Faith

The Power of a Good Story

I recently shared about Sustaining Hope with a friend of mine. She has been an incredible mentor to me over the years. She reminded me of the importance of sharing stories of how God has been at work in our lives. It’s what leaves a lasting influence and impact on people’s hearts. The Lord wants us to share His work because it brings glory back to Him, which is what we’re all created to do.

Your story of God’s work will inspire someone else to hear from Him in her own life, and be courageous to follow what He’s leading her to do. It can help save lives, bring people out of sin, and encourage others to keep fighting this good fight.

My friend is an excellent story-teller. She often has me at the end of my seat, drawn into her every word. She is a missionary and understands the importance of sharing God’s work that’s happening around the world. Her stories have fueled my fire for Jesus many times. It’s reminded me that there are brothers and sisters in Christ around the world fighting for Him. It helps me to do the same.

You should have at least one older person offering wisdom and counsel to you. She has with me often, and in turn, she has others investing into her life. Another missionary sent her the following outline to remember:

Originally written by Jack Popjes (Canadian, retired SIL)

#1, Recognize:
God want His people to recognize when He does something in our lives, family, and church. We need to see it, notice it, and think about what He has done.
Ps. 66:5. “Come and see what God has done, His awesome deeds for mankind.”
Ps. 143:5, “I meditate on all your works, and consider what your hands have done.”

#2, Remember:
God wants us to remember, and not forget, what He has done for us.
Ps. 77:11, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord, yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
Hebrews 10:31-33, “Remember those earlier days after you had received the light when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering.”
Deut. 8:2, “Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years.”
Mark 8:17, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you have eyes but fail to see and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you Remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?
(The word ‘Remember’ occurs well over two-hundred times in the Bible.)

#3, Repeat:
God wants us to tell, teach, and pass on the stories of what He did.
Deut. 4:9, “Do not forget the things your eyes have seen. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.”
Exod. 10:2, Then the Lord said to Moses, “Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart so that I may perform these signs of mine among them so that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians.
Ps. 71:18, Don’t put me aside when I am old and grey. Let me tell future generations about Your mighty power.

#4, Record:
God wants us to write out a record of the story. We need to tell our God-stories in a permanent form to live on long after we are dead and gone.
Ps. 102:18, “Let this be written for a future generation, so that a people not yet created may praise the Lord.
Moses and other Old Testament writers wrote stories about what God did for His people.
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John wrote the Gospels and the book of Acts as written records.

Your God stories are important and should be recognized, remembered, repeated, and recorded. They should be declared because of the work the Lord has done in and among you. Your life isn’t just about you. We’re all formed as one family and one body, knit together to bring to life God’s perfect plan.

This is why I wrote, Sustaining Hope. There are parts that make me nervous to share because it is raw and honest. I am vulnerable in this book because I want you to realize you’re not alone in the struggles you face. This book gives a window into my life the last nine years. However, it also declares the awesome presence of God and the ways He walked with me and delivered Michael and I from our adversities.

I pray that it increases your hope in Christ, that your eyes are open to where He’s working in your story, and inspires you to share your story too. We are working on developing an opportunity to give you a place to do just that. Stay tuned in the next few months for more detail and be thinking of which story you’d like to share.

Share this:

Leave a Reply