“If you don’t live by convictions, you will live by convenience.” Erwin Lutzer
Are you living with clearly defined convictions? Are the decisions you make each day determined primarily by your convictions or the whims of the culture?
For too long, the lack of clarity I’ve had about my convictions has led to a lack of consistency in my character.
Convictions are defined as firmly held beliefs or opinions, and as I turn the page into this next year of my life, I have settled on four core convictions that will, from this day forward, shape who I am and what I do like nothing else will.
They will anchor. They will guide. They will motivate.
They will hold me accountable to living the life I believe my Heavenly Father is calling me to live for my good and His glory.
(They might also provide the framework for a book that I think God might be leading me to write! Stay tuned.)
Here they are:
My LIFE Conviction - Gospel Freedom
Definition — Living fully in the freedom of the finished work of Christ.
Evidence: Faith > Fear
Scripture: So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36
Why? The world doesn’t need more “Christians.” The world needs more believers in Christ who are living in the fullness of what He lived, died, and rose again for!
My LISTENING Conviction - Humble Submission
Definition — Yielding willfully to the Word of God and the wisdom of others.
Evidence: Surrender > Self
Scripture: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5–6
Why? I don’t know better. Christ does. Others do. If my “gospel freedom” doesn’t have the fruit of “humble submission,” I’m not truly living free.
My LOVE Conviction - Sacrificial Love
Definition — Serving courageously at great personal cost to my comfort.
Evidence: Cost > Comfort
Scripture: By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 1 John 3:16
Why? God is love. Christ embodied love. The Holy Spirit empowers love. A life that reflects and glorifies the trinitarian God-head is a life marked by radical love.
My LEADERSHIP Conviction - Exponential Multiplication
Definition — Developing diligently for the sake of disciple-makers making disciple-makers.
Evidence: Developing > Doing
Scripture: …what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 2 Timothy 2:2
Why? There is no greater purpose to live for than the glory of God flooding the earth through the advancement of His Kingdom. Leading a disciple-making movement is my contribution.
Question to Consider
Would it be worth your time to think through the specific convictions you want to shape and guide your life?