Have you ever done something you just knew was wrong--your conscience piercing your heart. Looming in the back of your mind, you hear:

    "I shouldn't have raised my voice."
    "I probably shouldn't be watching this show."
    "I wasn't completely honest with him."
 

Or, do you find yourself justifying your actions:

    "She deserved it."
    "Well, everyone else is doing it."
    "Oh, it won't hurt anyone."
 

Are you wrestling with your conscience? Do you continue to stuff that nagging voice away until you can't hear it anymore? Do you find yourself justifying things to quiet your soul?

Your conscience is one of the many ways God speaks. I believe it is the most common way he draws us and leads us to right standing with him and with others.

Luke knew about this subtle voice of the Almighty. He made it his goal to always have a clear conscience before God and man, for he knew that the Holy Spirit typically speaks through our conscience.

"So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man" (Acts 24:16).

Before God, the quiet voice of your conscience will lead you and guide you into a wonderful fellowship with your Creator. It will reveal to you sin and areas of your life that need confession and repentance. The conviction of God is a blessed gift, for without it, we would continue on our path to destruction.

Before man, your conscience will convict you of when you have wronged someone. God requires that we forgive people as we have been forgiven (Matthew 6:12). Do you still hold a grudge against someone? A grudge is nothing more than a harden heart towards your conscience.

Do not harden your heart to the voice of God. Ask him to speak through your conscience as loud as he possibly can. If you heart becomes callused to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, your future may be filled with bitterness and hatred. Even fear.

Let your Father call to you, direct you and lead you to a place of rest. Let him speak through your conscience. In doing so, you will open a door that leads to peace.

Blessings!

Russell

o-----------------------------------------------
|  Russell Pond     <><
|  Season of Peace
|  email:  ponder@season.org
|  web:    http://www.season.org

© Russell Pond 1999
Reprinted with permission