But Daniel resolved… Daniel 1:8

My heart aches for our country. With all my being, I believe we’re in unprecedented times and at the precipice of Babylon 2.0.

The ancient city of Babylon was long associated with evil, and God eventually destroyed it because of this wickedness. While our government is not forcing us to bow to an idol, we are, in a sense, being forced to bow to the culture. To conform to groupthink.

What grieves my heart even more is that many of our leaders are quiet. God’s people are confused and straddling the fence of compromise.

Over the last few years, I’ve yearned to understand:

• How best to equip myself to navigate the times we’re living in without compromising.
• How to not be deceived just because a majority is doing something or embracing an idea that we know is contrary to God’s word.

It’s certainly easier to go along and get along, but we are not called to assimilate and lay aside our faith. More than ever, God’s people need to become Daniels (and Danielle’s).

Daniel found himself in a similar position as we do today, living in Babylon amongst the pressure to conform to the city’s wicked ways. Society was attempting to indoctrinate Daniel and his friends into Babylon’s perverted culture and immoral values.

But Daniel and his friends resolved to not defile God. They guarded their hearts. While they went along with many things, they pre-determined the lines they would not cross.

We need to do the same, but how?

1. Invest in your relationship with Jesus. Spend time each day in Bible reading and prayer. Go deep. Don’t settle for a shallow faith walk. Study how Daniel navigated Babylon 1.0. Learn how the believers in the book of Acts navigated their pagan world. They did it well.
2. Pre-determine the lines you will not cross. Make up your mind that you will not conform to groupthink. Pre-decide to stand firm. Live insulated from the cultural doctrines – but do not isolate yourself.
3. Intentionally seek out community with like-minded believers. We need each other. See Hebrews 10:25 and Ecclesiastes 4:12.
4. Pray daily and put on your armor! Pray for discernment. Pray against deception. Pray for your kids and family. Pray for the Church. Pray for America. Pray for the world.
5. Don’t be afraid of hardship. Sometimes I’ve been the only one. I’ve had to learn to be okay with being uncomfortable or even mocked. This is nothing compared to what other believers are enduring around the world. Jesus says, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of ME. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven…” Matthew 5:11-12
6. Be bold. Don’t shrink back. There’s a time to be silent and live our lives quietly.

But when our faith is confronted, when evil floods our land, we must say no and pre-determine not to participate. Speak when the Spirit nudges you, always with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:14-15

ONE woman (or man) standing courageously for righteousness can affect more change than a crowd that acquiesces to popular opinion. Sometimes it just takes one to inspire boldness among others.