in·spi·ra·tion/ˌinspəˈrāSHən/Noun
1. The process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, esp. to do something creative: "flashes of inspiration".
Lately I haven't been writing, drawing, painting, or photographing, mostly for lack of inspiration. In my mind, an artist is to inspiration as a shark is to water. Both are useless without those key "ingredients." But...both can be pretty powerful if they DO have those key ingredients. God works in mysterious ways!
In my desperate search for artistic inspiration, I neglected to search for "God inspiration." (using divine inspiration just sounds like I'm expecting ideas to mystically rain from the sky which is definitely NOT the case!) I want to be inspired, "stimulated to DO something" for God. While this kind of inspiration does not (usually) literally rain from the sky, it surely does pour down if you open up His Word. Ever picked up a captivating book and not been able to put it down for as long as it takes to finish it? I've found in the past couple days that if you turn off all the distractions and open up the Word-- it's the best kind of those books! People argue whether or not the Bible is truly "...God breathed..." (2 Timothy 3:16) But just as the Bible promises:
40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19:40)
I believe that regardless of what you believe regarding the origins of the Bible, God will use whatever he can to speak to you, as long as you're willing to listen. But I DO believe that scripture comes from God and it is very much a "living" text that God uses in a mighty way to reveal His plans to us IF we are willing. But wait... that's the hard part. Being WILLING. Let's look at that definition...
will·ing/ˈwiliNG/Adjective
1. Ready, eager, or prepared to do something.
2. Given or done readily: "willing obedience"
Ouch. Ready? EAGER? Prepared to DO? Yikes. If I'm honest with myself, most of the time I'd rather operate on my own time schedule. Yes, I can be ready and eager, but I'd rather it be once I'm done with what I have planned. But He never promised that sacrificing was not a part of the incredible journey He has planned for us! (And believe me, HIS plan is way better than mine EVERY time--every time I get a big head, I fall right on it and and am reminded again to simply TRUST Him.) Here's what He says:
Matthew 16:24 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
Luke 9:23-24
New International Version (NIV)
23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.
Now..."take UP [my] cross DAILY?"
That's a personal slap in the face. "Take up": a choice to acknowledge, take on, and maybe even embrace. "their (my) cross": our Savior's cross represented the surrendering of Himself for others, suffering, His choice to offer Himself "as a living sacrifice." "daily": every day, not a day without, incessantly. Can I really do this? Yes. But I'm only human! But I have Christ. How can I make His power mine? Be filled with the Spirit. Filled. With no room left for anything else!
Romans 12:1 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.
But God made us because He LOVES us. He wants to bless us. He wants to reward, protect, guide, and treasure us. Yes, He wants me to be WILLING to SACRIFICE my own life. But it's because He truly knows what is BEST for me. As Paul wrote to the church in Philippi,
Philippians 1:21
New International Version (NIV)
1 Corinthians 10:13
New International Version (NIV)
13 No temptation[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
For us to lose our life for His glory would only be GAIN! I am in His perfect hands and should feel only the upmost honor and reverence for being chosen by Him to carry out His perfect work. The fact that He allows me to be His hands and feet is nothing short of a blessing. He has not only forgiven my countless offenses and endless "cheating," He has taken me back with open arms time and time again. How lucky I am to have a heavenly Father that is ever patient with me, never stops teaching me, and uses my imperfect self even though it would be easier for Him to carry out His will by His own hands. Just as is true in life as a whole, it should not be "what can He do for me, but what can I do for Him?" What can I give to a God like Him except for my everything? How selfish I can be. I don't want this to be a one-day realization that quickly fades out of my mind. I want this to be a part of my every day life. Only then will I experience and recognize what God wants to accomplish in my life.
Jeremiah 29:11
New International Version (NIV)
My goal this week: to truly find inspiration to DO something for God's kingdom. To take my thoughts, prayers, hopes and dreams to the next level---> ACTION. I want to be a powerful and "dangerous" person having been inspired by God daily, 12 ...joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12
He is always faithful. If you don't believe the Bible, take it from me. He has never once failed me.
Psalm 33:4
4 For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.Psalm 36:5
5 Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.Psalm 86:15
15 But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.Psalm 89:1
1 I will sing of the LORD's great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.Psalm 89:8
8 O LORD God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you.Psalm 115:1
1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.Lamentations 3:22-23
22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.Romans 3:3-4
3 What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God's faithfulness? 4 Not at all!1 Corinthians 1:9
9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.I want to challenge you to turn off the distractions until you discover how captivating the love that God has for us is and how He wants to speak to us through His word and use us, mere imperfect beings, for good!
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