreme category, the intent is to mislead or cover up the truth. Pretentious and deceitful attitudes easily equate to a fake identity that conceals the actual person behind a disguise.

Jesus told about pretentious individuals who appear safe and harmless but are wolves masquerading as sheep. Every aspect of who you are communicates a strong message to others. It’s imperative to consistently live for Christ Jesus. 

Some authorities strongly mandate, “to yourself be true,” while the major objective of the Christian is for you to always “be true to the Lord Jesus Christ.” 

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Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of our heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

 ~Proverbs 3:3-4 New International Version

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What Is Your Preferred Way of Communicating?

How do we communicate? Obviously with language, although not with words alone; the way words are formulated to give meaning to a message are important. The intonation and pitch of your voice and your body language are powerful communication tools.

Looks can be deceptive, such as a smile that communicates a nice greeting while hiding negative feelings and intentions. Everyone knows what it means to give or receive a simple smile, pretending all is well – when it isn’t.

Pretending might serve an immediate purpose, but reality will have to be faced. Psalm 31:5 refers to God as the “God of truth.” John 1:14 portrays Jesus as “full of grace and truth.” Self-evaluations are needed so God’s truth can correct questionable behavior patterns. Asking God for truth, facing that truth, and living with truth form a strategy for overcoming the need to give false impressions.                

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What you say can preserve life or destroy it; so you must accept the consequences of your words. 

~Proverbs 18:21 Good News Bible  

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Can False Impressions of Self Be Overcome?

It’s not unthinkable to speculate that each person has deliberately given a false impression about a specific aspect of their life. The purpose of false impressions is to influence others to see something other than your true self.

Mary Ann Evans, writing under the pseudonym of George Elliot, observed that “Life is too precious to spend in weaving and unweaving false impressions.” False impressions are designed to influence what others think and believe.

Self-centeredness drives false impressions, but future accountability cannot be disregarded. Ephesians 5:5 states that “no immoral person will have an inheritance in the kingdom of God.”

The first step in turning away from false impressions is to permit the purifying light of Jesus Christ to cleanse the core of your soul. When tempted to fall back into sin, immediately correct yourself. The power of God in Christ Jesus will help you repent and be forgiven.                        

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Love [for Christ Jesus] should always make us tell the truth. Then we will grow in every way and be more like Christ, the head of the body. Christ ... becomes strong because of [His] love.  

~Ephesians 4:15-16 Contemporary English Version  

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How Valuable Is Trust to Relationships?

What purpose does genuine trust serve in relationships and every area of life? Trust is the foundation on which governments, societies, work and family life are anchored. Trust is the navigational system that guides us through daily activities.

Think how we trust public agencies to provide electricity and safe water. False trust believes these will never fail. Proverbs 25:14 describes those who deceive as being like clouds that promise needed rain but are empty of moisture.

What purpose does portraying yourself falsely accomplish? Enticing others with false trust may produce momentary gain but predictably end in sorrow. Accountability that’s anchored in trust for God welcomes without hesitation Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, to thoroughly search the heart for falsehood. Peace comes to opening your life to that light.          

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When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise. In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid.  

~Psalm 56:3-4 New American Standard Bible  

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How Powerful Is False Trust?

Have you noticed that in most popular music trust or mistrust is usually the topic? False trust can be the main focus. Perhaps the reason for the popularity of this issue is the human need to be loved and trusted.

False trust has the capability to convince the unsuspecting that love and acceptance exist when in reality, they don’t. Satan used his talent to convince Adam and Eve that he was trustworthy and what he had to say was pure truth.

False trust is powerful and convincing when combined with promises of accountability. Genesis 4 describes how Cain lured his brother Abel to an isolated place and murdered him. Cain made use of false trust for selfish purposes. God never intended for false trust to invade human relationships, but rather for truth and honesty to dominate.           

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Most people will tell you what loyal friends they are, but are they telling you the truth? 

~Proverbs 20:6 The Living Bible   

We have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 

~2 Corinthians 4:2 New International Version 

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How Is Trust Affected By Accountability?

Have you ever trusted someone only to discover they were totally unworthy of your trust? 

Everyone eventually gets blindsided for being somewhat naive. Failure to pay attention to God’s warning signs gives evidence of false trust.

