In our fast-paced society, it’s easy to lose sight of the importance of accountability in our spiritual walk with God. Proverbs 27:17 reminds us that we aren’t meant to walk this path alone. The metaphor of iron sharpening iron shows how believers can challenge and encourage one another to grow in their faith. Without a community surrounding us and encouraging us, our faith tends to falter.

Accountability offers the support and encouragement needed to stay focused on Christ, especially when life becomes challenging. It provides the space needed to be honest about our struggles and disciplines throughout our daily lives. When we are accountable to others, we walk alongside them, allowing them to offer wisdom, correction and prayer.

Just like iron is refined by another piece of iron, we are refined through godly relationships. Absolute accountability requires vulnerability and trust, while also encouraging growth. Here are a few ways it may help us:

• Stay on track: Accountability partners can help redirect our paths if we begin to stray off course and get caught up in sin.
• Develop discipline: Knowing someone is there to point out when we go astray helps us stay consistent in our faith. It motivates us to do well.
• Overcome sin: Confessing our struggles to our accountability partner can help us fully recognize the sin. By confessing to God, we can own up to it and move past it.

The best way to build an accountable relationship is to pray to God about it. Ask God to put people in your life who will reflect Him and who are willing to challenge and encourage you in your faith. Diving deeper, look for someone who shares your commitment to growing in Christ. Accountability won’t work if you both have different goals and morals.

It is important that once you find an accountability partner, you should be willing to be honest and open with them. Accountability loses its meaning if you hide your struggles because they have no way to help redirect you out of that. Growth has a place in honesty and openness, not when you’re closed off. Lastly, schedule regular check-ins to talk about your progress, share prayer requests and study Scripture together.

Accountability isn’t just about judgment or criticism, it’s about grace and love. Just as Jesus walked alongside his disciples in patience and truth, we are called to do the same for one another. Our goal should always be to build each other up. As you reflect on Proverbs 27:17, consider who God has put in your life to help you grow. Who can you help in return? Seek out those relationships, knowing that through them you can become stronger and closer to the person God wants you to be.

The following are some questions that may be helpful to reflect on when working on building accountability:

• Who in your life helps you grow spiritually?
• How can you encourage and support someone else this week?
• What steps can you take to build strong accountability relationships?

Grand Canyon University is dedicated to helping everyone in the GCU community follow God’s Word, and for a lot of people that begins with accountability. To explore more about spiritual life here at GCU, read through our other weekly devotionals or fill out the form on this page.

Approved and verified accurate by the local outreach coordinator of the Office of Spiritual Life on Dec. 5, 2024.