The Power of Our Stories

And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. For nothing will be impossible with God. Luke 1:36,37 (New American Standard Bible)

I love the “she who was _______ is now _______” stories in the Bible! There were so many of them you know. Here are a few: He who was blind now sees. He who was lame now walks. He was deaf now hears. He who was mute now speaks. He who had leprosy is now clean. He who was demon possessed is now free. He who was lost is now found. He who was dead now lives. After a list like that we can truly proclaim with joy, “NOTHING is impossible with God!!!!

The stories of God’s redemptive touch are meant to re-ignite our faith. When I know someone has walked the road I presently travel and I see how God worked in their situation, my view of God is enlarged and my confidence in His ability to work in my situation is increased. That is one reason it is so necessary for us to share our stories! There is power in our stories that can impact lives far more than we ever thought possible.

There is a woman I know whose story continually encourages me in my walk with God. She doesn’t even resemble the person she use to be. What attracted me most to her story was that so much of what she use to be was what I was at the moment. It was like looking in a mirror. I could relate with everything she said about being empty, legalistic, needy, and frustrated. Her former view of God was a mirror of mine. To her, He use to seem harsh, unloving, tolerant, distant, and uninvolved. She too thought she had to somehow earn God’s love for her and acceptance of her. But her story did not end there. Now she is a woman who revels in God’s love, dances in her freedom, and lives her life passionately connected to His heart. So when I look at where I am in my Christian life and where I want to be, she becomes my personal reminder that this too is possible with God.

I want to encourage two different groups today. Some of you have stories that other people need to hear. You will be the one God uses to give them hope in their “hopeless” situation. They will see themselves in you and regain a belief that God can rewrite their story. Others of you need to hear some stories. Ask God to intersect you with just the right person.

Father, may we learn the value of sharing each other’s stories. They possess power far beyond our wildest imaginations. Amen.

With All I Am - Hillsong
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMrAafe7Mns

Getting into God's Word and letting God's Word get into me one truth at a time.

Telling What He Has Done

Come and hear, all who fear God, and I will tell of what He has done for my soul. Psalm 66:16 (New American Standard Bible)

Look back over any period in your life and try to discern what God has done for your soul as a result of that time. Think of the lessons learned, the steps taken, and the growth that resulted. God’s desire is that we share it with others. Why? So that their view of God is enlarged and He is glorified. Can you identify moments in your life that would do that? Are you willing to tell someone about it?

I find that the most precious conversations can arise from the most difficult trials and testings we have been through. To sit with another individual and share with them the things that you thought would do you in and what God accomplished through all of it. Not just the painful moments of life, but the failures and weaknesses as well. Sad to say, too many believers are still trying to put on a brave front that says I am getting through this life without skinned knees and bruised elbows. They wouldn’t dare let someone know about their places of vulnerability, regrets, hurts, and struggles. Hence, the things they have learned remain a secret as well. Their “mannequin” life keeps others at a safe distance and their story of what God has done continues to be untold. Oh the richness that is lost when that is the case.

I think of King David and how his words of reveling in God’s forgiveness are so profound because we are told of his adultery and murder that needed the forgiveness. I think of how the reception the prodigal son received is so touching because we know of his waywardness. Time and time again God displayed His work in lives on the backdrop of dark moments in those lives. And He desires to do the same with us.

I have individuals in my life who rejoice with me as God brings me through my own journey of freedom from emotional dependency. They know the specific struggles and cheer me on as each step of victory is taken. That wasn’t always the case. Shame and embarrassment kept that part of my life a secret for too long. Now it is with joy that I share the things God has done for my soul in the midst of it. The lessons I am learning and the growth that is resulting are being freely shared because they are meant to be shared. Transparency and authenticity mark our life when we dare to admit we are human but serve an incredible God! Merely telling of the struggles would be morbid and of little value. But when we share how God has worked in all of it and what He has accomplished, the sharing comes alive with meaning and power. May I never stop doing that!

Father, Your work in me is worth sharing. And that sharing is more powerful when people know the story behind the story. May my transparency reveal Your workmanship. Amen.

Telling Your Story

And Gehazi said, ‘My lord, O king, this is the woman and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life.’ When the king asked the woman, she related it to him. 2 Kings 8:5,6

The Shunammite woman has sought an audience with the king. She has just returned from a seven year absence due to a famine in her home land about which Elisha had warned her. She plans to make a request of the king for the return of her property. But she has entered his presence at a time when Elisha’s servant is actually telling the king about God raising her son from the dead! Upon learning this is the woman, the king asks her to share her story and she does. I am sure it is a story she has already told countless times and has never tired of sharing it. Her story was one of God allowing her barren womb to conceive a son, that son dieing later on, and then that son being brought back to life. Not only must she have enjoyed sharing it but so did God as He had it recorded in Scripture for future generations to read.

Each of us have stories living in us. Many of us will never stand before audiences to tell of God’s intervention, provision, and power in our own lives but there will be opportunities to share our stories with individuals. What God has done in us can restore hope to another person’s situation. As we share, we are saying in essence, “The God of the universe is personally involved in not only my life but in yours as well.” God does not mean for us to keep the stories to ourselves. Each time we tell them they come alive and infuse truth into another person’s life. I cannot tell you the number of times I have listened to a person’s story only to walk away and say to myself, “If God can do that for that person, He can work in my life as well!”

The stories recorded in Scripture are meant to reveal truth to us about God. They show us who He is, what He is like, what He can do, and how He works. Today, God wants to use each of us who know Him to continue to reveal Him to others by telling our stories of His involvement in our life. May we do so with gratitude and passion!

Father, I love to tell the stories of my salvation and finding freedom in Christ. Right now You are writing a new story that I don’t know the ending of yet. As people come across my path may those stories live with power as I share them. Amen.

Stories That Serve a Purpose

You who are far away, hear what I have done; and you who are near, acknowledge My might. Isaiah 33:13 NASB

I have a friend with whom I could listen to for hours and never tire of her stories. When she speaks I pay close attention to her words because I want to gain insight into her life. I walk away from each conversation knowing more of how God has worked in her life. It restores the hope in me that God is working in my life as well.

God puts a lot of stock in the importance of learning about Him and His work. Whether it is something I hear from His Word, a sermon, a friend, a book, or a song, as I take in the messages my view of God is enlarged. God wants me to be attentive and alert to the things He wants to teach me about Himself. That is one reason we have the wonderful accounts in Scripture recorded for us. His Word is His own testimony of His character as well as His accomplishments. But He did not stop when the last verse was written.

Each of us have stories to tell of how God intersected our world at pivotal moments. Those stories are meant to be shared...whether with one individual or many. Each time I hear of God's mighty work in someone's life, His intent is that I would know the same God is at work in me. When I see Him turn impossible situations to favorable ones in the lives of others, my faith is boosted that there is still hope for my own situation.

But it doesn't stop with hearing about His works. It is then imperative to acknowledge what I've heard. The stories are most affective when I take what I hear, agree with it, and see God's right and authority to act on my behalf. To begin to take notice of what He has done, is doing, and will do in my life, is to begin on a journey of great proportion.

So what are the things I acknowledge about God today? When I hear another's story, what revelation of God will be a result of it? The word acknowledge has the word knowledge in it. This reminds me that I must first be aware of something before I can truly acknowledge it.

Father, my ears are open to hear You today. Your voice will travel through many vehicles to reach me. May I be attentive to all You have to say. Amen.