When a relationship or situation proves painful, what was believed to be trustworthy was based on unrealistic beliefs and the unwillingness to face the truth. Failure to heed warning signs is a failure to be accountable to what God provides.

Accountability depends on confidence that God’s presence will provide strength to overcome whatever must be faced. False trust believes a particular situation is safe regardless of contrary evidence. Accountability is attached to faith that assures you God’s unfailing love is trustworthy for fighting the good fight that must be faced in life.

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Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. ~1 Corinthians 4:2 New International Version  

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What Makes False Trust Believable?

God created human beings with an innate ability to trust, otherwise he would not have commanded people to trust him. Do you realize what a blessing it is to have confidence that God is able to "supply all your needs according to his riches in Glory by Christ Jesus"?

False trust believes God will supply everything you want, no matter how out of bounds it is. False trust believes that something exists when there is no basis for its existence. False trust believes someone cares for you when evidence proves it isn’t true.

False trust attempts to make something believable when it’s a sham. False trust believes when you’re married, you will be completely happy and children will fulfill all your needs to be loved and respected. Healthy trust derives from making the Lord Jesus Christ your stronghold, an anchor that holds you firm through the storms of life. Healthy trust remains assured of God’s love.                 

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Blessed is the [person] who trusts in the Lord and has made the Lord his hope and confidence. He is like the tree planted along a riverbank, with its roots reaching deep into the water, a tree not bothered by the heat nor worried by the long months of drought. Its leaves stay green and it goes right on producing its luscious fruit. ~Jeremiah 17:7-8 The Living Bible  

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What Makes a Person Worthy of Our Trust?

Has God made it possible to measure or define trust in different situations? Common sense testifies that trust has many variables. When considering the emotional and intellectual components of a situation, the worthiness of trust can be evaluated. 

Are we accountable to those who think they are worthy of our trust? We’re accustomed to believing others should be accountable to us when we extend the gift of trust to them. Accountability is confirmed when we stand by our word.

Human beings need and want to trust in relationships, political systems, and God. Job 8:14-19 reminds us of the reality of false trust, which is like shallow soil that starves the plants. Sadly, each person has experienced false trust. However, when compared to faith and trust anchored in the Lord Jesus Christ, His promises are dependable, solid, and trustworthy.

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Give yourself to the Lord, trust in him, and he will help you; he will make your righteousness shine like the noonday sun. Be patient and wait for the Lord to act. 

~Psalm 37:5-7 Good News Bible 

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Is Accountability Dependent on Trust?

How would you define trust? Trust is obviously conditional and dependent on personal choices and behavior. Trust is bound up with what a person believes to be true about an individual or situation. Trust includes being committed and devoted indefinitely.

Trust can be fragile and easily broken through careless decisions that disregard personal commitment and loyalty. Trust is reliant on that which is beyond oneself. How often have you been encouraged to trust when the pathway appeared unpredictable?

How is accountability dependent on trust? In Jesus’ Parable of the Pearl of Great Value, the merchant refused to hesitate in purchasing the treasure he’d found. He trusted in the pearl’s quality and beauty and acted before the opportunity passed. Trust includes confidence that cannot be dominated by doubt. Trust includes belief in God’s unfailing love and care, his provision and protection.

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My salvation and honor depend on God; he is my strong protector; he is my shelter. 

~Psalm 62:7 Good News Bible 

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How Important Is Trust to You?

Considering all the people you know, whom do you trust? What does trust means to you? Someone humorously said, “Trust is giving your debit card along with the pin number to someone you believe would never rip you off.”

Trust is confidence that the ties that bind could never be easily severed. Trust is longed for because it represents a treasure of great value and worth. Accountability cannot be separated from trust, for trust is the strongest motivation for being responsible.

In the Parable of the Pearl of Great Value, Jesus relates how a merchant found the perfect pearl he had pursued for years. He sold his possessions and bought the pearl. This is analogous to taking hold of the Kingdom Of Heaven offered to you at great sacrifice by God. Trust is grasping what may never come your way again. 

Trust compels you to tenaciously seize the Kingdom of God, for it is of great value.

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Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ”He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 

~Psalm 91:1-2 New International Version 

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How Crucial Is Trust to Every Aspect of Life?

Erik Erikson, the American child psychologist, listed trust as the primary task of infancy. Trust is the foundation on which all healthy development depends. Confidence, feelings of security, your identity and success directly parallel trust.

