“Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment….” (John 16:7-8). 

The first two devotions for 2024 speak to resolve and resoluteness. Those are admirable qualities, but only if they are pointing us in the right direction. We could resolve to and resolutely become bank robbers. Or we could resolve to and resolutely play more video games. The first is morally and ethically wrong, the second is just a waste of time, which in a way is also morally and ethically wrong, just not illegal. Or we could just continue in the same direction we have been headed—no worse, no better.  

Most of us intend to do better, to be better. But for intention to move us to action, we need conviction, and conviction comes from the Holy Spirit. “And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment….” (John 16:8). 

We discussed setting and achieving goals in the first two devotions. What kinds of goals are we setting? Let the Holy spirit be our guide; the following are two categories that he will point us to: 

Pray for conviction of sin. Sin is missing the mark. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Sometimes we sin intentionally, but more often we sin unintentionally. In speaking of intention as in an intention to do good, sinning unintentionally is really a state of not being mindful about our actions. It follows then that if we were mindful, we would not do anything unintentionally. So pray for mindfulness, intentionality, and continual conviction or insight from the Holy Spirit. 

Pray for conviction for areas to grow in your walk with Jesus. “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8). 

I challenge you to pray fervently to God to convict you of where and how you are missing the mark, and to show you how to grow in your relationship with others and with God.  

“For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 1:4-6). 

In Christ, 

Judy