Changing the Future – Together
Do you and your spouse share a vision – a conviction – on how you’d like to affect/effect the world around you?
- Maybe it’s your own world consisting of you and your spouse you’d like to improve.
- Perhaps it’s your own family circle – kids, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins – that you’re convinced needs leadership and direction.
- Possibly changing your community is your focus.
- Or it might be that you have a world-changing, spiritually huge conviction…
Are you looking at a change in 2013?
Robert and I are fascinated by other couples who make an impact. On his blog, Robert writes about values. There are over 400 values that he’s defined. He wrote the post below about the value of conviction.
What are you convicted to change?
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A boy grows up telling everyone that someday he will become a doctor. And then he does.
A girl grows up believing she will someday become a famous singer. And now she is.
A young married couple willingly chooses a different way to start their marriage by moving to a foreign country to rescue sex-trafficked children. After two years they’re still at it.
How does an individual or couple ‘know’ what they will do – or become – in the future? What do tomorrow’s successful leaders do today to create an environment for success?
There is power in the value of conviction.
The Value of Conviction
As a differentiating value, Conviction means an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence.
There is a solid connection between conviction and faith. It is defined succinctly in the Bible: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).
When one has such a faith, an unshakable belief in something that they need no evidence or proof to justify their belief, then they truly possess the value of conviction. And with such conviction comes power – the power to change oneself, and change the world.
The Power of Conviction
Looking back in history upon the conviction of those who made a significant impact on the world, there is a strong link to religious beliefs. And rightfully so. That is the source of faith.
Consider these remarkable leadership couples:
- Dr. David and Mary Livingston. As a genuine missionary team, the Livingston’s opened the door to missionary work in Africa. Even after loosing Mary (to malaria), Dr. Livingston remained focused on bringing ‘Christianity, Commerce, and Civilization’ to the tribes in the interior of Africa. Traveling an estimated 30,000 miles through the African bush (in deplorable conditions), he never wavered in his conviction.
- Charles and Susannah Spurgeon. As one of the greatest couples of their time, the Spurgeon’s were filled with true conviction. Starting at the age of 16, Charles became the most popular preacher of his day, eventually reaching an estimated 10 Million people. Thanks to Susannah’s untiring efforts after her husband died, the conviction of Charles to spread the Gospel of Christ is still felt to this day.
Of course, the power of conviction can be leveraged by anyone who combines passion with a purpose. That’s the essence of leadership.
To fulfill a big idea, a leader must possess an unshakable faith in their vision. Best-selling author Andy Stanley skillfully defines the term Visioneering, in his book of the same name, as: “a clear mental picture of what could be, fueled by the conviction that it should be.”
When a leadership couple engages in visioneering, be prepared to see the world change. There’s power in their conviction.
Who do you know that has embraced the value of conviction? What drives them forward?
How can the value of conviction help you change the world?
Today’s value was selected from the “Confidence-Courage” category, based on the e-book Developing Your Differentiating Value.
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Has your spouse talked about what they’d like to change? How can you support them in that endeavor? Supporting with action is one of the 5 ways to encourage…
Please leave a comment – both Robert and I are interested in hearing from you!
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