Godly convictions vs.Other People's convictions

This is from my old blog...but I consider it note worthy, so I thought I'd post it again...

I know a dear, sweet, precious lady. Everytime I'm around her I leave thinking, "I need to be more like her"...
While I was cleaning the kid's bathroom...I started thinking about this...
Other people's convictions may not be YOUR convictions from GOD. When we allow other people's convictions become our own we could actually be putting ourselves in bondage and become legalist and religious. All things JESUS came to set us free from. I'm not saying that someone's conviction is wrong for them-if GOD told them to do/not do something. But it is wrong for me to assume that that conviction should become my conviction, unless GOD tells me do/not do something.

It's taken me a long time to understand this. I would hear preachers, pastors, etc. and I then thought well I need to do this or that...I would get so upset...I would allow his conviction to become my conviction and I would become miserable! I would become depressed and angry and in turn I was putting myself into bondage. Who was I angry with? GOD? He never told me to let that become my conviction. MYSELF? Was I angry because it was something I didn't want to give up? If I were really suppose to give it up why was it so hard? GOD's WORD says "My yoke is easy and my burden is light." OTHERS? Was I angry at others because they made me feel condemned? There is no condemation for those that are in CHRIST JESUS. What was I doing? I was actually being condemned by the devil is what was taking place and then I would fall into sin because I was angry and depressed.

I'm still learning, but over the years I'm beginning to slowly grow and understand. What a great feeling not to be bound. We are free in JESUS! We are not bound by other people's convictions, only those GOD lays on our heart! What a blessing!