Where can I find inspiration?

To me, inspiration is something that sets your entire being ablaze when you hear, read, see, or feel it! It’s like a ray of sunshine that lights up your mind and emotions, compelling you to do something good, something different, something phenomenal! Inspiration propels people forward, lifts their heads, and makes them want to run with enthusiasm!  It brings out the very best you.

I don’t read, hear, or view many inspirational messages today. It’s not conveyed much on television, in movies, in music lyrics, in printed books, or in newspapers. And, surely, inspiration is rarely found online. Unfortunately, it appears that messages of negativity, hopelessness, despair, entitlement, anger, hatred, and rage have taken precedence in our society. Evil upon evil clouds our minds, our hearts, our hopes, and our dreams. Where then can we find any inspiration today?

Inspiration by Ellie is a blog I hope will help. Its intent is to bring inspiration to your life by considering truths found in God’s word, the Bible. God’s word is filled with good news which offers hope, encouragement, support, forgiveness, unity, acceptance, mercy, and, most of all, love. It offers solutions for many of the societal ills we witness and experience.

The Bible was written by inspiration. In his book, Introducing Christian Doctrine, Millard Erickson defines biblical inspiration as “that supernatural influence of the Holy Spirit upon the writers which rendered their writings an accurate record of the revelation for which resulted in what they wrote actually being the word of God” (Erickson, 2001). Revelation brings to the world God’s truth. In inspiration, that truth is relayed from a first recipient to others.

There are five theories of inspiration noted in Erickson’s text—one being the verbal theory. The verbal theory implies that the influence of the Holy Spirit’s direction superseded the writers’ thoughts but also chose the words to convey the message. The Holy Spirit’s work was intense and therefore produced the exact wording. This I am able to believe. As Jesus said, “I always do what pleases the Father…” Why not then also believe the biblical authors during that time were writers who always wrote what pleases the Father? We recognize the Holy Spirit’s unusual, fierce, and powerful personality in the Upper Room in Acts 2. So, we should be able to believe His power so inspired the writers at that moment, that they literally wrote His very words in such a way that they themselves could not comprehend what was happening through them.

This verbal theory, then, is suggesting that the Bible is the inerrant word of God, spoken to ancient biblical authors by the Holy Spirit of God to transmit to humanity the truth about God, the truth of God, and the truth in God.  It is an accurate document God chose to speak to mankind.

The online dictionary definition for inspire is:

• fill (someone) with the urge or ability to do or feel something, especially to do something creative
• create (a feeling, especially a positive one) in a person.
• animate someone with (such a feeling)
• give rise to

As such, Inspiration by Ellie’s blog seeks to present the truths given to ancient biblical authors and transmit them to you in a way that you are inspired. I welcome your thoughts, comments, and criticisms.

Welcome to my Blog!

Ellie