Imagine an infant born to a couple who are absolutely delighted that they could be so blessed by God. Throughout infancy this baby is loved and cherished, showered with affection, and all physical needs are met with loving care. The sound of the parent's voice resonates love and acceptance.

It isn’t difficult to imagine how trust develops under these conditions or how mistrust evolves when these attributes are absent. As an adult, God’s word encourages believers to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, for he provides confidence to face whatever life demands. Life can be managed successfully by trusting in the Lord with all your heart. 

Let America's motto become your personal motto. 

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Come near to God and he will come near to you. … Humble yourself before the Lord, and he will lift you up. ~James 4:8,10 New International Version

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How Do We Become What God Intended?

An important enhancement for feeling secure is accepting God’s purpose for your life. I’ve talked to adults of all ages who humorously say, “I do not know what I want to do when I grow up.” The issue is failing to discover a unique purpose for living.

Daily life can be compared to Jesus’ Parable of the Sower who scattered seed in different types of soil. The soil’s productivity is decided by the nutrients that feed the plants. Our heart and soul can be stifled by failing to be what God intended.

You are accountable to God for what you permit to invade your life. God’s purpose for you is manageable as you adjust to what he places into your care. So be ready when you’re challenged to see if you will remain faithful to God’s purpose for you. His grace and mercy will hold you firm regardless of the challenge. By entrusting your life into the care of Jesus Christ, your peace and purpose are secure.

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You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. 

~Psalm 139:1-4 New International Version 

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Have You Thanked God Today for What He Has Provided?

So much of what is referred to as being successful highlights a celebrated period of productivity. This juncture in life is analogous to the farmer whose crop produced such an abundant harvest, new barns had to be built to store it.

What do you do with ideas that have future potentiality? In this parable from Luke 12:16, unexpected success appears to have created a mindset of freedom from responsibility backed by a lifetime of future celebrations. The man somehow forgot that life expectancy is unpredictable.

This recipient of God’s blessing neglected to offer thanksgiving to God for his abundant provision. God implants ideas in your mind for your benefit and for his kingdom here on earth. How these ideas are nurtured and cultivated determine God’s blessings.

Being a good manager of what is entrusted into your care demonstrates personal accountability.

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Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he [Jesus] who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 

~Hebrews 10:23-24 New International Version 

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What Does It Take to Prevent Wasting Your Life?

I recently visited with a friend who worked for years without taking a vacation because providing for his family seemed more important than taking time off for leisure and recreation. Now that he’s older he regrets having missed what can never be regained.

He failed to realize that having fun and making great memories with his family were also important. It doesn’t take a vast creative mind to develop a particular way of thinking and remain there indefinitely.

Jesus told the Parable of the Sower to convey the idea that in life there will be opportunities to use your intelligence and innate skills for choosing wisely. So much of life can be wasted on things that have no lasting value, like seeds planted in soil that has no depth or where plants are overtaken by thorns that suffocate and strangle them. A life anchored in Jesus Christ has eternal security and life in abundance.

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Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 

~Psalm 37:4 New International Version 

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Is There a Compelling Motive for Suppressing Atypical Ideas?

Someone noted that if each person would take a moment to give consideration to an atypical idea that spontaneously became conscious, it was possible that good, wonderful results could be the prize.

It is important to analyze thought patterns to determine if they are good or evil, so a commitment to “do no harm” should constantly dominate. Abraham Lincoln wrote, “Our best judgment is constantly demanded to separate good from evil.” 

The next step in bringing your creative insight to fruition is to nurture it like a seed planted in good soil and properly watered. An idea Abraham Lincoln pondered for years was the Emancipation Proclamation Act, but getting it through Congress with war raging took creativity, courage, and faith. Your ideas blessed by God could be analogous to Jesus’ “Parable of the Mustard Seed”. Although just a thought, if loaded with potentiality, God alone knows the future.

           

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For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. 

~Ecclesiastes 12:14 New International Version 

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What Is the Mandate God Assigns to Each Believer?

The Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung believed some people were able to know things not naturally learned. These people may realize they possess insight designed to benefit God’s plan and purpose for them as well as for others.

What greater motive for creativity and accountability could there be, realizing you are privileged to be doing what honors and pleases the Lord God? Jesus referred to this as laying up incorruptible treasures in heaven.

