conviction

Only we, personally, can know what God has asked or told us to do. We can ask God for confirmations which He will often send through other people. We can ask others for prayer. But we should NEVER ask someone else what to do and then follow it if it is so clearly against what God is telling us to do. We don’t have to like it; the other person does not have to like it. But you DO NOT go against what God is telling you! Two distinct situations recently where clear direction came from God. And they were hard and painful…but it was clearly God’s leading. And people were asking those involved to step back, rethink, hold up, retract, etc. etc. however you want to put it.
How DARE we ask for anyone to go against what and where God was leading them! Only, only, only after serious time in prayer, prayer, prayer-and study if need be- do we even bring up the possibility of them doing their own more prayer, prayer, prayer to reconsider a decision and seek more confirmations from God. And only then, if we are so confident ourselves that it is from GOD do we pray with them and seek God. Then and only then. Really, I mean really?! Who am I to question what God has for someone else?
Do we not think about the consequences our or their disobedience will have in life? Can we really be that selfish? Unfortunately, yes we can.
I tell you what though, it really raises the bar of respect I have for the person or persons who say “no-this is what GOD told me, this is the direction God is leading. I love you and I love that you care for me…but this is about OBEDIENCE, MY obedience. This is about me obeying God, not the popular vote.” And then you pray for strength of conviction for that person-to stand strong in what and where it is that God is leading. Because somebody else is gonna Monday morning quarterback them and they are gonna need that strength to again stand up to those who would seek (even in love) to lead them where God hasn’t.