It's About Accountability

Then David spoke to the Lord when he saw the angel who was striking the people, and said, “Surely, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly; but these sheep, what have they done? Let Your hand, I pray, be against me and against my father’s house.” 2 Samuel 24:17 (NKJV)

David goes against God's will and numbers his people, falling into sin, because in those times, a man only had the right to count what belonged to him and Isreal did not belong to David, but to God. David quickly repents, but there are consequences to his sin. God sends the prophet Gad to David who says he has three choices: He could have seven years of famine, three months of his enemies controlling him, or three days of plaque. David chooses to let God's hand deal with his sin, and Isreal goes into a plague, causing David to realize that the people around him are suffering for his sin. David prays for the punishment to be on to him only and God has mercy and stops the angel causing the destruction on Isreal.

Like David, our sin affects the people around us, and we need to take responsibility for our sin. Alcoholism is an example that not only affects the individual, but the people around them. An alcoholic may unleash emotional turmoil on those closest to them, even blaming them for the state they are in. They will strain relationships and lose the trust of those closest to them due to their alcoholism. Once the alcoholic takes the first step and recognizes that they are in denial, the path to reconciliation and healing begins. This is true for all sins, not just chemical dependency, but for pornography, anger, lust, co-dependency, gambling, food addictions, and many more. Romans 7:18 says, "For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out." We need to take accountability, admit we are powerless over our sin, and that we need God's help.

Choose to attend a Celebrate Recovery group, which is a Christ-centered twelve step program, and step out of your denial. Give your hurt, habits and hangup's to God and rely on Jesus Christ as your higher power for healing. Join a step-study and do a deep dive into the struggles that prevent you from having peace with God and others. When you choose to be accountable for your sin, it no longer defines you, and the healing process begins.