Where we stand...

Would you say that it is important to know where you are stepping when you are walking down the street or through the woods? Of course it is, it is important to know that you're not about to step off a curb into on-coming traffic or sidestep off a bluff.  The same can be true in our spiritual walk.

"If we don't stand for something, we'll fall for anything." - original speaker unknown

There have been many 'good' things that I have heard on many subjects. Things that made me question why I believed the way that I believed. Some of these things brought me closer to God because they required me to dig in deeper to my relationship with him. Some of these things made me stray from God because I didn't have mature mentors that I took these questions to. (Winging it is not the best option.)
As a Christian, there have been moments when I have been accused of being narrow-minded. And in truth, there were moments that I was. I was afraid to let someone express their opinion that differed from mine but I wasn't sure why. 
Looking back I can see that fear came from a place of uncertainty. The crazy part is that I never needed to be afraid of not knowing the answer, or not knowing how to respond, or even being right.  The only thing that I should have been focusing on was the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 
I remember talking with somebody once about God. This person was agnostic and I had no experience with evangelism. That gave our conversation a dangerous combination. I had no clue what I was doing, so, of course, I opened my mouth and inserted my foot very early in the conversation. (I offended the person, unintentionally.) 
At that moment, I said "Holy Spirit, I really need your help." Little did I know that I was evoking the word of God.

"But if any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He is generous to everyone and will give you wisdom without criticizing you." James 1:5 NCV

An analogy crossed my mind and I quickly gave it to the person. It was a really good analogy, high five, Holy Spirit! By the end of the conversation, the person was not converted to Christianity but there was a recognizable change in their life. They even ended by saying they weren't sure what to call it but whatever I believed in was real.

Take your stand with God.

God, sometimes it is difficult to stand on your word. Let's be honest, people don't like to be told they're doing something wrong. They don't want to take time to think about the future because they are too busy living in the present and the past. (Been there.) Holy Spirit, guide us, prompt us, humble us. Provide opportunities to share God's love with others. Give us boldness to speak of the love and sacrifice that was provided that makes the lives we live different than the lives we use to live. Help us not to seek victory but to seek you. Amen