How well do you live out your Biblical Convictions? When God convicts your heart of something in particular, whether he wants you to stop doing something, or maybe step up and act, do you follow Him?

I have to admit I don’t, always, but I’m doing better. And the book we’re going to highlight today, well, it’s a ton of fun, but it will absolutely challenge you to stand up and act on some of your Biblical convictions.

Putting your beliefs into real-world action, instead of just saying ‘yes, I believe that,’ it means actually demonstrating what’s in your heart. The ‘rubber meets the road’ moments of life.

Please note that this post contains affiliate links for your convenience. If you make a purchase through one of the links, I may make a small commission. I only recommend books and resources that I’ve enjoyed personally, or believe that you would like. You can read my full disclosure here. You will also find information on Scripture translations there.

When God Convicts Your Heart: Biblical Convictions To Live By

When God convicts your heart, whether it’s something big or small, you’ll regret it if you don’t. You could ask Jonah, or David, or any number of others. I’ll throw my experience in for free.

About 9 years ago, when I was on my way to work I always would smile at the little old lady who was walking out to get her newspaper, usually in her bathrobe (housecoat, she’d probably have said). She reminded me of my Granny. One drizzly morning, I thought “I should pull over and take her paper to her.” But I was running late. So I didn’t. I never saw her again, and there was a for-sale sign out shortly afterward.

I don’t know what happened. Or if God was prompting me and I could have helped. I still wonder. I regret my hurry. I’ve asked forgiveness, and I don’t feel guilt, that’s not what I’m saying. But I know I missed an opportunity of some kind, and I don’t want you to do the same! Maybe “taking care of widows” or “Kindness to strangers” or… So let’s discuss some Biblical convictions that really stand out.

What are Convictions?

Convictions are firmly held beliefs. Or opinions I guess. But primarily its something you believe strongly.

We can have convictions on many different things. Like:

• What type of food is okay to eat
• Clothing styles and coverage
• If 3 steps to salvation is too simple or too complicated – Whether Jesus is the only way to get to heaven
• What you are/aren’t willing to watch on TV*
• How old your kids need to be before they date
• Keeping your promises
• Whether a divorce is an option
• Dating rules and limits
• Etc

*as I’ve mentioned before, watching TV can get me in trouble so I have to have the courage of my convictions, get up, walk away or change the program, or I’ll regret it.

Godly conviction is when you hold a strong belief that the things of God matter. They matter more than your comfort and pleasure. Those convictions help us step out of our comfort zones.

What Does Conviction Mean Spiritually?

What does conviction mean spiritually? Spiritual conviction, I think, is that moment when God convicts your heart about something, and you know it with certainty. Whether these spiritual convictions are positive or negative (Sin or Righteousness), they come from above.

And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.

John 16:8 ESV

A List of Biblical Convictions: 10 Convictions in the Bible

There are many commandments and convictions in the Bible. Jesus boiled them down to two. Love God, and Love Others. He went on to describe such a lifestyle in many ways, which gives me these specific Biblical convictions.

I picked 10 Convictions in the Bible to share today, though I know there are many more specific Biblical convictions. After the first two, the rest are in no particular order, and really, they’re all covered by those first two:

• Love God Most, and First
• Love Others More Than Yourself
• Margin/Sabbath Is A Gift to be Treasured
• Treat God and Others With Respect
• Life Begins at Conception
• Care For Those In Need
• Be Faithful To Your Spouse
• Serving and Giving Must Come from the Heart
• Gentle Answers are Better than Harsh Words
• Forgiveness Needs to be Received and Given

Here are a few examples of these convictions in the Bible, people who show what it means to have the courage of your convictions as your focus.

Examples of Biblical Convictions

I can only hit a few highlights here, but these are some of my favorite examples of Biblical Convictions.

David: David’s conviction that he did not have the right to touch God’s anointed was tested more than once. He had the opportunity to kill King Saul in his sleep, and in a cave. Both times, Saul recognized that David was more righteous than he.

