I thought what inspired me was a majestic sunset painted across the backdrop of a snow-capped mountain. Or maybe the soothing sounds of the ocean breaking across the sandy beaches. Well, if you live near any of those picturesque scenes, never take it for granted. But if you're like the rest of us, you rely heavily not on the things you can see, but the things of the heart. Here are a few:
Silence & Solitude: Ask a mother of 4 children stair-stepping their way through diaper changes, 3 a.m. feedings and extreme colic if a little peace and quiet isn't up on the top of their "Inspiration List." Yet in the hustle and bustle of life, God's word reminds us to "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10a).
I look at the discipline of "silence and solitude" as a setting oneself aside from the worldly noise to hear God's voice. I will tell you that it is not the popular opinion of our culture. Society would tell us it is better to multitask our way to the top. The only problem is what do you do when you get there? Are you inspired by all YOU'VE done? Did you forget what matters most on the journey? One doesn't take a deliberate drive through the Grand Canyon not to take notice of the view. Same with life. Be still and know...
A Godly Quote - "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength..." (Isaiah 30:15).
Perspective: It's not a spiritual discipline like silence and solitude, but I vote we add it to Foster's list. It's one thing to, well, put things in proper perspective, but when you've been plagued by peril and pain, the question is "HOW can you be inspired?" Through PERSEVERANCE and PATIENCE! Okay, you can say it -- "You have got to be kidding me!" I neither kid you nor do I make light sport of your predicament. But I will tell you that perspective's plan is (indeed) perseverance and patience.
This weekend, I met a phenomenal woman at a retreat, but her posture would not lend boast to that claim. Within a span of a couple of years, she lost her mother to cancer, her father to illness and her husband to cancer. She didn't have time to grieve. She had her pinch-filled moments of comfort along the way, but she was inspired to persevere for her 4 adopted children who, in turn, were inspired by their mother's "quiet perseverance and even-tempered care."
That's truly what patience means. It's not a "grin your teeth and bear it" joke, a "suck on your bleeding lip" game. It's a partnership between the two -- perseverance and patience -- to produce the ultimate inspiration: perspective. There is fruit in perspective (see Galatians 5:22). Thee is comfort in perspective (see Psalm 40:1, 2). There is hope in perspective (see Romans 8:25). There is promise in perspective (see Hebrews 10:36).
A Godly Quote - "I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all" (Ecclesiastes 9:11).
The next time you happen upon a not-so-ideal season in life, remember to ask the question, "what inspires me?" You may find God directing your steps on a road called silence and solitude with stops in perspective along the way. I can tell you that that video inspired me!
Blessings!
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