Not too long ago, I wrote about receiving a telephone call from a person who encouraged me to start writing devotionals again and who asked where I got my inspiration. Afterwards, I found myself searching for a manila folder that I had tucked away for awhile. The file folder contained words scribbled onto pieces of paper, thoughts quickly written down before they were lost forever–inspiration.

I thought about inspiration and how it comes at the most unexpected times, flashing through our minds at the speed of light. For Christians, the Holy Spirit is the source of true inspiration. The Holy Spirit puts God-honouring thoughts in a writer’s mind. The writer then writes, putting ideas and dreams on pieces of paper to be shared with others.

2 Timothy 3:16-All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. (NASB)

Although not in the same category as Scripture, Handel’s best known musical creation, Messiah, was undoubtedly inspired by God, based as it was on biblical passages. Sir Isaac Newton, mathematician and physicist, expressed a strong sense of God’s divine role in his discoveries. Louis Pasteur, renowned French chemist and biologist, displayed a genuine Christian faith and felt guided by God in his research. He was puzzled by the failure of scientists to recognize God’s existence from their observations of the world around them. The scientist Johannes Kepler described science as “thinking God’s thoughts after Him.” Artist like Michelangelo have been inspired to paint beautiful pictures.

Because inspiration is a gift from God, we should by no means assume that we will never be in a position to impact the world through receiving inspiration. We should be open to all that God wants to do through us. It is inspiration that will some day discover a cure for cancer, inspiration that will some day bring peace where there is now none.

You and I are God’s instruments on this earth. It is you and I, with God’s vision and inspiration, who will bring about much-needed changes in this world.

Joel 2:28-And it will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. (NASB)

Prayer: O Father, Creator of all that we see and do not yet see, help us to be open to all that You want to do through us. You continuously create new ideas and dreams within each one of us. Help us through our struggles and conflict. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Rosemary Hagedorn,
Penetanguishene, Ontario, Canada.
Rosyhagedorn@gmail.com