Day 1
Inspiration:
Read 1 Corinthians 2:9-13
Though creating involves output, it doesn’t always begin there. It usually starts with receiving life-giving input that stirs us to respond. It starts with inspiration.
Isn’t the idea of inspiration fascinating? What exactly is it? We can be going about our ordinary lives, but then suddenly come across something that brings us unexpected joy, births a new idea, or stirs us to act or create. Though it can be hard to define, we all know it when we feel it. I think I’d describe it as :“A light-filled thought that floats to the surface— unforced, but promising life”.
How would you describe inspiration? What does it feel like for you? Are there any people, things, or places that particularly inspire you? What way of capturing or expressing that inspiration comes most naturally to you?
The latin root of the word is “inspirare”, which means “to blow into or breathe upon”. Interestingly, the Hebrew word for “spirit” is actually “breath” or “wind”. This makes more sense of the mysterious moment after Jesus’ resurrection when He walks into a locked room where His disciples are hiding and breathes on them, saying:“Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22). Jesus inspires or “breathes into” them, filling them with their life source, the Holy Spirit.
This is similar to how God created Adam. In his book “Naming the Animals”, Stephen Roach states: “Inspiration… is intimately related to receiving from God. In the Bible’s first moment of divine human interaction, God breathes into Adam’s hollow shell and the clay figurine is “inspired” to life. Humanity is animated by God’s breath and given charge to go forward and create, to be fruitful and multiply, utilizing divine inspiration to cultivate the world in beauty.”
What a beautiful gift! The Holy Spirit fills us with inspiration and life, causing us to overflow with more life by create in partnership with God.
Creative Prompt:
In today's prompt, we'll experiment and have fun with some of these ideas.
First, take a moment to breathe slowly and still yourself in God’s presence. Ask the Holy Spirit to settle you with His peace. Each time you inhale, simply breathe Him in— His Spirit being the very source of life. After doing this a few times, ask Him to inspire you… to hover over your waters and speak “let there be light” into your heart. If He starts speaking, linger there and write down what He says!
Now, lets try receiving some other beautiful and inspiring input. Listen to the instrumental song below. Relax your mind and simply enjoy the song. What does it inspire in you? Any thoughts, feelings, pictures, or memories? Write these down.
Next, take 5 minutes to really observe the photo below, noticing all the little details that you can.What does it make you think of, feel, or picture? Write down your thoughts.
Now, using your inspiration from some or all of your gleanings from the input above, write something in response. Maybe even craft your words into a poem or a song that expresses the journey He led you on. Invite the Lord to draw out your true heart and voice! (If you’d rather not respond with writing, feel free to change to a different creative medium of your preference!)