– by Ann Noble

 

While driving along and listening to a radio station that plays songs from the 40’s, a Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart song came on from one of their musicals. The title was “It Never Entered My Mind” and it was written one year before I was born. I can honestly say I have heard it all my life.

 

That song kept coming back to my mind throughout the day, and I finally just said out loud, “Heavenly Father, WHAT is this all about? What do you want me to know?”

 

Well, God told me.

 

“Ann, I’ve asked you to do several things, but have you done them?”

 

“No,” I meekly said. “It never entered my mind today.”

 

“Ann, I wanted to enjoy our time together. I had appointments for you, blessings to give you, yet you never showed up today. Why?” (God knew why, but He wanted me to say it.)

 

“I’m so sorry, I was just really busy, and it never entered my mind. Oh, Heavenly Father, I’m so ashamed and so very sorry. Please forgive me.”

 

I was an easy target for the devil. I was not even aware I was in his trap and in a spiritual battle. Apathetic! That is what I was.

 

The definition of apathy is an absence of passion or emotion. A lack of interest or concern for things that others find moving or exciting.

 

 

I was in a pitiful state that day. It didn’t occur to me to get with God, nor did I give a thought to what He had asked me to do.

 

I was no worry to Satan, none at all. I for sure was not the light reflecting God, nor was I the salt of the earth. I was not aware I was trapped. How sad is that!

 

Satan tempts us all the time. We have three choices when tempted.

1) we can give in, not even try to fight it

2) we can give up, give up on trying to resist it

3) we can grow through it

 

James 4:7 tells us to submit yourself to God, resist the devil, and he will flee.

 

How do we do that, resist the devil? Be a reader of the Word. The truth of God is in the Bible and will keep us walking with the Lord on the straight path.

 

But wait a minute! I had read the Bible for almost an hour that day before I got in that apathetic state. What’s up with that?!?

 

Well, it is the difference between accumulating facts and applying truth.

 

I had read the Word, closed the book, and I didn’t apply a thing I read.  Thankfully God called me out on that. Thankfully I wasn’t allowed to continue in the apathetic state I was in.

 

I humbled myself before the Lord, feeling chastened, embarrassed, ashamed and very loved. God disciplines the ones He loves. Hebrew 12:6 tells us that. He treated me as a daughter with loving discipline.

 

Do you see how dangerous apathetic people are? We aren’t walking in our blessings, we aren’t being God’s instrument to reach the lost, we are being robbed of our gift of that day, robbed of those blessings we could have had and the lives we could have touched.

 

I don’t have to say any more. I know you are not in that apathetic state, for here you are reading this blog of hope. Thankfully, you are alert to the voice of God. Thankfully, when temptation comes, you ask Jesus to answer the door.

 

Keep it up! Apply the Word of God and remain alert and alive in Christ.

 

I have found 23 verses on apathy, indifference to God. I can memorize them and fight back now.

 

Thank You, Heavenly Father, for loving me so much that you used a song to shake me out of my apathetic state. May I stay alert to your voice and obedient to your directions. Please! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

 

This post was written by Ann Lynn Noble.

Ann is the author of Restore, Restore, Restore and More and Restore, Restore, Restore Devotional.