Internet Cafe Chat

What is one thing you were convicted about when you were younger, but now being older and wiser you have changed your mind on that belief? Why? Or on the other side, what is one thing you may have not held a conviction on that you now do? Why?

I was a teenager during the late 1960-early 1970 period, during the turmoil and anxiety of the Viet Nam war. I held to the belief of "Make Love, Not War". I was totally against this war. I had relatives who were in Viet Nam, a cousin who had lost two fiances to this war.

So, I felt that "make love" was a fitting contradiction to "make war". As I grew older, I still tried to fill loneliness with "love" which wasn't really love at all. It was just the feeling of closeness, the feeling of being held by someone who never told me that I was loved. I sought out these relationships, even after I had come to Christ. I was still trying to fill a void that had been left in my life. I set myself up to "fall" into these situations--then felt guilt and shame for weeks afterwards.

I sought forgiveness and advice from God. He did forgive me, and He holds me close now, filling any void that I may have in my life. If I feel lonely, I only have to pray to God, to read His word, to know the true and full meaning of the word "love".

The thing that I didn't hold a conviction about and do now is the same, except it is the opposite. I no longer need to have physical closeness to feel love, and I am fully convicted to the love of Christ. Jesus fills any and all voids in my life.

The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing......Zephaniah 3:17