As we come to our final week on this series of biblical decision-making, we'll look at wise counsel. God has provided the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus called our Counselor, and the body of believers.

Accountability can be so painful. There's the pain of bearing your soul to another and sharing the dark places in your life. Yes, that’s painful, but in a healing and good way. But there's also the bearing of one’s soul and then the tearing and ripping of said soul by the “faithful” listener on the other end. With both things a possibility, should we keep on holding one another accountable or not?

Most of us learned of Governor Sanford’s personal failure this week with a deep sense of sorrow, both for his family and for once again seeing the cause of Christ ridiculed as one of our own succumbed to temptation.  Yet, I trust that we were also warned in our spirit of similar temptation and dangers that confront us as well.

In this wisdom series, we have explored the idea that while God has revealed his will for all of humanity, he has not revealed his plan for individuals. As we make decisions in our lives, we do so within God's will for all humans but with God-given freedom.

Our minds are a battlefield and in different seasons of life there are different battles happening.  Currently, my battle has to do with fear of losing my son.  Each night I have at least one irrational fear that enters my mind of something horrible happening to him.  I have the choice in the matter - to linger and dwell on or move away from.  I am reminded each time of 2 Corinthians 10:5 that says:

Women in ministry face quite a challenge, don't we? We work, we study, we love, we sacrifice, and sometimes we pour out so much to others that we come to a point where God says this to us: "I have this against you, that you have left your first love" (Revelation 2:4). 

When that happens, I realize that I have to get down on my knees and get back to the basics. I have to forget about everything else and refocus on my love relationship with the King of the Universe.

Here we are at the end of our series in the gospel of Mark! I know its been a long run and I hope you've been able to trace the themes in the gospel along with me over the various posts. Today, let's pull together what we've learned from our work.