Inspiration

Inspiration – Rev. 11 and 19

LIfe is full of its ups and downs, it’s a fact of life, indeed everyday has something to answer for- some for joy and some – well perhaps best forgotten.

Sometimes these situations make us laugh and even sing for joy, other times to just hold our heads in our hands in despair.

Each day offers a different challenge, some we have to face, others perhaps best forgotten.

In Zachariah the exiled people faced a destroyed temple and city - utter ruin, utter despair where could they get their inspiration.

Psalm 137 - By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion.

Its sometimes difficult to be positive when everything seems to be going wrong – we need inspiration, but where do we get it from.

But always remember it is far better to laugh than to cry - so don’t lose your sense of humour… it is important to have a positive approach to life.

The last thing we want is to end up in the cycle of depression which is so difficult to break free from.

We need inspiration, a light to lead us out of the gloom into the light of joy and love, happiness and a positive attitude to life itself.

Even Jesus suffered in this gloom of despair and endured pain, especially on the cross.

My God, My God why have You forsaken me?

In shouting out that verse from Psalm 22 Jesus showed that He was in-fact fulfilling the prophecy within that Psalm - it was not just a cry of despair.

Jesus knew where to turn when He wanted inspiration, His Father and the Scriptures.

Even Psalm 22 ends on a positive note and what follows in the book of psalms is even more positive and constructive – Psalm 23

LORD, You are my shepherd, I lack nothing.

You make me lie down in green pastures,

You lead me beside still waters,

You restore my soul.

You lead me in paths of righteousness for Your name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me! Your rod and your staff, they comfort me!

What do you do and where do you go when you want inspiration? – there are so many God given gift and resources that we can turn to:

• The beauty of nature and God’s creation

• Prayer and scripture – a real bounty

• The quiet and stillness we find here in Church

• Music and when you watch musicians they put their hearts and souls into their performance

• Our hymns the words are an inspiration and the music brings them to life

• Our friends and loved ones – especially the children

• …. The list is endless, we have so much to be thankful for!!

Something to fortify our prayer and faith - to give us confidence that everything will be OK, to be the result we believe to be the best solution?

We have to pause there - because as Christians we might know what we think is good for us but (and it's a big BUT) God knows what's best for us and it might be totally different to what we want or even expect.

In the words of the Master, Jesus said, 'Not my will be done but Your will be done.'

Our reading from the book of Revelation for me has the answer – God is in control, the kingdom is His and He will reign forever.

Revelation was written for a persecuted Church, those who feared for their lives, who lived in desperation, so they turned to God for inspiration.

The same is true today – we only have to watch the news to realise how lucky we are and how much we can thank God for.

When I was a student getting ready for the stressful anxiety of sitting exams - naturally I would pray wishing for success and a relatively stress free experience.

But I also needed inspiration - I needed to put my hand into the hand of God to lead me through this darkest valley.

I needed spiritual inspiration to boost my Confidence.

There is a beautiful collect that says it all for me, 'Go before us O Lord in this and all our doings with thy most gracious favour and further us with your continual help that in all our works begun, continued and ended in You we may glorify Your holy name and finally of Your mercy obtain everlasting life'

So what do you do to gain spiritual inspiration?

I love religious choral music the words and the music cut to the heart and the soul and takes our minds, thoughts and feelings to the realms above.