A lack of this conviction creates a vacuum, because lack of ability in understanding of both simple and greater things is the result. This is the case because without conviction one inevitably hits a solid wall in their spiritual growth, and God is forced to not act as He would have, because you're not ready for it. Additionally, without conviction, often there is no urgency to change, and even worse, no ability to change. You can't change something if you don't see a reason to. A person with no conviction leads a stagnant life that slowly decays, as a fish tank would grow algae until you can't see through the glass anymore.
Conviction should be welcomed. It is one of very few reliable things that always lights up a direct path towards something better. Conviction has the power to create a sense of urgency where there was none before. Unfortunately, people sometimes tend to view conviction as some sort of guilt trip on the way they live. They see it as invasive. Worse yet, is that it is so easy to dismiss something that no one will call you out on, which is often the case because it challenges the hidden things within, as well as the little things that others may not notice.
But it is conviction that can have the one of the single most transforming effects that exists, outside of salvation. God will never use conviction to hurt you, only to put you on the path of destiny that He has already planned for your life. The fleshly response to conviction is to defend itself by way of attacking or ignoring the conviction. The spiritual response to conviction is to seek out and attack with resolute change what the conviction calls out. Seeing conviction as an ally empowers and emboldens one, propelling them to new levels of success.
Is there anything else out there that pinpoints areas of weakness and need for improvement in one's life with such directness? No, but because of this, having that conviction means having no excuse for not making the proper adjustments. Sometimes it is hard to willingly put yourself in a place where you create more personal accountability, and that's a large proponent of people purposely dismissing conviction on their lives. We've all done it. I do it now. There are things I ignore that I know I am being led to change when I'm honest with myself. People speak of personal capacity, and responding to the tug of conviction is an excellent way to increase that.
Personal Impact: When I view conviction as an ally, my defenses are softened, and I am able to see it's endgame goals and necessity with the clarity one would have when watching a movie about a character with whom they have no relation to. With no defensive reactions, I can plan for the good that conviction is trying to achieve, like a coach would plan a 3rd and long situation from the sidelines, or as a precise military tactic would be planned and carried out by a general with a bird's eye view of the war zone.
The personal attachment to oneself is where the problem with conviction usually lies. Just as we are capable to see much room for improvement in others, so can we see within ourselves without the personal attachment if we will allow conviction to do it's work. Remember that conviction in the form I describe is really The Holy Spirit guiding you towards the more complete will of God in the first place, which is in part to temper your personal relationship with Him. We know that God will never give us more than we can handle. The same is true with advancement and promotion in Him. You can only go so far in your in your spiritual growth when you ignore that conviction that was placed on your heart for a purpose.
No comments:
Post a Comment