Panic melted away and a growing sense of resolve took its place. God has called me to this place in history. He’s called you too. He knew what He was doing when blessing us with our beautiful children. He knows their future.
My mind kept going to Daniel {of lion’s den fame}. As a girl, I loved reading about his early years in Babylon, about how he stood firm in his faith, about how he had a huge impact and influence on the pagan culture that had taken him captive.
As a parent, I can’t help but think of his parents. I’m keenly reminded that we need to sow into our children as Daniel’s parents did. Daniel was taken from his home during his teen years and thrust into a hostile culture that sought to re-educate him so that he could serve and believe as a Babylonian. They went so far as to even give him a new name. Instead of Daniel – meaning “God is my judge,” they gave him the name Belteshazzar – {prince of Bel -a Babylonian god}. If you think this was purely coincidence, check out the name changes they gave to his friends: Hananiah {God Who Is Gracious} became Shadrach {Command of the Moon god}, Mishael {Who is Like God} became Meshach {Who is what Aku is} and Azariah {God has helped} became Abednego {Servant of the god Negal}.
Talk about a mind job. The goal of the conquering culture was to reeducate them into currently acceptable belief and have them reject the faith of their roots. And you know what? The Bible alludes to the fact that Daniel and his 3 friends were the only ones that stood firm. Daniel 1:8 says that “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself.” He was resolved to stand firm. Despite everything that the Babylonian empire had to offer, He graciously stood firm. God granted him favor and used him mightily. Not only did he maintain an intimate relationship with God, not only did he live in obedience to God – at the risk of losing his own life, but he had a huge impact on those around him and rose to be a leader within the culture.
I couldn’t stop thinking about him this week and the love and care his parents must have devoted to establishing him in God’s truth. It brought me to my knees in fervent prayer and excited anticipation.
My mandate that evening:
P.R.A.Y.
- Earnestly pray that God would touch their hearts and that they would fall head over heels in love with Jesus!!!
- Pray that He would establish them deep in Him.
- Pray that my children would look to Him for provision and protection.
- Pray that God would grant them supernatural discernment.
- Pray that God would reveal to them (and me too) how He wants to use them to impact the culture.
- Pray that I would remain steadfast and intentional with these precious years of training and discipling!
P.R.E.P.A.R.E
- Read the Bible, Study the Bible, Memorize the Bible. They need to be grounded in the TRUTH. When the truth is rooted deep in their hearts it will make it so much easier to weather any wave of false doctrine or worldly influence that might seek to derail them.
- Apply the Truth. Help my children see how the Word of God applies in day-to-day life as we model how to really live the Christian life. In a culture that bifurcates life into secular vs. sacred, I ‘purpose’ to show my children how to live an integrated life where we live what we believe.
- Train them to think deeply, listen to the Holy Spirit as they learn to use discernment.
- Diligently pursue our academic studies. The world needs leaders – full of wisdom and possessing knowledge. {That was the earthly reason why the Babylonians took Daniel and his friends in the first place.}
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Thank you for sharing this, Heather, it really blessed me this morning. I’m a bit behind in my blog reading:) I initially felt the panic too…especially with respect to the Supreme Court as policies can be undone in future administrations. Hugh Hewitt has a really balanced, non-panic, non-alarmist point of view that I have appreciated in the last two presidential elections.
I have always loved the story of Daniel and Esther as they played such unique rolls in influencing pagan cultures.
My brother had an interesting point to add. Here are his thoughts. “I would just say that in addition to being faithful and standing firm, Daniel and friends were also so well educated, so skillful and so useful that their captors put them in positions of leadership within their regime and Daniel & friends did not resist doing their best for their “enemies”. I think the first part of the book of Daniel is a primer for God’s people on how to engage in public life in hostile cultures.”
Amen and amen to your brothers comments. I would totally agree that Daniel makes an excellent primer for engaging the culture and that is exactly what I want to prepare my children to be able to do.
You read my mind, Heather. My panic has not yet resolved, but your post is now bookmarked for printing so that I can read it again (and again) for some encouragement. Nthank you for sharing your thoughts. I am definitely IN!
This was such an excellent perspective and one I sorely needed. I was actually less concerned with the presidential election (though still disappointed for sure) than I was about our state approving same-sex “marriage” and how to cope with that in a few years when the munchkin starts noticing that sort of thing.
Heather,
As my husband was speaking to God on Wednesday, he too was looking for wisdom on where we were headed and God showed him Daniel as well. He also took him to Psalm 2 and Proverbs 4.
“Blessed are those who take refuge in Him”. Be blessed my friend.
Jamie, I’ve spent some of the last year with my head stuck in the sand hoping things weren’t as bad as they seemed. Of course as the election came nearer and I read more about all of the issues the seriousness of how decisions made now can affect my children really set it. Thankfully, we serve a God who is bigger and He has appointed THIS time for me and my children.
Joyful Friends, THANK YOU so much for the scripture passages that you shared. It is always interesting to see when God is speaking in a similar vein to multiple people. When I shared some of this with our small group last Wed, another family had been thinking along the same lines too and inspired to pray and prepare!
MrsH. – Yup, that outcome is a sign of the times. Seeing many of my friends who do or used to process Christ succumb to unbiblical thinking in these areas definitely had me in prayer seeking wisdom on how to prepare my children for the future.
Ginny, It is definitely a situation worthy of panic. I have to remind myself that I am called to not worry and trust God. It is also a reminder of how important it is that my children understand WHY my husband and I take the stands we do.
Your blog is similiar to what our pastor preached about today. Our children & grandchildren need to be very grounded in the Lord. Socialism is around the corner & we can’t stop it. Persecution will be great in the future. Be faithful to Jesus whatever the cost. Last Sunday was the day of prayer for the persecuted churches around the world — election took over everyone’s attention. Our pastor apologized for overlooking it. Prayer & Prepare! that says it all. MiMa
Oh my, Heather! You got it!! I know exactly what you mean, because I was headed into full-blown panic, too. I love what you had to say about this. I will definitely be praying, too.
count me in 😀