Jesus gave us a related truth in the “Parable of the Mustard Seed”. The wonder and power in a tiny mustard seed is similar to the power of faith and trust God assigns to believers in Christ Jesus. Jesus confirms in John 16:13 he would send the Holy Spirit to guide believers into all truth he had taught. 

That mandate is to learn whatever is within the scope of your ability to assimilate and then be accountable to God for that information.    

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Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove to be faithful. 

~1 Corinthians 4:2 New International Version

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How Much Power Is Stored in the Smallest Particle of Faith?

The first sentence of Genesis 1 tells us that God created the heavens and earth. The word created means to bring into existence what did not previously exist, and this perspective is attributed only to God.

Did God intend for human beings to be co-creators with him, filling the earth with new innovations and designs? For centuries humans have been innovators and inventors by using their intelligence and intuition to pursue ideas for the betterment of self and others.

Jesus’ Parable of the Mustard Seed reminds believers that faith and trust, no matter how small, are capable of producing enormous results when blessed by God.

Quality not quantity is the issue. So faith, like the tiny mustard seed, is the force behind creativity and accountability. So you, like the smallest particle of God’s creation, can respond to his design and purpose.                   

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Each of you should use whatever gifts your have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. 

~1 Peter 4:10 New International Version

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Can You Know Your Destiny for Certain?

Have you ever reflected on what you could have done in life if only circumstances had been different? Getting bogged down in the old “if-only entrapment” that served as justification for your underachievement, you could have pursued a different pathway to contentment.

When I was attending college, I met a man in his late twenties who confessed he could not read and was unable to complete an application for employment he was pursuing. He was intelligent, as confirmed by his vocabulary and ability to communicate.

This person demonstrated accountability and creativity by enrolling in programs designed to help those with dyslexia learn to read and write by unconventional methods. In Jesus’ parable of the rich man and Lazarus, disease and poverty could not dissuade Lazarus from his faith in God’s care as he battled to survive each day. While some situations cannot be overcome, faith provides the will to endure. 

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 For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. 

~Philippians 2:13 New International Version 

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 

~John 15:5 New International Version

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Does God Hold You Responsible for Your Skills and Talents?

Creativity is not just coming up with ideas but doing what it takes to be sure an idea is worthy of bringing to fruition. Creativity recognizes that while pursuing an idea, something totally different could be discovered that is more worthwhile than the original goal.

You do not have to be a scientist to be creative. Parenting demands creativity, for it’s a continuous learning process. Parents are accountable to God and the entire social order for teaching and enforcing boundaries so children know what’s acceptable.   

Creativity leads to opportunity and responsibility.

God hold us accountable, as the parable of the rich man and Lazarus demonstrates. Lazarus suffered from a disease that prevented him from working, yet each day he subjected himself to the generosity of others. Present and future rewards are in store for those whose faith and trust in God reflect their determination to be accountable.

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And let us consider how we can spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 

~Hebrews 10:24 New International Version 

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Do You Need to Regain Your Sense of Accountability?

God intended for each person to use and expand their capacity to be creative. According to Genesis, Adam and Eve were given the task of taking charge of God’s creation by reproducing, subduing, and prospering.

They had to use their intelligence and creativity to survive and prosper. Think about them with no modern conveniences, obtaining and preparing meals while caring for children. God gave human beings an imagination, initiative, and the will to explore, discover and create.

We are held accountable, first to God, for our beliefs, thoughts, talents, and actions. The stories Jesus told were about accountability. The parable of Lazarus and a rich man is about a life dedicated to self-gratification with little concern for others. God expects us to work and enjoy the fruits of our labor while remembering that he, the Lord God, made it possible.  

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So I tell you and call on you in the Lord not to live any more like the people of the world. Their minds are set on worthless things. Their understanding is darkened. Their closed minds have made them strangers to the life God gives. 

~Ephesians 4:17-18 Beck – New Testament in the Language of Today 

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How Is Creativity Subdued by Negative Thinking?

Creativity can be kept in submission through repressive feelings of fear and anxiety. Negative thinking will strip away what it takes to risk failure while pursuing success. Matthew 25:25 points out how fear predetermined failure for someone who refused to use his knowledge and creativity to bring him success. "I was afraid, so I went off and hid your money in the ground..."

