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Accountability is not a new concept. It has been used throughout the ages to keep people on track with their responsibilities or goals. It has been used to reform and inspire. 12 step programs and weight loss programs use it to great success.

It’s really been working for me lately, too. I’ve been using this blog and my readers to hold me accountable for some of the goals that I have set.

• Remember when I told you that I was cutting my grocery budget down to $200 a month? I was freaked out at the time, but I’ve been very successful!
• Remember when I told you I wanted to be a more Motivated Mom? And my success/failure update? Still working on that one, but I DID flip to today’s date on my planner . . .
• Remember when I announced that I wanted to become a runner? Remember when I ran my first 5k? My second 5k? I’m still running, by the way. Well, not this morning, but tomorrow for sure.

And then, I announced that I was joining the Bible in 90 Days challenge at Mom’s Toolbox. I knew that if I mentioned it here on my blog, I would have a much higher success rate. I updated you on Day 15, and now I’m on Day 36. And, guess what? Having accountability is working!!

I’m completely caught up with my reading, and I can’t even express what this challenge has done for me.

I am CONSTANTLY reading my Bible. I keep one in my purse for odd moments when I have a couple of minutes. I have one that I keep at my desk for when I’m waiting on Photoshop to finish saving my project. (No more thumb-twiddling!) And, if I don’t have my reading done for the day, I have one on my nightstand. My children are catching me reading my Bible all the time, and they hear me say, “Where’s my Bible?” at least once a day. Love that!

I can’t wait to get back to The Word!! My heart quickens and my brain engages as soon as I glance at my open Bible. It’s almost like an addiction, and it is one that I am absolutely loving. I still marvel that God is speaking to me through even the most detailed (son of this guy, son of that guy) and dry (yet important!) areas of the Old Testament. I can’t explain it, but I praise God for it.

The Old Testament has taken on such life and significance. {oh, my heart!!} I always loved reading the Bible, and I always found significance in the portions that I read, but I have never read the ENTIRE thing before. I don’t think I ever read Nehemiah. I have some verses starred and underlined from the past, so obviously I read portions of it, but never the entire book. WHY? I’m 34 years old!! AHHH! I am so humbled by this.

Back to the accountability piece:

When I signed up to join the Bible in 90 Days Challenge at Mom’s Toolbox, I felt like I was making a commitment. Amy set us up with Mentors (hi Lisa!) who email us a couple of times a week to encourage us . A bunch of ladies meet for a weekly Twitter party (#b90days) to share, encourage and ask questions. We have a weekly check-in on Mondays where we can link-up or leave a comment to share how we are doing.

Here is a little case-in-point: Last week, I commented on the check-in post: “As of NOW, I’m a little bit ahead!! Of course, if I had checked in this morning, I would have been a day and a half behind, but I’ve been reading every spare moment just so I could check in and be on target!!”

Accountability is so valuable!!

I know that a couple of you are doing the challenge with me. So, how are you doing with your reading?