Have you ever been inspired?
A deeply moving piece of music, a painting that engulfed you in its wonder, or a sermon that just left you saying, “Wow!” as the Words of God settled onto your soul like a spring rain nourishing seeds deep below? I know I have. This inspiration is felt so deeply that sometimes we forget that there is more. That there are seeds below the surface to feed.
I watched a friend perform a dance at our local arts center several years ago. I have no doubt she was created to dance. She was amazing. I was inspired and touched deeply by the beauty and grace of her performance.
I have often left moments like this under the delusion that I was capable of doing what I had just seen: singing in key, dancing with rhythm and grace, or preaching an earth-shaking sermon. But the truth is that I had not yet been transformed. I had not experienced the refining, pressure, training, and power that was needed to move from being inspired to being an inspiration.
Inspiration is great. But there is more. Revelation is amazing. But there is more. We need more than inspiration, encouragement, or great ideas and getting excited about what our Bibles say. We need to allow God to transform us through His Word. Those brave enough to lay under the transforming scalpel of God’s Word are the ones who will shine His Glory with such brilliance that the world will take notice.
You were created to shine. You were created to bring God glory through the unique and beautiful gifts he has placed in you. Do not shrink back from the refining, the training, the often uncomfortable soul transformation from my will be done to thy will be done.
There is no secret, no ‘magic bullet’ as to why some people shine so brightly. God is available to all of us. God desires that we would all partner with Him in this process of becoming an inspiration. I cannot promise you that it will be easy, or comfortable, but I do know that there is nothing better than living a life that brings God glory and inspires others to live the life God created them for.
