Holy Indifference: Are You Following Jesus -- Or Your Impulses?

Have you ever been struck by something you hear or read—and find God wastes no time in  reinforcing His message in unexpected ways? I first heard the phrase “Holy Indifference” yesterday. It intrigued me. What did it mean? Isn’t indifference the opposite of how we’re supposed to respond to life? What does it mean to live with “Holy Indifference?”

Divine Reinforcement

This morning, opening my much loved and duct-taped copy of Oswald Chambers’ devotional, My Utmost for His Highest, I found the same idea permeating his comments. Jesus was indifferent to His own will, wanting to do only what pleased the Father. Oswald says:

“So much Christian work today has never been disciplined, but has simply come into being by impulse!  In our Lord’s life every project was disciplined to the will of the Father. There was never the slightest tendency to follow the impulse of His own will as distinct from His Father’s will.”

Recognize Yourself?Ouch! My personality and temperament pours ideas into my mind—being impulsive, moving into action before praying and waiting, and praying and waiting some more—is a constant struggle. At times I feel like I’m an unbroken colt straining at the rope which God, in His great wisdom, holds on to until I recognize His steadying hand!What does “Holy Indifference” look like?

• It looks like Jesus whose food, fulfillment, and satisfaction in life came through not doing His own will, but in doing the Father’s will (John 4:34).
• It looks like refusing to “simply do work for God that has been instigated by our own human nature.”
• It looks like intentionally taking captive and submitting every idea and vision and desire that comes to me for serving the Lord, to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).

I need this reminder. I need to learn to be “Holy Indifferent” to what my human nature wants to DO for God—and take the time to hear what the Father wants me to do.

Let’s Talk: What do you struggle with? Do you impulsively rush ahead, or do you lag behind what God is calling you to do?

Blessings,Poppy SmithInternational speaker, multi-published author, Bible teacher, and spiritual coachInspiring Women to Thrive! Permission to use this article is granted provided the following credit is fully included.Poppy Smith is funny, warm, and passionate about helping women grow spiritually and personally so they experience the love and power of Christ in life’s ups and downs. A former teaching leader with Bible Study Fellowship, Poppy has a Masters in Spiritual Formation and ministers extensively as a retreat and conference speaker both in the US and around the world. For more information about Poppy’s heart, her books and ministry, please visit her website at www.poppysmith.com.