Conviction

I have been curious, and somewhat taken back by the way God deals with his children in this way. The Holy Spirit is a bit of a nag at times, but at the same time, it is part of the most beautiful thing existing outside of space time...etc. What is the difference between KNOWING right and wrong, and the Holy Spirit telling you what to do and what not to do? Does this ever leave, and at what point in your life does this kick in? A friend of mine experienced God for the first time in the form of conviction. It was so cool, and even cooler that I had the chance to whitness God in her life. (She doesnt "experience" God in the typical ways, he is so much more creative to get at her.) It is much different that guilt (guilt stops us from moving forward for a time) and I have found the conviction makes me go: "wont be doin' that again". Woke up one morning after having an innocent night in my prayer journal with God, drank a glass of wine, and (as much as I shouldnt be telling everyone that has this addres this, ) pretty much polished off the bottle, the writing got much messier, but much more sincere! Walking to work to meet with my boss at 8 am the next morning, I had a small conversation with God that kinda went like this:

Jo: Man my head is kinda hurtin'
God: Yup
Jo: Guess I should have stopped at one glass eh?
God: (Smiling shaking head at me as if to say, come on, you are getting a little too old for this stuff)
Jo: Wont be doing that again.
God: Good

The rest of the day was tough, (a little dizzy etc...not to mension my boss was not so pleased to hear I was hung over) but I was just as close to God as ever. I know that sin seperates us from Him, from that experience I learned that conviction is a thing that keeps us from going too far off the trail. It's going to happen. But when I use to sin, I was off the trail for too long. Often it is our own guilt and shame that keeps us from stepping back on the trail. Then it could be awhile before we drag ourselves back onto the trail. (It is like being a kid, going to camp and committing your life to God 50 times until you realize that you are commited, have been all along) Sometimes I think we (I) would rather punish (ourselves) myself because we believe that we deserve it, and we do, BUT, are we not free in Christ because of the cross? Yup...