Keep me different, Lord.
Such a simple prayer but only with God's help can it be attained. It's way too easy to conform to this world. We're constantly compromising daily. The words we speak, the music we listen to, the shows we watch. The list goes on and on.
The challenge is remembering Romans 12:2 on a daily basis HOWEVER we must always be willing to go out into the world. We are called to go on mission, share the gospel, feed the hungry, visit the widows, care for the orphans. We must go into the world but not become like the world.
So how do we protect ourselves from conforming? By immersing ourselves EVERY SINGLE DAY in prayer, reading God's Word and making sure our life aligns with His will.
By doing these things, we prepare ourselves for the daily spiritual battles we will face. Many of us forget we are in a battle. We get complacent and start to compromise and justify and then before you know it, we are no different than the unbeliever. No one can tell us apart when that happens.
We are called to be set apart. We are called to be different. The Bible says "You shall know them by their fruits"; This is what sets a believer apart from an unbeliever. If we look the same, act the same, speak the same, then our lives do not reflect Jesus but they reflect the world.
Our works might fool other people, and might even fool ourselves, but they cannot fool God.
So if it means missing out on things that others deem necessary or even "cool", remember that your aim is not to please others but to please the Lord.
Yes, keep me different Lord. I don't mind being left out.
