Inspiration

The other day I was asked an interesting question.  “What inspires you?”  Seems particular suitable to ask that at this time of year when you might still be in the planning stage(s), and particularly useful to ask if you don’t know what to plan and are in particular need of inspiration.

But what is inspiration anyway?  The word comes from Middle English, from the Latin “inspiratio”, referring to divine inspiration.   Now some I know will immediately argue with that – why would we immediately tie it to Divintity?   Yet we all know that we are finite creatures working within a defined frame of reference (the frame of reference being the sum total of all we know and all we’ve experienced).  The reason then we would call something an inspiration instead of a simple idea is that we innately understand that it is not the working out of an idea in our minds of ourselves, but the implantation of an idea into our minds, from an origin we cannot grasp.  Therein I think is the real key to inspiration.   – it is that which comes to us from beyond ourselves with an idea/motivation we didn’t previously have (and arguably could not have had, apart from the inspiration).

But, if we understand that inspiration comes from outside of ourselves, the argument then comes up – couldn’t inspiration come from just about anyone else?  Many great ideas are things that others have said to us – things we take, apply slightly differently and call our own.  If we look to them, then we must ask, “Where did that other person get that idea?  Perhaps they got that idea by thinking about an experience in their frame of reference.”  And now we are closer to the crux of the matter – because surely there is a difference between an IDEA and an inspiration. 

Everyone gets ideas, almost every day – though you might point out that only those who think get ideas – those who are consumed with doing ONLY are even void of that.  Nevertheless, I would make this distinction:  Ideas improve your own lot.  Inspiration improves the lot of all who encounter them.  The evidence (of one or the other) is in the outworking (or, ‘the proof is in the pudding’, as they say). If we use that definition, it means that a great number of ideas are not merely good ideas, but inspiration. 

That still doesn’t ascribe inspiration to the Lord only – it could be from anything beyond ourselves - an angel or a demon, say.   After all – many inspired ideas have turned out to be really terrible things.  If you know the history of warfare then you know what I speak of.   So we are driven to the most important question, “How can I ensure that I am getting inspiration from best possible source? 

Fortunately, that is actually the easiest thing to discern.  Who or what were you seeking when you got the inspiration?  If you were seeking God’s face (either as a part of your normal devotions to Him or in desperation from difficulty), then you most likely have divine inspiration.  God, who is beyond ALL (not just mankind, but all) and different then ALL (not just mankind, but all), always speaks INTO our context, but always speaks to us from OUTSIDE our context.  Hence, when He speaks, it is always inspiration to us. 

If you were seeking an answer from ANYWHERE, then you most likely have something else.  I hope that makes you think, and leads you to seek inspiration!