Living With a Spirit of Indifference
As the summer days drag on and I dig my feet into the rough, dry soil of this season, I’m reminded that none of this is a surprise to God. He gives and He takes away. He makes a way for me. Even though I’m in a season of much abundance, I still feel as though I’m waiting for a breakthrough. Following God is about trusting that he will water our souls and replenish us when our season feels dry or when we’re waiting for him to make a big move.
Over the last several months, I’ve taken on a spirit of indifference. In Ruth Haley Barton’s book, Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation, she discusses something called a “prayer for indifference”. This means praying to be indifferent to anything that is not God’s will. The questions she brings forth for this reflection are:
What needs to die in me in order for God’s will to come forth in my life?
Is there anything I need to set aside so that I can be open to what God wants?
We can utilize these questions to bring forth indifference in our lives, but we also can pray that God would reveal to us the answer to these questions and how exactly he wants us to respond. Barton says that “the movement toward indifference is the threshold between two worlds: the world of human decision making and the world of discerning the divine will.” So not only do we need to pray for indifference, but we also need to put on a spirit of indifference toward the things in our life that are not God’s will for us.
What is Indifference?
I believe that the word indifference can bring forth mixed reactions. But indifference is not a bad thing when we are indifferent to things we should be indifferent toward. I want to be indifferent toward the things that God did not intend for me. We should want to follow God wholeheartedly, putting off all that hinders our relationship with him and our decision making.
I’ve begun living with a spirit of indifference which allows me to focus more on what God actually meant for me in my life and current season, rather than what I expected, hoped for, or wished that I had. Having a spirit of indifference also helps me to curb my temptation to compare myself to others. It reminds me that we are all walking different journeys. We should not compare our journey to those of others or step outside the lane that God is paving for us.
Having a spirit of indifference also assists us as we long to discern God’s will. By praying that God would show us what needs to die in us—and being vulnerable enough to even pray that prayer—we are opening ourselves to the divine will of God. If we are open-handed and eager for what He has for us, even if it means we may face trials and hardship, we will be blessed abundantly and we will be able to stand firm in the face of those challenges.
Living with a Spirit of Indifference
I want to help you to also pray for indifference and put on a spirit of indifference toward the circumstances in your life. This one perspective shift has made such an impact in my life, and I know it can change yours too. Whatever season of life you’re in right now, I want you to know that God longs for you to be an active participant. He also longs for you to better embrace what comes your way because you trust that His will is better than yours.