Inspiration
When we sit down with a friend and have coffee and share what is going on in our life there is an audience member that we often overlook. God is there with us. He is hearkening to those of us who fear Him, and who think upon His name in our daily conversations.
Why do we long to sit with a friend when we are going through trouble? We want to know someone cares. We want to be inspired to keep going. Merriam Webster defines the word inspire as follows:
“a : to influence, move, or guide by divine or supernatural inspiration
b : to exert an animating, enlivening, or exalting influence on <was particularly inspiredby the Romanticists>
c : to spur on : impel, motivate <threats don’t necessarily inspire people to work>
Another way to communicate the act is inspiration which is defined as:
a : divine influence or action on a person believed to qualify him or her to receive and communicate sacred revelation
b :the act of drawing in; specifically : the drawing of air into the lungs”[1]
Fresh Air
I recall the days in early spring and early fall when we open the windows to allow the cool breeze to cleanse the air in our homes. I love to do so, especially in the spring. After a long dwindling winter of being shut in it feels cleansing just to open them and take in a deep breath. Breath that reminds us that life is about to spring up around us.
In a winter season of the soul, and even in all other seasons of life we want to be spurred on and draw in the air of someone’s testimony. We want to blow out the stagnant air of circumstance and have our lungs refreshed with hope. We want to hear about the goodness of God in their life because it is faith building to us. If we share our life stories openly acknowledging God they can be like spiritual CPR to someone else.
Did you know that no matter what we are going through we’ve got some testimonies? It is important that we share them. What we have been through, what we are going through, and the fact that we are still learning is something others need to hear. We must remember what God has done so that we have a tank full of air for the person who needs spiritual oxygen. What breath of life can you extend to someone today?
11 They triumphed over him
by the blood of the Lamb
and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
as to shrink from death.
Revelation 12:11 NIV
Out of Oxygen
Sometimes that someone is us. Sometimes we need to look into our book of remembrance and recall the goodness of God to inspire us to keep going. We need to refill our air tank or else we may not have the air to breathe into someone else. We may need to ask God to breathe new life into us. This is also a testimony that will be life-giving to others. Testifying about how we must encourage ourselves at times is honest and will be a great help to someone who is struggling as well. Sometimes they need God to breathe new life into them. They need to know they are not the only one who is struggling to breathe, and it will get them through moments when they are alone and in need of encouragement.
Importance
God finds our inspiring words important enough to keep a record of them. He keeps no record of our wrongs, but is actively remembering when we include Him in our inspiration. Hallelujah! When your testimony is given to glorify God whether written or spoken it brings God pleasure. It is another way we can express our gratitude for what He has done, is doing, and will do in our lives.
Think on what God has done and is doing in your life. Let it inspire you to go on and share the goodness of God with someone else. That’s all a testimony is. It is just giving witness to something God has done in your life. Intentionally share the goodness of God from your life experiences this weekend, and find that when you breathe out encouragement to others God fills your lungs with fresh air again.
Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
Malachi 3:16 KJB
Another Samaritan Woman 