Finding God's Inspiration in the Every Day
Here's how Christian men can find inspiration and tap into the inspiration that God surrounds them with to make a positive change in their lives, their families, and the world.
“True faith means holding nothing back. It means putting every hope in God’s fidelity to His Promises.”—Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God.
‘Rocky’ is one of my favorite movies. Underdogs defy all odds and come out on top. They go through some ups and downs. Various trials and tribulations. At some point in any movie, it seems like everything is lost and there is no way they can win. They reach down deep somehow. It's usually a time lapse montage of things from the past that inspires them to find that inner strength they didn't know they had. Voila...it's go time.
There was one thing I could never get over in the Rocky movies: the terrible phantom punches. There are some Creed movies with no phantom punches. One day I'm gonna look like Michael B Jordan without a shirt, I told my wife. In one gulp, she finished her entire drink. That's what inspires me right now. Well, not really, because I'd rather eat tacos than look like that.
Finding Inspiration
Every G.O.A.T. has a story about how they got inspired to do what they did. Sports stars, civic leaders, and government leaders. Then one day it became a full-time job to be an inspirational or motivational speaker. So, the question is “What inspires you?”
You might be inspired by seeing a chiseled boxing specimen or you might be inspired to change careers by seeing that old friend from college that makes well into the six figures, but inspiration is everywhere. Seeing a neighborhood band play live is one example. It could also be a well-kept flower garden. The smell of spring. Or those psychopaths who wake up at 4 am to go to the gym to work out. Everybody gets inspired. Then why aren't we doing everything we can to make the world a better place? Now comes the hard part. It's time to do what you've been inspired to do.
God as the Source
God put inspiration in everything, so there's no excuse to not have it. Whenever we don't feel inspired, he gives us the wisdom to know where to look. Let's take the movie example again. You know the movie where the group is fighting aliens and the leader gives the most inspirational speech ever. He ends it with “Yeah we may die, but we are going to die together!” Everyone yells, and they're ready.
How do you tap into that as a man when you lose your job? You feel like a failure in your family's eyes. Maybe everyone just found out about your affair when you were such a good husband and father. Kids won't listen to you and keep getting into trouble at school. What should I do? When I became a dad, no one told me I'd have to kill that big spider in my daughter's room. What inspires us as men to be the spider killer?
We're not inspired to complain. It just comes naturally. How are you going to change what you're complaining about? What's really bugging you? What are you doing to change it or are you on your fourth Facebook post and seventh comment about it? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened or in dread of them, for the Lord, your God is with you. Deuteronomy 31:6 says He won't leave you or forsake you.
Let God be your source of inspiration. If you don't know what to do, ask Him for wisdom. Ask him for strength to do what needs to be done. Let go of your prejudices, preconceived notions, and previous biases. Soon you'll get inspired, and what you do with that inspiration makes you the man, father, husband, son, brother, or nephew you're meant to be. Let's not waste that inspiration, and if we do, don't worry there are plenty more to come. Grab one and make it count.