Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. (Hebrews 12:1)
“If you don’t recount your family history, it will be lost. Honor your own stories and tell them too. The tales may not seem very important, but they are what binds families and makes each of us who we are.”
Madeleine L’Engle
What makes a story worth retelling over and over again?
Stories Matter
Is there a story from your family history that gets retold at almost every family event? Recently a group of us were recounting stories from The Blizzard of ‘93. I told a funny story about my nephew that always gets a laugh. It, of course, all started with discussions of hurricane Helene and the approaching hurricane Milton. We tell stories of lessons learned and moments of God’s grace and providence. The greatest story we can ever tell is our testimony, but people often forget that our testimony is always growing as we grow as Christians. Today’s “little” miracle is as much a part of your story as your initial salvation.
Today’s Story
Today, for instance, I looked at my bank balance (which was in the red), the $4 in my purse, and the gas hand on my car knowing that it did not add up. The gas hand showed enough to get me to work but not a round trip, and I needed enough to get me to work and back as well as Wednesday night services at church. The $4 dollars would only buy maybe 1 1/2 gallons at best. The company credit card was an option, but I had been praying about not relying on it, so with a prayer I stopped at the gas station and put $4 worth of gas in my car.
When I started the engine, the gas hand barely budged. I pulled out onto the road and as I drove, I prayed that the gas in my tank would go further than it had ever gone. As I continued toward work, the hand began moving…toward full instead of empty. When I got to work, the gas hand was still above where it had been when I stopped for gas. I had enough for a round trip to work, a round trip to church, and still had enough that the warning light had not come on yet. That is a story worth retelling.
Retelling the Story
It was a story about:
- God’s Power – Only God can make a gas hand go toward full while you are driving.
- God’s Providence – I only had $4, but God arranged for me to have the money at the right time.
- God’s Promises – God said if we would ask, we would receive. I prayed for guidance and blessing of the gas I put in my tank, and it was more than enough.
Legacy Story
When we remember what God has done for us, it gives us a new perspective on our current situation, especially if it is a difficult time. Sharing these stories with others is also a way to inspire or encourage them. Retelling our stories to the next generation is also a means of building a legacy of faith that we can hand down to them so that they will see the power of God and choose the narrow path.
So, what’s your story? What has God done for you lately that you can’t wait to share with someone? How have you seen His power, providence, and promises at work in your life?
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