Numbness, revisited!

A friend of mine just started a new blog called Wretched Sinner, and I just love his second post... "Numbness". It really is excellent and thought provoking, while totally ringing that "true that" bell -- you know the one, dontcha? The one where you read something, and all the while, you're nodding your head, thinking: True That!

I loved the definition he used for numbness: Numbness, is the result of being desensitized; to become insensitive or callous. Heaven's sake!!! Do you know what callous means? No? Let me share: Emotionally hardened; unfeeling.

Wow! Emotionally hardened or unfeeling -- things we think would never happen to us ... just worldly people, right? Right? Not so right.

So many things that we are surrounded by truly cause our hearts and minds to become numb... whether you are a Christian or not! And when we become numb, we begin to tune out the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Check out this scripture:

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." Philipians 4:7-8

Wow! That really causes me to examine my life and think about the things that can cause numbness in my life... are they lovely? Are they true? Are they pure? Admirable? Praiseworthy? If not, then they will cause numbness in my life and I need to get rid of them. I went through this self-examination a while back, and decided that many television shows I watched, books and magazines I read, and radio stations I listened to (music styles, DJs, etc.) were NOT true, lovely, pure, admirable, or praiseworthy. I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to cut them out of my time, life, home. It wasn't easy, because I had become so attached to them, but I really prayed about it, and the Holy Spirit removed the desire for them from my heart. Even though the enemy tries to creep back in with an old desire for one of the things I've cut out, the Spirit is more powerful, and quelches that desire.

So, you might wonder ... did that indeed bring me peace and contentment? Yes, it really did. And I know that my heart and mind are guarded ...

I know, I know -- many of you think that it's "just TV," or "just a story," or "just some music, and that you're not really listening to the words or the message." But you know what? Peace and contentment is a result of a submissive relationship with God, and God was dealing with ME on removing those issues from MY life. I felt that I had to be submissive in this instance in order to find peace.

As a Christian, I have to train my mind and heart to act on deliberate reasoning, and make every effort to reason out how my actions (whether reading a book, watching a movie, listening to classic rock, etc...) will affect my life, enhance my life, or how it will shape my witness.

I like how my friend closed his post: "I pray you will examine yourself, examine where you have become numb. But it doesn't stop there. YOU must do something about it. Today's the day."

I too would encourage you to examine your heart and mind. Find the places that have become numb ... and if they aren't numb yet, but are simply on the verge of being numb, or are merely apathetic ... kick them aside. It is hard ... BUT ... you've got the power in you -- the Holy Spirit.

Go kick some numbness! And apathy!