In order to serve the Lord, we must overcome the culture of this world.

Lifestyle:

Culture determines everything. Culture is a word for the way of life of groups of people, meaning the way they do things. For example, when you are walking into a library, you’re talking and laughing; but when you enter, what do you do? You get really quiet. Why? The culture of the library is to be quiet. Our cultural values and beliefs manifest themselves through our lifestyle — what we believe, how we act, what is permissible and what is not.

Fight:

The fight we fight is a cultural one when it comes to serving the Lord. He says in Isaiah 55:8-9, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. I believe God is talking about the cultural clash that we all must fight and win. It’s understanding that we may not have been raised to serve God and honor His word, that we all have thoughts and beliefs. But if we are ever going to serve God His way, we must deal with culture, and bring our cultural beliefs and ways of doing things in line with His ways.

Change:

This means God is working with us to constantly change our ways to His ways, which means it will take some thought and then the willingness to change. Be not conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2). We really need to learn and live on the culture Jesus sets forth. It’s the only way to true peace and growth.

So, let’s persevere with great expectation that God hears and answers our prayers.

Just a thought,

PSS