The Courage to Stand Alone| 1 Kings 22 | Crossroads Daily

Hey, I'm Chuck. I'm Kirsten. I'm Mish. And I'm Miko. And we were having a very spirited conversation about things we hold as a decision or an opinion that are not shared by other people. And today's reading is a way more relevant and way more consequential example of that, where, you know, the king is going to battle and all the prophets are basically brown nosing and saying, oh, you're going to win. It's going to be great. And one guy, Makai, one prophet has the courage to actually say what God said. So when have you found yourself in a minority position where your perspective is different than the people around you and how did it go? Did you share your perspective? Did you hold back? Like, what does that look like for you guys in your life? I pray for people to break up if they're not, like, good and healthy for each other. I feel like everyone is, like, pro things working out. And, like, I believe people can change. I believe people can grow. But if it goes on long enough, I'm like, you gotta give it up. Like, in, like, dating senses, you know, it's just, it's like, that's what dating's for. Why put yourself through that? And of course, everyone else is like, no, you're fine. It'll get better. It's like, but will it? Like, I did that with my sister. I was like, God, you gotta take, stop this. And I was like, I don't think anyone's praying this break, but it worked. She broke up. Oh, yeah. It'd be more spicy if you said, no, she's married to me. No, no, no, no. That's really good. No, that's really good. And having the courage to say that. Yeah. Cause it always feels like whenever it's, you know, it always feels like you're calling somebody's baby ugly when you do something like that. But babies sometimes are ugly, but yeah, that's true too. I agree with that. That is not a minority opinion. I share that opinion with you, but what are we talking about? Welcome to the ugly baby podcast. But I do think like there is, there's power in doing that. I will say just personality wise, it is hard for me to take the minority opinion. I want to be liked and I want to like keep the peace. And so there are times when, um, I have not shared a perspective because it wasn't popular. And one of the things that I've realized now, and I'm trying to grow in that is when I don't share that perspective, I do a disservice to the room, you know? Cause a lot of times for me, I'm in a room where a decision is going to be made. And if I don't share my perspective, that means it doesn't mean that I'm right. Right. But at least that input should be offered to the decision so that the best decision can be made. Cause oftentimes

I'm making a decision with other people and we're making a decision for other groups of people that we care about. And so I think for me in ministry, that's one of the ones where it's like, man, when I feel that ping and I want to be like, I don't want to say anything. Like that's when it's probably time for me to be like, Hey, just another perspective. Here's what I think. You ever get the shakes? I do. Where like, that's where I know the Holy Spirit is like, I get the shakes. I'm like, if I don't say something, I will literally implode in the sea. That's good. Yeah, that's good. I think for me it's harder. Like when everybody is like gung-ho about it and they're already like, it's like, it's beyond the decision of like, yeah, exactly. Yeah. And I'm just like, I don't agree with any of this, but I'll smile and all right, let's see how this goes. You know what I'm saying? Like, that's when like, it depends how far along we are in the, like the decision making process, which I'm always kind of like, like Nico, now you just sound like a hater. Like, you know what I'm saying? You know what I mean? Like, okay, let me, you know, I don't know. So I think just kind of like discern early on, like, or decipher, like how early on we are for me to even share, you know, my thought that isn't necessarily an agreement. No, absolutely. I think it's so crucial. I remember being in a political science class in college where we learned, we dissected groupthink and we don't need to get into like the actual lessons behind what we did, but we dissected it and went through like lessons of history that can be traced back to groupthink. Wow. And the consequences of that. Wow. Right. And, and yeah, I mean, I, I really like, I admire people like Micaiah because I think I found myself more in positions where I want to speak up because I'm in a minority position or people are just saying stuff that I don't necessarily agree with, like what you're saying and don't necessarily do it. But I'm also like, I, the reason I admire him is because he knew of the consequences of the potential consequences of speaking. and still was willing to say something. It was beyond just his reputation, it was his livelihood, it was his freedom. And especially now having a family, I ask myself, would I do the same thing? And yet you see when people do stuff like that,

the progress we as a society getting closer to what I think is what God intends for this world to be, when people do speak up and share those perspectives and share what they're experiencing. While rooted in the Lord. Like that's the thing, is like he knew that he was hearing from God and the disobedience that comes with not pushing that outward is like, you know? I think I would need that level of conviction in order for me, because outside of that, I'm not, like, my opinion, you know, my thoughts, I'm like, you know what I'm saying? But if I feel like, no, this is from God, or this is like, God, you choosing me to place this in this room, you know what I'm, like that kind of weight, then it's different. And I'm just like, yeah, yeah, exactly. At that point, it's all a matter of, okay, will you obey or disobey? And then it's like fear of man versus, you know what I'm saying? All of that, and I'm like. Which is a real thing. Like the opinion of not having mustard is not from God. I'll just say that. I mean, you're right. You're right, you're right, I'm right. That's straight from, straight from me. I love it, I love it.

And I'm correct. Some wack taste buds, that's right. You know what's funny? We Googled, maybe this was right, we Googled what does his name mean, the prophet, Mekhi, what does that name mean? And it means who is like the Lord. And, you know, when you think about that, I'm sure that was part of his conviction. It's like, I hear these folks, I know the consequence, but who am I ultimately accountable to? I'm ultimately accountable to the creator. And I know what he told me. And so I have to follow that through. So like, maybe to make it practical, is there a place in your life right now where you're following conviction that maybe nobody around you shares, but you know it's from the Lord? And it doesn't have to be like this really heavy, hard thing, but it can be something small. Like, is there something in your life right now that feels like a godly conviction that you need to take the minority position in and follow through even if nobody's on board with it yet? Or ever? I can think of a time walking away from business opportunities that I strongly felt convicted about. Like something that I believe God was placing on my heart

and I struggled with it for a while. And then I literally, I was just telling a friend, I literally went to a park and then I just took out my notepad and I wrote down everything that I believe God was telling me over the past, however many weeks. And after I wrote it all down and I read it, I'm like, okay God, this isn't even a matter of discernment anymore. This is obedience. And my next step is I have to walk away from this opportunity at this company I was with. And mind you, I've got a criminal record, so it's not like I can just leave here and just go somewhere else. This was a blessing that they even let me through this door. And there was so much potential that was happening there. And I was able to connect with people that, the organization was like, wow, this could really go somewhere. And so there was so much momentum behind it and I felt God told me to walk away. And I did, I was like, I remember saying God, talking to God, I'm like, I was reminded of Samuel and I'm like, I'm on my way to Jesse's house, still mourning Saul. You know what I'm saying? Like I still am like, but God, what about this? I'm gonna be obedient, but like, this was like, yeah, exactly, man.

So, but yeah. Man, that's good. What fruit have you already seen on the other side of that? Cause I'm assuming that wasn't yesterday. No, that was not, that was some years ago. I believe that he has me where he wants me to be now, just in where I'm working and the people I'm around and what he's called me to do now in prison ministry. So yeah, yeah. Praise God. Praise God. Seriously, we all see the fruit from the work you're doing now in such a short amount of time. Yeah. That's so good. The power of obedience, the power of obedience, even when it's the minority opinion. Thanks for hanging with us today.