Inspiration is when a creative idea suddenly downloads into your brain, and it's not an accident. It is for a purpose and may be more important than we think. Let's begin in Jeremiah chapter 1, verse 4:

(Jeremiah 1:4-5 NKJV) Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations."

God told Jeremiah that He knew him before he was born and had already equipped him to be a prophet to the nations. Jeremiah was born into the world with the gift set to match his calling. That was his destiny, but we each have our own calling in this life. The words Jeremiah spoke were given to him by the Holy Spirit, a sudden inspiration. Prophecy flowed from him. When he wrote, the words were inspired by the Holy Spirit, but Jeremiah wrote them down with his own hands. The Apostle Peter wrote:

(2 Peter 1:20-21 NKJV) knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

(2 Timothy 3:16-17 NKJV) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

The Bible we have today was written by about forty authors with diverse backgrounds over about 1500 years. Isaiah was a prophet, Ezra was a priest, Matthew was a tax collector, John was a fisherman, Paul was a tentmaker, Moses was a shepherd, and Luke was a physician. The Holy Spirit inspired them, and they began writing down the words that came to them. Today we often take it for granted, but what if they had never sat down to write?

We are God's hands and feet on the Earth. Think of Moses in Exodus 3:9. The Lord told him:

(Exodus 3:9-10 NKJV) "Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel has come to Me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them. Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt."

God heard the cry of Israel, who were slaves in Egypt at the time, and then He told Moses, "Come here, I'll send you…" When God sees a need, He sends a person. If God wants a book written, He will give it to a person to write. He may choose you. What will you do with this precious gift? Sadly, too many of us ignore it and do nothing, so He gives the project to someone else. The next great invention will happen only when the inspired person takes action.

Probably the only thing I had going for me over the years was that I was hungry and willing to look like a fool if obedience required it. When He gave me a prophetic word for someone in a bar or on a construction site, I would speak it. Some would laugh, while others would begin to cry and tremble. My job was to deliver the message. The outcome was His. Fortunately, that is all He needed from me.

There is a vast, untapped power source for Christians: the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. But it is only useful if we invest the energy and resources to make it become a reality. We are born like Jeremiah, with a unique combination of skills, gifts, and talents. Our life and experience have shaped and honed them until there is no one quite like us. He speaks to each of us. Jesus said:

(John 10:27-28 NKJV) "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand."

If you are one of God's sheep, then you can hear His voice. Yet sometimes we are too timid and scared, even though the Lord has not given us a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). Sometimes we want to see the end from the beginning. We want to know how it will all work out before we start, but His plan unfolds one step at a time, in seed form.

The Lord's plans usually begin small and humbly. Even Jesus, the King of Kings, was born in a stable. David fought lions, bears, giants, and then armies. His word is a lamp unto our feet, so you don't get to see very far down the road. We have to take another step to see more. You don't get to see step two until you have taken step one.

I can tell you a little about inspiration, as it seems I was created to do what I am doing here. Refreshing Hope depends daily on the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in writing devotionals, composing songs, creating videos, improving subroutines in my programming, and deciding which hardware to use for each task.

I pray and listen for His thoughts, and then run with them. After years of doing it this way, I try not to worry about what I will be doing tomorrow or next year. It will probably be different anyway. Years ago, I ran copper network cables. Today we run fiber-optic. Next year, there may not be a cable at all. What He wants us to focus on today is what matters. Without His inspiration, we become empty and lifeless. As Solomon observed, after having his heart turned away by a thousand lovers, he concluded, 'All is vanity' (Ecclesiastes 1:2).

Inspiration also has a shelf life. For example, I sometimes hear myself singing a song and realize I've never heard it before because it hasn't been written yet. If I don't stop and write it down, it will leave and soon be forgotten. Every song I have composed, every devotional I have written, every video we have created exists because we prayed and listened for His inspiration. We then use the skills He has given us to turn that inspiration into reality.

These are just examples of the things we work on in our lives. What God has in store for you may look very different, but the process is the same: Pray. Listen. Act. Start by praying and doing what you already know you should. You don't get to see step two until you have taken step one.

As you work to bring His inspiration to life, His provision comes with the vision. We start with the strength we have and rely on Him to make up the difference. Failures are educational, and He would rather you try and fail than never try at all.

I hope to inspire you to listen for that still, small voice and turn those ideas into reality. We have an unlimited fountain to drink from: the precious Holy Spirit. His people should be on the cutting edge of creativity in every generation. He is not just creative; He is the Creator, and He created us in His likeness.

You can pray this with me if you like:

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I want Your inspiration. Forgive me for not listening or taking action in the past when You spoke to me. Please give me a fresh start and speak to me in a way I understand. Help me see what I should be focusing on in my life, and help me realize the skills and gifts You have given me, so I can use them to their fullest potential. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.