Here’s the question: What is causing the trend for adults to not hold on to God’s Word that they learned as a child? I asked and God revealed.
Those around us, mentoring us in careers and in personal development in the world, will inform us of what success looks like and will tell us in order for them to look successful that we have to participate in specific activities. We, as their mentee, should take in what society deems as popular so they can look good. It is not really their fault. It just doesn’t make sense to them how a person could be successful any other way. This refers to Daniel going to the steward over him and the steward responding “I am afraid of what [Society] will do to me if they see you are not as the others” (Daniel 1:8-10).
The trend for singles is to live a life of independence, to not ask God for his will, and to focus more on animals and pets than who he will have us to protect. The trend is sharing and believing that what is on TV is normal and acceptable, using certain language will make us popular, and being connected to people who are also spending 60+ hours trying to be connected rather than being connected to God. Society tells us that being successful and independent are synonymous. Meaning success is independence, relying on what the world says is good, not what God’s Word says is good for us.
Daniel chose to live a life not defiled for years. He chose to not partake in eating specific foods that the King (I’ll reference as society) deemed as good for success. In the end of the designated time, Daniel and his friends who refused to give into society’s ways were found to be knowledgeable in life and books, and superior to others who had not chosen to live a God-centered life. They were 10 times better than their counter parts.
It is very important to teach our children to consult God in everything. This includes what we should do with our lives, what we should wear, and how we should behave so that we are aligned with His will and not with our own will and definitely not with the will of society. For us (as adults), if we are at a place in our life where we find it hard to break habits that are not aligned with God, we should pray for a renewed mind.
Prayer Focus
1. We should seek God to uproot that which we have buried, whether we know it or not, that is continuing to affect the decisions we make. An example would be a smoker who can stop the act of smoking but struggle with the issue that caused the smoking. So when the struggle hits hard, he/she relies on a cigarette to get through instead of relying on God. This can also be related to our decisions to participate in certain activities and socialize with certain people.
2. We should ask God to reveal what is in disguise. Drinking and partying hard until the point where you can’t remember what happened is not success. Wearing the most expensive revealing outfit is not success.
3. We should ask God to cut off what is preventing us from trusting him completely. That may include severing friendship.
I am determined to live out my true purpose, now. His purpose is His will for me. I am going to seek God rather than my research, or society’s thoughts for my life. I am, now, allowing God to define success for me and not society defining it for me.