The call from God to all believers in Christ is a call established on convictions. Convictions are founded on a clear, and thorough understanding of who God is, and what he has called us to do. God desires that every believer develops a relationship with him that allows them to develop a clear vision of who he is, and then, he expects that they begin to live their lives from the source spring or inspiration of the understanding of him that they receive from him as they relate with him.
However, many Christians do not order their lives in this way. Many Christians base their reasons for what they do on the opinions of others. Many others do what they do mindlessly without understanding why they should do, or should not do what they are doing. Saddeningly, many are content with this way of life. It has become a norm to live without convictions amongst believers. This is the reason many of us compromise in the face of challenges. We compromise because the convictions that should form the anchor for what we do are lacking, and so we fall in the face of challenges (Matthew 7:26-27).
What are convictions?
Convictions are the root of the Christian faith. They are the “roots” that keep the plant (we) connected and firmly rooted to the ground (God). They not only serve as our source of stability in the face of challenges, or life questions as earlier emphasized, but they also serve as the means of connecting to our heritage in God. Just like the plant absorbs water and nutrients from the ground via its roots, our convictions are essential for us to take advantage of all that is in God for us.
Why are we doing what we are doing? Why should we continue doing it even when it is “seemingly hurting us?” What is the end goal of what we are doing? In situations where these questions are left unanswered the possibilities of our faith failing are immensely high. All these questions can only be answered when convictions are in place.
When a Christian begins to esteem Jesus as great in his life and develops a relationship with Jesus by prayer, study of the Word, and fellowship with the Holy Spirit, convictions will be furnished in his heart to shape the way he lives. When that person begins to live trusting all that he receives as a result of this relationship he is developing with Jesus, that type of living is referred to as intentional living. Psalms 1:1-2 gives a vivid view of this kind of living:
Psalms 1:1-2
Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And His law he meditates day and night.
What seems to stand out the most in this verse is the statement, “But his delight is in the law of the Lord…” This part of the verse reveals the basis or the reason for the “blessed man’s” way of life. It reveals that the “blessed man’s” life was anchored on one thing, God’s convictions. And so all that this man did, or began to do was a result of the God’s perspective (God’s laws) that he kept to heart.
God has called every one of us to an intentional form of living. A life anchored on His Word revealed to us in our place of relationship with him.
2 Cor 4:13
And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak,