Abigail: convinced that David should not take (justified) vengeance, Abigail intervened. She did the right thing even though it was against her husband’s order. David recognized that she was right.

Gideon: If you needed proof that to stand by your convictions does require courage, but can be done in the dark of night if necessary, look no farther!

Daniel: Can you imagine the courage it took for Daniel to stand by his convictions, as a teen captive? Or again as an old man, to not go hide to pray?

Hanania, Azaria, and Mishael: (aka Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) Talk about the courage of your convictions! Refuse to bow, and Confident that God Is Able to rescue them, but okay with His decision, whether or not they were rescued!

Stephen: Wow. Just Wow. I have no words.

The Samaritan Woman: convinced that Jesus could heal her child, and was even willing to accept the crumbs of his power and grace.

Paul: Okay, so Paul the more recent convert, stands up to Peter, who walked with Jesus. He actually told him off for waffling on whether to eat with Gentiles. Not to mention the Philippian Council, and countless others.

Conviction of the Holy Spirit

Living out these convictions is not something we naturally do under our own power. We need the conviction of the Holy Spirit. He is the one who will help us. When we admit we’re weak and need his help, he’s more than able to step in, and nudge our spirit, with the right choice, and the strength to follow through on that right path.

When you’re at your wit’s end with the kids, or the job or __________, and then one more thing happens, and you can feel yourself snapping… The Holy Spirit can and will remind you that a gentle answer Right Now, will save a lot of heartache later. He can give you the words to use, or the ability to remain silent for a few moments, to calm and regroup.

When the Holy Spirit convicts you, sometimes it’s to say ‘hey, that’s wrong. Don’t do that.’ Sometimes, it’s conviction that this is the right path, and encouragement and companionship as you take the road less traveled.

Inspired by the Holy Spirit while doing this Bible study, I’ve recently been convicted, and convinced, that the sabbath rest is one way God takes care of us, and shows us he loves us. Filling ‘me’ up with himself, and restoring my energy. If we enter into that rest, we’re loving ourselves, which is the base, for being able to love others. (kind of like putting on your own oxygen mask first, if you want to think of it that way.) It’s counter-culture, but powerful!

Personal Convictions

One of the best parts about God making each of us to be unique individuals is that each of us will have different personal convictions. Or differing levels of passion towards these personal convictions in the Bible.

Some are passionate about the unborn, holding the Biblical convictions that life begins at conception and All life is precious (See Tempting Tait below). They’re likely to be involved in some way with their local Crisis pregnancy center.

Others are passionate about various parts of this passage of judgement, and you can find them actively serving in a prison ministry, a feeding ministry, being hospitable to strangers, etc.

That doesn’t mean any of these personal convictions are better than another, just that there are many convictions in the Bible, and each of us can and should serve in different ways to fulfill our Biblical convictions while it is still today! (1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Hebrews 3:13)

Today, I get to share a book featuring a young man who’s become personally convicted that being against abortion isn’t enough, you have to be for helping take care of that new life that would otherwise be ended way too soon:

And then, a young woman in a dangerous situation, who stands with the courage of her convictions, at the risk of having both the good guys and the bad guys after her!

Tempting Tait Book Tour (Biblical Convictions About the Unborn)

Book:  Tempting Tait

Author: Chautona Havig

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance

Release Date: July 30, 2020

He chose to be a dad before he realized he’d need a wife, too.

When Tait took in an abandoned girl, he had no idea it would change his life.

Tait Stedtmann–accountant, fledgling do-it-yourselfer, and all-around nice guy. He’d been more than a little interested in Bentley Girard and had finally worked up the courage to ask her out. That was before that fateful day at the rest stop when he saw a girl shoved from a car and abandoned there.

She’s not like any girl he’s ever met, and now she’s given him an ultimatum.  Adopt her baby, or she’ll abort it.

Eden doesn’t think he’ll do it. She can have the abortion and move on with her life–far away from these creepy Christians in Fairbury.  But when Tait agrees, she finds herself keeping her word… and the pregnancy.

