Christmas morning I was so excited when I opened up a gift from my husband and saw a Fitbit inside! Now I know what you’re thinking, “isn’t that like, buying your wife a vacuum cleaner, blender or gym membership? Aren’t those items off limits? An unspoken rule?” Well Brian was spot on in his gift choice (though I wouldn’t say he didn’t suffer a bit of anxiety as he watched me open it up…).
One of the reasons why I wanted a Fitbit was to see how much walking I naturally did during the day. I was convinced that I far exceeded the 10,000 daily steps goal. I’m a nanny to three boys six and under, so I assumed just keeping up with them was plenty. After the completion of my first week wearing this new friend on my wrist, I realized the truth. I had to work like crazy to get to the 10,000 steps goal! I would create games with the boys where we could walk/run around the house so I could meet the hourly challenges. Brian even joined the Fitbit club and I had hoped that this added competition would help, but low and behold, I came to the conclusion that meeting that mark every single day was hard.
Some days I barely reach 5k steps, and by 10pm there’s no way I have the energy to add 5k more. Other times I just have to realize that each day is different and while I aim to reach this bar my wrist buddy has set for me, I may not. But do you know what helps the most on those hard days? The every-so-often reminders my Fitbit sends me. “Let’s go climb some stairs!” or “want to go on a walk” or “let’s do 250 steps this hour!” It’s the encouragement I need to keep on stepping.
Now I bet you are thinking, “Mary, it’s been great reading about you and your Fitbit…but why again am I reading about you and your Fitbit?” Well, the other day I was processing what the Lord wanted me to share in this blog, and I felt him challenge me to share the importance of accountability.
We are only a few weeks into 2017, and what a great time to gather a few friends around you to be those every-so-often reminders to keep challenging and encouraging you to press on in your walk with the Lord. Some days are going to be really tough, and trusting that the Lord is in control will be hard. But this is a marathon we are running, and we aren’t alone.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 says,
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”
We can’t run this race alone; God didn’t call us to do that. Join with fellow believers, others who are striving for the same prize, and be encouragements to each other.
“May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” –Romans 15:5-6
Come alongside each other and send those every-so-often words of encouragement through a text, a call, a note or in person! Accountability is so vital within this community of believers. We are all going to go through seasons of discouragement and doubt. In these times it seems easier to just drop behind the other runners and start losing sight of the goal. Imagine the impact it would have on you to receive a word of encouragement at that time and to know that you aren’t alone.
My challenge for you is to find that person or two who will keep you accountable to running the race well and be that encouragement to others! And I promise you, the celebration we will experience one day in heaven will be exponentially better than the balloons and stars the Fitbit sends you when you reach 10,000 steps.