From Inspiration to Action

Have you ever heard a speaker, watched a movie or listened to a podcast and been inspired? Inspired to change the world, begin guitar lessons or try a new recipe?

Inspiration is a great thing. We all need to be inspired, but if we don’t see action then the inspiration is only information. And information (like education) without action is only filling brain space.

Inspiration doesn’t mean completion  it means, “I’m beginning”.

Inspiration doesn’t mean perfection it means, “I’m working on it”.

Inspiration doesn’t mean successful it means, “I’m trying”.

Inspiration is what starts the ball rolling. It’s the beginning of something great – either personally or for the world to see.

Action is often the splash of cold water on our face as the reality sets in with sore fingertips after our first guitar lesson. Or the tip for the pizza delivery person when the new recipe fails drastically. However, action is the first step forward. Action is what moves it from the inspiring thought to the process towards the goal. Action is what causes us to apply for a course at school and begin walking towards the degree.

I am reminded of the woman with the issue of blood who, in a wall to wall crowd of people, touched Jesus’ robe and was healed. Mark gives us a bit of insight into the intentionality of her actions.

“A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse. She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him through the crowd and touched his robe. For she thought to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.” Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition. Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my robe?”  His disciples said to him, “Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can you ask, ‘Who touched me?’” But he kept on looking around to see who had done it. Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of him and told him what she had done. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.” Mark 5:25-34 (NLT)

Luke 8:46 says, “But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me””

The word 'deliberately' gives such a clear picture of the intentionality of this woman. She obviously tried many options to cure her ailment and nothing but touching the robe of Jesus healed her - immediately. There is no question the crowds gathered around Jesus because they had heard of him, they had seen him and people were definitely changed when they encountered him. This woman had a significant issue, she heard about Jesus and took the intentional steps to reach Him.

I’m not sure what words God has been whispering in your ear lately, what nudging you have felt in your heart or what doors have been opening up to you, but it begins with the inspiration and then the move to action before the completion is seen.

Let’s be moved from inspiration, towards action, so we can be part of God’s hand of completion.

Jo-Ann