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Praying for Conviction
John 16:8 says, “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”
The “He” in this passage of scripture is referring to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not an “it” that can be manipulated, possessed or controlled, but a “He”, one with a personality and character. One of the main purposes of the Holy Spirit is to convict this world of sin, righteousness and judgment. Any church that does not maintain a source of conviction does not have the true, authentic presence of the Holy Spirit. Truth seasoned with the anointing will always bring conviction one way or the other. It will either affirm your relationship with God or evaluate your righteousness to determine that it is as filthy rags. It will convict you to know the judgment of God, how He will reward righteousness and punish wickedness. If we pray effectively and seek to abide in and carry the presence of God, we will continuously and consistently walk in conviction.
Some people are convicted and answer the altar call, but they are praying not to yield to the conviction but to pacify it. Conviction is not something you pray away, but it is something you should carry all of the time. While condemnation comes from man’s ideas, ways and traditions to outdo and put down others, conviction comes from the person of the Holy Spirit to draw you closer to your heavenly Father! Conviction is not a bad thing, but if you seek to only resist it to the point of growing callous to it, you will only become miserable. The best thing you can do is submit to the conviction of the Holy Spirit so you can be a beacon of light to a darkened generation! Do not pray it away. Walk in it daily!