My dad commented on how negative thinking had prevented him from purchasing property that had quadrupled in value almost immediately. Negative thinking comprised of “what if,” permitted a good investment to slip away.

God never intended for us to act on every potential, but to use our intelligence and creative abilities to assess an opportunity. Courage and confidence linked to creative investigations are necessary core ingredients for grasping a future opportunity. Faith and trust anchored in the Lord Jesus Christ are foundational for creativity.  

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You must be very careful not to forget the things you have seen God do for you. Keep reminding yourself, and tell your children and grandchildren as well. 

~Deuteronomy 4:9 Contemporary English Version 

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Is It Possible to Be Too Cautious?

Do you think of yourself as being creative? Jesus’ thoughts on creativity and accountability are revealed in his Parable of the Talents. An employer entrusted $10,000 to an employee, $5,000 to another and $1,000 to someone else. The first two doubled their investments, but the third refused to trust his marketplace skills. He was promptly terminated.

The fired employee was accused of being too cautious, lazy, and wicked. Jesus’ parable defines accountability. What has been entrusted into your care intellectually, physically, and spiritually are gifts to be invested in God’s kingdom here on earth.

Creativity motivates you to seek the limits of your giftedness. God’s gift to each believer is faith and trust, which enable you to push out from what is known, to discover opportunities to serve Jesus Christ in new and exciting ways. 

So stay alert and be ready.

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Be careful, then, how your live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 

~Ephesians 5:15-16 New International Version 

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How Are Creativity and Accountability Linked Together?

If someone were to ask, what does it means to be creative, how would you respond? Being creative summons a wide range of possible expressions. Children are judged to be creative who use their imagination to express ideas and those who duplicate other’s achievements.

Another question to ask is what role does accountability play in bringing creativity to fruition? Vincent Van Gough believed his art would become the wave of the future for generations of new artists.

If creativity is to come to fruition it must be bonded to accountability. Remember the man who approached Jesus with the question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” He was wealthy and religious, yet bored and lost. He needed a special challenge but was unwilling to be accountable to  Jesus’ recommendation. True creativity often requires sacrifice, but God’s abundant benefits more than compensate for what is given up.                                                                                         

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Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. 

~Matthew 5:23-24 New International Version 

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What Makes Self-care Seem So Difficult?

Human nature dictates we care for others and especially that we care for ourselves as long as we can do so. Taking care of yourself during grief and sorrow or following a traumatic event is difficult because the tendency to be narrowly focused shapes your behavior.

During very stressful moments the impulse to make important life decisions should be avoided since a significant change adds to stress levels by creating more anxiety and fear. Some changes are unavoidable, so consulting with trusted friends and family can be reassuring.

Taking ownership for self-care is important. Being accountable may involve asking for help, especially when feeling overwhelmed by too many choices and decisions. Never hesitate to seek the comfort and fellowship of the Lord God even if you blame him for what you are experiencing. God loves you with an unfailing love that will not fade or be diminished by your grief and sorrow. 

                           

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How great is God’s love for all who worship him? Greater than the distance between heaven and earth! How far has the Lord taken our sins from us? Farther than the distance from east to west! ... With all my heart I praise the Lord. 

~Psalm 103:11-12, 22b Contemporary English Version 

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How Does Seeking Forgiveness Promote Self-care?

Self-care is a normal but often a neglected task in life. Self-neglect or self-abuse often begins in adolescence through sleep deprivation and numerous experimentations including self-harm. Habits formed during these years may become permanent.

David, king of Israel and man of faith, pleaded with God to forgive him for the sins of his youth. For David, pursuing forgiveness was crucial to self-care. Courage is required when seeking forgiveness because it demands being honest and vulnerable.

Offering forgiveness to a person who has wounded your heart and pride demonstrates ownership and self-care. Otherwise your heart will become corrupt with resentment, even hatred, which has the power to damage your mind, body, and spirit. God’s word reminds us if we forgive others we are in a position to receive God’s healing forgiveness, which is the ultimate in self-care.                        

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You must be merciful, as your Heavenly Father is merciful. Don’t judge other people and you will not be judged yourself. Don’t condemn [others] and you will not be condemned. Forgive others and you will be forgiven.  

~Luke 6:37 Phillips – New Testament in Modern English 

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How Do We Demonstrate Self-care?

