Walking in the Light
Conviction is God’s protection.
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We are continuing with our “Walking with God” series by discussing the conviction of the Holy Spirit and walking in the light of God’s protection.
You can find other posts in the series here:
Have you ever hiked a rough trail through the forest? It isn’t easy. It can be very narrow and uneven, with lots of inclines and declines. But when you reach the end, it’s so rewarding.
Imagine trying to hike that trail with your ankles chained together and a weighted vest that weighs as much as you do. Add in walking in complete darkness, and you have a recipe for disaster.
That’s what sin does to us. It chains us up, weighs us down, and leaves us scrambling in the dark.
The right path of life is narrow, but Jesus sets us free from the chains and the weight of sin so we can freely walk. It doesn’t mean it will be easy, but without the enslavement of sin, we can walk the path.
“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 NASB1995
And it’s because of Jesus that we aren’t stuck in darkness. We can see which direction to take because of His guidance.
“Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.’” John 8:12 NASB1995
Guardrails of Conviction
“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 NASB1995
My husband and I were talking one day about bad choices we made when we were young. Yet even in our ignorance or rebellion, God kept us safe.
My husband’s example was catching poisonous snakes when he was a kid. It’s amazing he didn’t get bitten, and he realized later how dangerous it was.
I have too many examples to share here, but two specific times as a teenager I remember thanking God for His protection.
One time, I had gotten into the car of an alcoholic who I didn’t even know except through my friend, but when I realized the lady was drinking while driving, I was so afraid and had her drop me off at my church we were passing. I was scared of getting into trouble, but I knew I had made the right decision.
Another time, I crossed state lines with my friend to meet a guy who was older than me while I was still a minor. We were just hanging out with him and his friends, but I had this nagging feeling to leave the entire time. So we left soon after arriving.
When I got myself into those situations, I stayed so uncomfortable, which I realized later was the conviction of the Holy Spirit. Because of that conviction planted by the Holy Spirit, knowing I was making a wrong decision, I got away as quickly as possible.
I am forever grateful for God’s conviction because it is His protection for His children.
Unfortunately, there have also been times where I suppressed the conviction of the Holy Spirit and ignored the interruptions that should have led me to making a better choice. And I have suffered the consequences and heartache that those wrong decisions brought.
God’s conviction, the way He corrects us on our path, is the guardrail on the edge of the cliff of destruction.
This is something I explain to my child as a parent: we correct because we love.
God’s correction is His protection because He loves us.
And walking in sin instead of with Him leads to that soul-crushing weight He doesn’t want us to carry. He wants us to walk with Him and have His peace instead.
“Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; Whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right, And the righteous will walk in them, But transgressors will stumble in them.” Hosea 14:9 NASB1995
Don’t flirt with sin. Flee!
“Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” 2 Timothy 2:22 NASB1995
We shouldn’t climb that guardrail on the cliff to test our limits, even if we have no intention of going to the other side. But if we stay on the inside of the fence, with God, following His guidance for our lives and walking with Him, then we remain in His light and He protects us from worse outcomes.
If you are going through a tough time in your marriage, don’t sit on the fence by sharing your feelings with another person of the opposite sex. It’s far too easy to develop an attachment which can lead to an affair, and even if it’s only of the heart, it can destroy many lives. Listen for that conviction when the Holy Spirit tells you not to be vulnerable with another person, and work on communication with your spouse instead.
If you find yourself susceptible to gossip, don’t sit on the fence by conversing with others who have the reputation of being gossips. You become like who you surround yourself with. Listen for that conviction when the Holy Spirit tells you to flee the conversation.
If you are prone to binge eating, don’t sit on the fence by buying the foods you tend to overindulge in. It’s all too easy to give in and make excuses for finishing the box of whatever it is. Listen for that conviction when the Holy Spirit tells you to make a healthier choice to properly fuel your body, His temple.
If you want to lie to someone, don’t climb the fence by stretching the truth even just a little. Lies pile on top of each other, and their destruction is massive when they crash down like bricks on the trust in your relationships. Listen for that conviction when the Holy Spirit tells you to be honest and open.
If you get caught up in doom-scrolling on social media, which leads you to neglect better things, don’t sit on the fence by saying, “I’ll just check it one more time.” Believe me, it will suck you in before you know it, and the things God has called you to do will not be done. Listen for that conviction when the Holy Spirit tells you to set a hard time limit and close the app immediately when you’ve reached it.
What if you’ve already messed up?
So, maybe you’ve already sat on the fence too long and ended up on the other side in sin. There is still hope.
Our initial reaction to sin in our lives is to hide from God. Adam and Eve did in the Garden of Eden.
“They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” Genesis 3:8 NASB1995
But God calls us back to Him in repentance. He made a way through Jesus to cleanse us from our sin and guilt so that we could come out of hiding and be with Him again.
As I explained to my young child, repentance is like driving in a car one way, then turning around completely to drive in the other direction. We’re either in full obedience or we’re in disobedience. There is no middle ground. There is no compromise with God.
When we are convicted, wallowing in guilt and shame about doing wrong doesn’t get us anywhere unless it prompts us to true repentance.
Repentance focuses on action and turning away from sin.
It’s not just a change of heart, but a change of behavior. Our patterns of behavior flip, and we walk with God instead of away from Him.
True repentance is motivated by love for God, not just fear of punishment.
Just as a spouse who messes up, confesses and accepts responsibility for hurting the one they love most, their repentance is motivated by love and care, not the fear of “getting in trouble” with their spouse. They repent because they love their spouse more than the sin they committed against them. When we do wrong, we have a responsibility to make it right.
We repent because we love God more than the sinful pleasures of this world.
Daily Choices
Every choice we make affects our walk through life. Repentance when we mess up and sin characterizes a consistent walk with God. He is faithful and always calls for us to come back to Him, like a parent calling their child who wanders away from a hiking trail.
We must choose.
We can ignore the conviction and continue walking in sin and focusing on self, drowning the voice of the One who loves us more than anything and wants the best for us.
Or we can truly turn away from our sins and follow His light down the right path again.
We can feel bad about our sin and wallow in despair over it, but only let it lead us down another path of darkness in depression and seeking to feel better about ourselves.
Or we can give it to God, reject self-loathing, and accept His forgiveness, bringing our focus back on Him and giving Him glory. After all, it’s because of His amazing love and work through Jesus that we have this option.
We all face choices every single day. Those choices will make us or break us. So we must listen for God’s voice to know when we have strayed too far in the wrong direction.
We must choose to get back on the path and walk with Him daily in close relationship.
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.” Galatians 5:16-17 NASB1995
If you’re having trouble hearing Him, be still and know that He is God. So many distractions in today’s world can prevent us from hearing His voice if we are not paying attention.
“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” Psalms 46:10 NLT
God won’t force His will on us. He allows us to make our own choices. He won’t yell at us to make us choose a certain path, but He will step in and gently nudge us when we’re heading in the wrong direction.
Our job is to listen and obey.
Don’t stay stuck in the darkness. Walk in the Light.
“If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:6-7 NASB1995
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