What can I do when I am feeling apathetic? - Apathy - TouchPoints

Proverbs 20:13If you love sleep, you will end in poverty. Keep your eyes open, and there will be plenty to eat!

Isaiah 32:10In a short time—just a little more than a year—you careless ones will suddenly begin to care. For your fruit crops will fail, and the harvest will never take place.

Sooner or later apathy produces negative consequences because we are not actively pursuing God, who loves us and provides for us. So much of what we have comes from our relationship with God. He gives us wisdom, care, protection, and grace. When we are feeling apathetic about God, we should think through the potentially negative consequences of being apart from him; this will motivate us to draw closer to him.

Luke 21:34Watch out! Don’t let your hearts be dulled by carousing and drunkenness, and by the worries of this life. Don’t let that day catch you unaware.

Jesus warned his followers to be alert to spiritual apathy. We don’t want to come to the end of life having neglected our relationship with God because we have been so focused on living the good life.

Psalm 119:83I am shriveled like a wineskin in the smoke, but I have not forgotten to obey your decrees.

We should obey God’s commands even when we don’t feel like it. This will take tremendous effort, but being apathetic is difficult when we are focused on something. Whatever takes great effort is stimulating and engaging. This will help keep us close to God.

Acts 16:25Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.

Instead of sinking into apathy when adversity strikes, we should worship God through prayer and singing and stay connected with Christian friends. Even when we don’t feel like doing this, we should do it anyway; and our efforts will be rewarded. Prayer and praise to God are a sure cure for apathy.

Ezekiel 11:19“I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their stony, stubborn heart and give them a tender, responsive heart.”

When feeling apathetic, we should submit to God, allowing him to replace our apathetic hearts with new, tender hearts.

Romans 12:9Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.

Philippians 2:4Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

Hebrews 6:10-12God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do. Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent.

The more interested we are in something, the less apathy we will have. The more interested we become in the lives of those around us, the more we will care about them. Getting involved in others’ lives will not only keep us from becoming dull and indifferent, it also will challenge us to think about ways to reflect the love of Christ to them.

2 Timothy 3:1-5You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!

Apathy can be contagious, so we should watch the company we keep.

Proverbs 12:11A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies has no sense.

Proverbs 12:27The diligent make use of everything they find.

Proverbs 13:4Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.

Romans 12:11Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.

2 Thessalonians 3:11Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business.

2 John 1:8Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward.

Revelation 3:19“I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.”

One of the best cures for apathy is hard work. When we work hard, we become productive. The more productive we are, the more you are satisfied and fulfilled we feel. Even better, when we see our hard work as an act of service to God, we gain more energy as we see God using us to bless others.

Proverbs 19:3People ruin their lives by their own foolishness and then are angry at the Lord.

We need to take responsibility for our actions and attitudes. Not seeing ourselves as victims can be a crucial step to overcoming apathy.

Jeremiah 1:4-5The Lord gave me this message: “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you.”

We can stimulate our passion for life by realizing that God has a purpose for us. God created each person uniquely to make a difference for his Kingdom. Purpose stirs passion, and passion drives apathy away.