Becoming older cannot be avoided. When the first signs of losing the elegance of youth are noticed, an all-out effort may be set in motion to camouflage that reality. When her daughter entered adolescence, her mother began copying her daughter’s choice for clothes.

Negotiating mid-life begins in the mid-to-late thirties and can cause grief, as the reality of losing young adulthood cannot be denied. Trying to avoid this transition is similar to denying the sorrow of a significant loss.

Taking ownership of aging is being accountable for taking care of yourself in a new way. Self-care involves paying attention to your body and mind. Aging has the potential for creating anxiety, but this is not God’s intention. 

When you put your hope and trust in God’s care for you, hope springs eternal as an anchor to hold you firm while allocating to you courage to face the changes life presents. May God bless you.

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You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body. You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculped from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you. The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day. 

~Psalm 139:15-16 The Message 

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How Does Being Accountable for Grief Aid in Healing?

Collin Parks, noted British psychiatrist and author, said grief is the price we pay for loving and being loved. This is fundamental to bonding so relationships can last a lifetime. If bonding is severed, we emotionally go through deep sorrow and grief.

When I was a child, one of our cows gave birth to a calf which I claimed for my own. It became so tame and gentle it would follow me when I was at the barn or out in the pasture. One morning my dad told me the calf had died from pneumonia. 

Throughout life, we experience a series of losses. Coming to grips with the reality of grief means it’s imperative to assume ownership of the sorrow that’s left in its wake. Healing begins by being accountable to the grief, which means permitting God to touch your heart with his presence until healing and a return to normal life have taken place. 

Jesus will be with you as you make this journey.

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The Lord is close to those whose hearts are breaking; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. A good person may have many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. 

~Psalm 34:18-19 The Living Bible/New International Version 

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What Is Involved in Healing from Grief?

Unresolved grief related to the loss of a special relationship can be a precursor to depression and other emotional issues. Significant grief is like a dark cloud hanging over your life. Technically, grief is an emotional and physical response to a specific loss.

Grief is composed of several stages including denial, depression, anger, bargaining, and finally acceptance. Deep sorrow generated by grief sometimes creates the need for emotional isolation that’s necessary for healing to occur.

Healing is dependent on taking ownership of grief, which means being available to experience each stage as it occurs.

Blaming God and others is a form of denial. Assuming ownership for grief creates a place for God to extend his strength and comfort to you. Faithfulness to God’s presence clears the way for hope and healing to occur.

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When someone becomes a Christian, he or she becomes a brand-new person inside. [This person] is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!  

~2 Corinthians 5:17 The Living Bible 

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What Is a First Step for Making Character Correction?

A proverb of old states, “Confession is good for the soul.” A contemporary equal could be, “Owning up to embarrassing failures and missteps demonstrates strong character.” It is difficult to prevent lapses in character from contributing to failures.

I missed role call only once when I was in the Air Force. My unit Sergeant came to my barracks to make an inquiry. It was obvious I’d overslept, so I spent the next two week-ends painting offices. I made sure my character would never allow me to oversleep again.

Professing ownership, like confessing, is good for the soul, in that each provides freedom from guilt and cover-ups. Acknowledging ownership is a first step toward making corrections for a lapse in character.

Accountability demonstrates faithfulness for facing future temptations. Proverbs 16: 6 assures us, “Through love and faithfulness, sin is atoned for.” You can trust in God’s promises.        

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When you are guilty, you must confess the sin. 

~Leviticus 5:5 Good News Bible  

Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy. 

~Proverbs 28:13 New International Version  

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What Command Fulfills God's Word?

Claiming ownership for life’s issues includes assuming responsibility, which demonstrates maturity. Acknowledging ownership signals your ability to accept feelings and values that determine behaviors; these will strengthen or weaken your relationships.

The acknowledgement of others that you are taking responsibility in the face of life’s critical interpersonal challenges is motivation to press onward to tackle God’s plan for yourself. Accountability implies accepting responsibility for what God calls you to be to other people. 

So rejoice in being a source for happiness to others and contributing to their peace of mind. Taking responsibility to care for others overrides the impulse to care only for yourself. Accountability allows the peace and power of Jesus Christ to rule in your heart.

Galatians 5:14 acknowledges “the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” This is God’s way.    

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A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all others will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. 

~John 13:34-35 New International Version 

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