Nine months later, Tait is wracked by guilt as relief sets in when Eden leaves and terrified as he decides he can’t do this daddy thing alone. Bentley figured out how to make marriage happen for her.

Would she help him, find someone, too?

Tempting Tait is the second in the Marriages of Conviction series.

My Thoughts on Tempting Tait: When God Convicts Your Heart, You’d Better Listen!

Oh, Boy! Hang on to something, this one’s a wild ride! When Tait takes his Biblical convictions and puts his actions where his faith is, look out! You’ll find him in some situations many in the church would find uncomfortable, inappropriate, unfortunate, etc.

The best part of the story, I think, is the ‘real-world’ examples of ‘When God convicts your heart on something, you’d better follow his leading’ and obey.

Without giving spoilers, this one’s hard to review, other than to say, READ IT! If you like:

• Curl your toes contemporary romance
• Good Samaritan stories
• Solid male main characters
• Atypical heroes (Not Tall, Dark and Handsome)
• Giving people not only a chance, but a way to make the right decision
• Multi-generational and Multi-cultural stories

Then you really should read this book! But you might want to read Blessing Bentley first. It’s not necessary, because Tempting Tait stands well on its own, however, the story is definitely enhanced by reading them in order!

I did receive a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, and choose to review it here. All thoughts are my own.

 About Hashtag Rogue: Courageous Conviction

Book: Hashtag Rogue (The Agency Files, Book 5)

Author: Chautona Havig

Genre: Fiction / Contemporary / Suspense

Release Date: August 20, 2019

Something is terribly wrong in The Agency. Again.

Flynne Dortmann: computer specialist extraordinaire. The right arm of every agent in The Agency. And totally untrained for agent duty.

So when no one takes a threat seriously, Flynne does the only thing she can think of.

With money she has no authorization to use, a gun she’s never fired in her hip pocket, and more zip-ties than any agent should be allowed to carry, Flynne takes on protective detail for an unwilling client. #Rogue.

Mark Cho hasn’t had a chance to get used to being Marco Mendina—head of the Eastern US Agency. Not only that, every sign points to someone knowing he isn’t who he appears to be. His agency is in trouble.  His agents may be in danger, and with an office girl gone rogue, deciding what problem to tackle first is a problem in itself.

Not to mention, he misses his office assistant with her emoji-speak, killer tech skills, and sharp instincts.

Click here to grab your copy!

Okay, Flynne, You Have the Courage of Your Convictions!

Would you stand by your convictions if it meant your life would be in danger? And would almost certainly cost you your job?

Would I?

Flynne, in Hashtag Rogue, answers without hesitation. Doing the right thing, whatever it costs, certainly isn’t easy!

If you have already read the previous books in the series you know that Flynne is a bit impulsive. And seems immature to be in her position.

But we get a good look into what she’s really made of here in book 5. And it’s an ‘Eptastic’ adventure, to borrow from Flynne’s unusual vocabulary.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to spend time with Erica and Flynne. The phrase ‘the blind leading the blind’ applies beautifully.

Maybe not in anything so dramatic, but I still found myself questioning whether or not I stand by my own convictions with half the determination of Flynne Dortmann. To have the courage of your convictions, and stand firm in the face of opposition doesn’t come easily, but it’s surely a beautiful thing!

If you have not read the earlier books, you should do that first. While this is fairly self-contained, there is a decent amount of plot where you will be confused, without the history.

Which Convictions in the Bible are You Passionate About?

With all of these Biblical convictions around, I’m curious. When God convicts your heart about one of them, what do you do about it?

What are the personal convictions in the Bible that make your heart beat faster, and get a bit more emotionally involved in? That spirtual conviction is likely your sweet spot, and if you match it up with your skills and talents, You can really make a difference. Maybe it’s the hands-on part of the job, or the admin part, tech, financial or even janitorial… It’s all equally important.

What do you think? Are you going to read Tempting Tait, and keep your eyes and heart open for when God convicts your heart next?

Until Next Time, Love God, Love Books, Shine The Light!!