July 7. Time Clocks Are Not Enough?

What keeps you accountable? As a leader, many of us do not have a robust system for accountability. The challenge for ourselves can be that without accountability, we may proceed with our already established patterns. This is a biological fact. The neural patterns of habits in our brains are powerful and become instinctive.

Instincts trump intentions. Many of the best leaders know that they need to create a system to capture some time where the rule is reversed. Reversal of the instinctive pattern can occur to a point where our intentions can overcome instincts. That is where accountability serves those who choose to deploy it.

Imagine if you were notified that you had only five years to operate your organization or team and then it would be done. The team would be disbanded, or the organization would have to close regardless of its past success. Would you do things differently?

Then I might ask, why are you doing them the way you are now? Instinctive and habitual patterns of your brain are probably why you are doing what you do. Where are you frustrated? Turning frustration into fascination might be as easy as establishing an accountability system. What is the first thing you can do about it in the next seven days?

What would you do with a second chance? King Hezekiah got a second chance. We read, “About that time Hezekiah became deathly ill...Set your affairs in order, for you are going to die. I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the king of Assyria." 2 Kings‬ 20:1-6‬ NLT‬‬.

If you were given an extension to your life, would you do things differently? Many would not because of their habits. They would simply live with the same frustrations as before and get to experience them for a longer period. Where is the joy in that? But we have been given an extension by being able to live as beings blessed by Christ.

Are you ready to get rid of some frustrations and turn them into fascinations? Maybe all you need is a little accountability to make some small but positive changes. What is the first frustration that you would like to resolve? What is the first thing you can do about it in the next seven days?

Who is the person that you are going to talk about your change with so as to create an accountability system?‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬ An accountability system can start with adding someone to be accountable to. If you do not know who to reach out to, reach out to us and the authors of the book can share some resources that can help.

Will you take that first step? We are not asking you to leap across the Grand Canyon. Everyone can cross the Grand Canyon by taking the hiking trail one small step at a time. Jesus offered his step of following him. That small step is life changing.

Are you willing to be accountable to make another small step?‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬Are you willing to be accountable to make another small step‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬?‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Let us pray, Heavenly Father, you know our frustrations. Some are self-caused and others by the world around us. But my actions are mine and today we want to become more accountable. Help us to gain clarity of vision and be willing to make the small changes needed to rid ourselves of the frustrations that keep us from loving more.

Make our path clear and obvious to find accountability partners that can share in our lives. Guide

us and comfort us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen,‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