It's...Personal

You know that feeling you get deep down when you feel like or know that you shouldn’t be doing something? Same, I get it. I would say, it’s probably a conviction. You’re convinced that you shouldn’t be doing that thing, whether it’s because of prior experience, because it was a childhood rule, or even because it was something you read in the Bible. A conviction is defined as “a firmly held belief or opinion”. 

Let’s think about the definition: belief or opinion. My beliefs are not your beliefs. My opinions are not your opinions. Both can definitely be shared, but both aren’t always necessarily going to be the same. Even if we’re both Christians and will share a lot of the same views, there’s still going to be things that we may not agree on. If you can’t see where I am getting at, it’s this: not everyone’s convictions are the same. But just like with other beliefs and opinions, even though we may not agree with them, we shouldn’t be any less gracious to the person. 

Everyone’s walk is different and everyone’s gone through different things. It’s not fair for us to try to push our personal convictions onto other people. If they’re not struggling with the same thing as you, what good is it for you to try to convince them they should or should not be doing a certain thing, especially if it’s not something explicitly seen in God’s Word? That being said, there’s a difference between trying to correct your brother or sister because they are sinning and forcing your own beliefs on them.

Don’t ignore your personal convictions. That is the Holy Spirit doing His work, guiding your on the path to righteousness. We hear talk of God ordering our steps, well, let’s not ignore that divine GPS inside of us, so we know which way to go. Don’t worry too much if your brother or sister is taking a different route. Ultimately your destination is the same, even if we all take different ways. Don’t forget to make sure they’re not lost: check up on them and be constantly praying for them. If you feel like they’re getting off track, don’t be afraid to give them a little push so they can continue in the right direction. God is working in them, just as He is in you. All of it takes time, so be expectant, but also be patient. 

If you feel like you struggle with pushing your personal convictions onto others, ask God to humble your heart, for patience, and for grace to take over.

Much love always,

Kumam 💓