Inspire
Definition: Inspire (Merriam-Webster, 2024)
: to exert an animating, enlivening, or exalting influence on
: to influence, move, or guide by divine or supernatural inspiration
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Do you inspire? Inspire those around you to be the best version of themselves? Almost three years ago I was determined to both hold myself accountable and to inspire others to take their health more seriously. And so if you follow me, you know that I take a daily picture of my workout fit and of my workouts. This is to not boast but to do two things; hold me accountable to being the woman of my word that I am and to inspire, encourage, and uplift others to do the same: get up and active! Not only do I look to inspire, encourage, and uplift others concerning their physical well being but also their spiritual and mental well being. It has been pretty wild as I’ve had strangers, friends, and family share with me how inspiring I am. As a result of being inspired by my life, many have gone on to begin their fitness journey, grow closer to God, or desire more in their career. This has brought me great joy and I attribute my success as a result of the work ethic, dedication, and self-control, that I have had; knowing that none of it would be possible without the best decision I’ve ever made, which is to partner with God regarding all of it-spiritual, financial, physical, and mental health.
Throughout my life I have tried my best to be a true ambassador of Jesus Christ, by walking in love towards others. For God calls us to be, ”We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20 NIV).
It has been a journey of learning how to do this in balance, making sure that I don’t love others more than myself first. For the scriptures say, ”Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37-39 NLT).
Thus, in balance we are to not forget to love our brothers and sisters well! This life is not of our own and we are made in God’s image, called to bring Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. We are called to be ambassadors for Christ, representing Him well.
Does your life represent Jesus Christ well? Does it inspire, encourage, and uplift others to live out their God given purpose? Does it lead them closer to Christ? If not, I say not in judgment but in love, to make the necessary adjustments needed. Are your words life giving or of death? For we are called to a righteous standard of living, ”Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21 NKJV).
Please note, that just because we are called to a righteous standard of living, doesn’t mean that we will struggle daily with our imperfections. We are made in His image yes and He asks us to live righteously but understands we are of flesh as well and will make mistakes, ”for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes” (Proverbs 24:16 NIV).
Apostle Paul explains this further perfectly:
“But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin” (Romans 7:20-21, 23, 25 NLT).
So what does this all mean? That we are not perfect but made perfect in Christ. Without Him we are nothing but sinners, with Him we are saved, loved, and forgiven; ”But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (Peter 2:9 NKJV).
So again, I ask you, despite our imperfections, are you living a life that is glorifying to God? Are you inspiring, encouraging, and uplifting others by the way you live your life? Would you be deemed an ambassador of Christ? I encourage and challenge you to assess your life and make the necessary changes in order that you become all that God desires for you to be and has given you the strength to be through the power and glory of the Holy Spirit; “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you” (John 14:26 NKJV).
So go out and inspire! Encourage and uplift those around you. It is my hope that my life has done so for you.
Love,
Brya
