Who Is Your Greatest Inspiration?

Think about someone who has truly inspired you. Maybe it’s a mentor, a parent, a teacher, an athlete, or a close friend. What is it about them that moved you? Was it their character, their wisdom, their kindness, or the way they showed up when you needed help?

I have a friend who is one of the best attorneys I know. He is brilliant, hard-working, compassionate, ethical, and thorough. In a profession that can be highly adversarial, he remains humble and always treats others with civility. When I face a tough problem in my law practice, I often pause and ask myself, “What would he do?” And when the situation feels especially difficult, I know I can pick up the phone and call him. Even though he’s a busy, important man with many demands on his time, he is always willing to help. I trust his advice completely because he has proven himself faithful over and over again. He genuinely inspires me.

But as wonderful as human inspiration can be, isn’t it even more incredible that we can know the living God so personally that HE becomes our greatest inspiration?

How do we know when God has truly become the greatest inspiration in our lives? 

It’s simple: He becomes our greatest object of praise.

We naturally praise what we admire most. We talk about it, celebrate it, and lift it up. Is there anyone more worthy of our praise than God Himself? The Psalmist shows us exactly what this looks like in Psalm 146:

“Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. 

Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. 

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. 

The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the sojourners; He upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. 

The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!” 

Psalm 146:1-10

You see, the Psalmist had walked with God closely enough not only to see His faithfulness but also to be a recipient of it. He knew from experience that human leaders and princes eventually fail—their plans perish when they die. But God never fails. He is the Creator of everything and the One who sustains it all—including us. He defends the oppressed, feeds the hungry, frees prisoners, opens blind eyes, lifts up the discouraged, and cares for the lonely and the vulnerable. He reigns forever. 

The Psalmist’s praise wasn’t because God had not always been great—it was because the Psalmist had become enlightened to His greatness. This inspired great praise, as it should within any human who becomes more fully aware of God’s greatness.

When God becomes our greatest inspiration, our lives begin to reflect His greatness.

We admire His goodness, His perfect wisdom, His tender compassion, His unconditional love, and His unmatched power. We see Him as our great Champion—the One who fights for us, provides for us, and never leaves us. We cannot shut up about Him! He is what we think about, talk about, and live for. This verse becomes part of our very fiber and being:

“Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.” Psalm 147:5 

No human, no matter how impressive, compares to God. God is always available. He never grows weary. He never runs out of wisdom. And unlike even the best earthly friend, He knows every sordid detail of our lifes and still chooses to walk with us. Impressive! Humbling. Hard to wrap our minds around, right?

Ah, but God wants us to know Him. He wants to be our greatest inspiration. Why? Because when God is our center, instead of ourselves or someone else, our greatest desires are truly and completely satisfied!

Today, ask yourself: Who or what am I praising most with my thoughts, words, and time? When problems come, whose advice do I seek first? Whose character do I want to imitate? My friend, place God in the center of your life and allow Him to become your greatest inspiration. I promise, He will satisfy you like nothing else ever could, and unchecked praise of Him will flow from every part of your life. You will trust Him, depend on Him, and reflect His love, joy, peace, kindness, compassion, wisdom, and patience to others. 

Your life has the potential to be the greatest representation of what is most important to every human on earth: the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, You are great, powerful, and Your wisdom has no limit. Forgive me for the times I have looked to people, success, or my own strength for wisdom and strength instead of turning to You first. Help me to know You so deeply that You become my greatest inspiration. Let my life overflow with genuine praise for who You are—my Creator, my Helper, my Champion, and my faithful Friend. When I face challenges, remind me to ask, “What would glorify You in this situation?” When I feel overwhelmed, draw me close and show me Your wisdom and power. Make my heart quick to praise You in every season. I choose today to put my hope in You alone. Be the greatest inspiration of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.