- Sweet Holy Spirit,
- Sweet heavenly Dove,
- Stay right here with us,
- Filling us with your love.
What’s up when you go numb? Is it an enforced numb or “I don’t care anymore.”
“Dazed and confused? — or “I’m outta here!!”
Believe it or not, “I don’t care anymore” might be better and “I’m outta here” at least moves us.
Numbing is a passive state overcome by the volition, we drag our uncooperative side with us till it indeed cooperates again in activity.
Paul notes that confidence comes from a determination to continue speaking truth, even if discouraged — Hebrews 10:35.
Elijah got a heavenly visit in his numb state after running from the evil Queen. “And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights…” 1 Kings 19. God sent him on a new assignment.
With a new outlook, He got up!
“Psychology Today” informs us about apathy: Article by Leon F Seltzer Ph.D.
“…it’s essentially the feeling of not feeling.” “…you feel that something vital is missing from your life, yet lack the motivation or drive to pursue it” Its“…emotionless” emotion.”
“Although there are many practical things you can do about your apathy, you won’t be able to do any of them unless you manage to change your mind-set.” “…your present-day outlook on it …now keeps you stuck. Your immediate task, then, is to alter this outlook. “… better off focusing on how to fix what’s inside your head than what lies outside it.
“… you’ll need to force yourself—yes, force yourself!—to uproot what’s already taken residence deep inside you.” “So ask yourself: ‘Am I willing to make a commitment to myself to give this apathy the fight of its life, even though doing so feels like it will take a lot more energy and effort than I’m now capable of?”
“Remember, if your languor continues indefinitely, its repercussions can be enormous. You can’t possibly live life to the fullest—be happy, fulfilled, or content—if you give up actively pursuing your goals and desires.” psychologytoday
So what does the Bible recommend for the apathetic?
In Isaiah 6:1-7 we have the vision of Isaiah: “In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” …and I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”
The sight of God floors the prophet, but,
“Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. and he touched my mouth and said: “
Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” Isaiah 6:7
Hallelujah, Hallelujah. any root of apathy in my soul erases when the coal touches my lips. My heart is cleansed.
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people…” Isaiah 6:8-9
Finally,
First, we see our depravity, but then, a washing, cleansing, purging, as The sweet Holy Spirit sheds the love of God abroad in our heart. Romans 5:5
Soul-quirk settled, I go. Subjective attitude banished, I go. Love, revealed to me, I go. Him and His grace coming home to me, I go. Fear removed, I go. Poor self image overcome by unconditional love, I go!
love you