Source of Inspiration

Obviously, I love to write. But, recently I found myself pondering the source of inspiration for my writing. As I pondered, I realized something. Most of my ideas come from four sources:

• My whole blogging experience began because I wanted to share some thoughts that ran through my mind while interacting with my children. Those thoughts only came when I was truly willing to listen to my Father’s instruction. I had to be actively reading His Word on a regular basis, because those thoughts were always lessons from the Bible being lived out through my children. Five years later, I still “hear” Him teach me through my interaction with my children.

• Then there are interactions with other people that sometimes get me to thinking. Frequently, this is discussions with my husband, although it also comes from interactions with others as well. Again, those thoughts usually revolves around something God is teaching me through His Word.

• I have always learned the best when I can process and then put into my own words what I’m taking in. Teaching others cements it for me. I have long journaled, but there has always been something missing in journaling. I haven’t been able to truly process the full extent of what I’m hearing without truly forming it in a way that allows me to share it with someone else. So, blogging about it takes it to that deeper level. I don’t share everything that stands out to me from my Scripture reading, but I do share a lot of it.

• There’s one other time when writing ideas really seem to start fleshing out in my mind. In fact, it can be a bit troublesome. You see, they begin to materialize right in the middle of my prayer times. I’ll be praying for someone or something and then think of something awesome to write! (And, no, I don’t use my writing to get a point across to anyone I’m praying for. Even if I write down the thoughts, I don’t publish them.) It can be a bit distracting from my prayer time, as I love to “write” in my mind. So, I have to make myself stop, jot down a note about my thought, and then intentionally finish my prayer before I sit down to write.

When I don’t received inspiration from one of these sources, I rarely have writing ideas. In fact, as I think about my writing, I realize that, other than book and product reviews or the daily life chronicles I write on my family blog, I really have no other source of inspiration than what I’ve shared above. Which really comes down to one Source of inspiration – God Himself. His interaction with me through the Holy Spirit, the Bible, and the people around me. Everything I write might not ooze with Scripture passages or specific talk about Jesus, but it should all clearly reflect 1) that I’m His child and 2) that He is active in my life.

All of this pondering leads me to one specific realization: it’s not just my writing that should be – no, must be – inspired in the above ways. It’s life in general. When I am immersed in the Word of God, it is reflected in every corner of my life. It shows in how I interact with my family. It shows in how patient I am when life doesn’t go my way. It shows in how content I am. It shows in a decrease in selfishness. In short, if I am not centered in the Bible and tuned in to hearing Him confirm His Word through everything around me, then I am insanely uninspired in life. I don’t want to take care of my family. I don’t want to take care of myself. I don’t care about being a good steward of my home. I don’t want to teach my children. I don’t want to interact with other believers. I don’t want to be a support to my husband. I just want my way, and my way isn’t very pretty.

This isn’t to say that I always listen well to what God is telling me, nor that my actions or writing are ever 100% pure in motive or implementation. But, there is an enormous difference in my life when the living Word is the source of my inspiration.

What is the source of inspiration for your daily life? This is certain: something is your inspiration. If you are daily reading the Bible and truly opening your heart to hear from the Lord during your reading, chances are He is a prominent source. But, if you’re not putting the Word into your life, I can pretty much guarantee that your inspiration is something else. So, what is it? Having a hard time figuring out? Think about what your favorite activity in life is. How was that activity inspired? From there, you can probably find the source of much of your inspiration.

My encouragement to you? Get it back to the Word. From there you can never go wrong. It might not be the easiest path, and there might be days when it seems downright overwhelming. But, I can guarantee you this: true fulfillment in every area of life will never come from any other source.