It is interesting in defining the title of this message I wanted to see exactly in what way the author of the message below was using conviction and defense, I wanted to make sure I was understanding. This is what I found; Conviction is a fixed or firm belief, a synonym of this word is persuasion. Defense is a speech, argument, etc in vindication, a synonym of this word is stronghold.
Now I could have stopped right there but as I look and listen today many families are facing trials. the enemy has made it is mission to destroy families, relationships that are a threat to his plan. So what has he done he has gotten to the weakest one in the bunch and he has planted thoughts (persuasion) and people to reinforce and defend the thoughts that he has placed in ones mind. I find it amazing that you can be in a family or a relationship most of your life and the enemy can plant a seed that you yourself water by entertaining it. As a young girl my mother use to say this and I thought it was the craziest thing I had ever heard. That no one could walk in and tell her anything any of us did, that she would entertain because she didn't see it with her own eyes especially if they didn't come with proof in hand. I remember saying mama what if it was your sister, she said she didn't care who it was. I left that conversation alone thinking that her mindset was crazy but she was my mom and I sure wasn't about to tell her I thought she was crazy I was bold but I knew when to sit down. However I later found that her thinking actually made sense, because misery loves company.
In the message below it speaks of convictions of defense. Basically said someone comes and plants a seed of negativity, something that causes you to go against what God wants for you and you allow your thoughts and your desire to be right water these seeds. Why because you don't want to be wrong, you don't want to be convicted. So you go about building your defense for your actions. That should be a red flag right there, if you have to build a defense then something ain't quite right. But you allow the enemy who comes along in the form of a friend or confident help you strengthen that stronghold in fact we are expecting the enemy to come in red suit with a pitch fork. No he is coming as a friend, a brother, a co-worker, a parent. They are telling you what they would do and wouldn't do and/or what they did. I beseech you examine what is being said because so two situations are exactly alike and no two people are exactly the same. Also anything you have to justify doing you know is wrong. I mean you don't justify why you go to work, or why you eat or why you go to church. So when you have to explain and action then you should proceed with caution.
I have found in the last year that anyone who is willing to tell you what you should do or shouldn't do rather than telling you to seek God is not someone you want to seek counsel from. While I was going through this last year I had only three negative people to cross my path and say well this, that or the other; notice the word had. I learned fast that misery loves company and even if they weren't miserable they were not going to be able to say I told her. Because my walk and worship are for real then I am able to discern when the enemy got in, I am able to discern and recognize strongholds. But do you know it's going to take much prayer to break those strongholds, because those persons have the conviction that they are right. So don't give up, God can and will change things.
We have to when we know it's God and we have to accept what He allows. So you can throw in a towel on something or someone God says that I want you to pray for but you will have to deal with God.
Blessed to Be Blessing,
Shon Garner Cole
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Romans 14:20-23
20 Don’t tear apart the work of God over what you eat. Remember, all foods are acceptable, but it is wrong to eat something if it makes another person stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another believer to stumble.22 You may believe there’s nothing wrong with what you are doing, but keep it between yourself and God. Blessed are those who don’t feel guilty for doing something they have decided is right. 23 But if you have doubts about whether or not you should eat something, you are sinning if you go ahead and do it. For you are not following your convictions. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.
A person of conviction has become convinced, by either evidence or argument, that his beliefs are true. Today, most men and women would rather live by preference than conviction. They choose to believe something based on certain conditions and circumstances. When the situation changes, so does their loyalty. In other words, a lot of people vacillate on issues that require a firm resolve.
Contrast this wishy-washy approach with the mindset of the great men and women of Scripture. Despite many years of unfair treatment, Joseph never wavered in his commitment to godly principles . As a result, he was in the right place at the right time to ensure Israel’s survival (Gen. 50:20). Daniel, another righteous man in an idolatrous land, earned the trust of foreign kings by standing firm in his beliefs (Dan. 1:20). When his friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego also refused to compromise their beliefs, they influenced a king to recognize Jehovah as the one true God (3:29).
As these biblical heroes show, godly convictions can withstand the changing winds of opinion and the persuasive arguments of opponents. If we are grounded in the Word and trust what God has said, we can stand firm in our beliefs. Confidence breeds the courage to remain strong amid conflict.
Instead of following your own preferences, choose to live by godly conviction. The Bible has much to say about the most important aspects of your life. See if God’s principles and promises hold true. Through prayer and study, allow Him to firmly root you in solid biblical convictions.
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