The Blessing of Your Story

I love names.

As a small girl, I would watch TV shows until the very end and then read through every last name in the credits. Well, as many as I could read before they disappeared into the top of the television screen, or until someone changed the channel! I was interested in the different job titles, but my main fascination was reading the many names that scrolled up the screen. I knew the names represented people, destinies and intrinsic value. I sometimes wondered about the story behind the names. Who were they, where were they from and who would they become? But mostly I found the names themselves interesting.

It is no surprise to me that God sometimes speaks to me about people using their names. Sometimes the meaning of their name is significant, or they share a name with a real or fictional person which can be a springboard into something about them. For example, someone shared their last name with the secret identity of a comic superhero. From this God started to tell me that she was not insignificant; God saw her and she had the capacity to do whatever God had called her to. Another time I saw someone whose name meant crown or garland and I knew God was speaking words of elevation and blessing over them. What brought about this post was perhaps a first. While on my laptop I came across a name that stood out to me so strongly that I looked up the meaning. Rather than God telling me about the person, God used the name to speak to me about me - and about you. The name that caught my attention means 'person of story'. The Holy Spirit began to show me that I am a person of story, you are a person of story. We all have stories to tell and this is God's intention and design. Being alive means we experience things.

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." (Romans 8:28 NLT).

Therefore, these experiences - the good, the bad, the ugly - are all opportunities to be aware of the goodness and faithfulness of God in our lives.

In Revelations 12:11 NKJV we see that the saints "overcame [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death." We overcome the enemy by the shed blood of Jesus AND by telling the story of God in our lives. How amazing is that? The blood of Jesus is incredibly powerful and transformative, and it is listed alongside our testimonies as what was used to subdue, conquer, overcome, prevail against and get victory over the devil (see Strong's Definitions G3528).

Fearless

The last part of the verse means they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die. This is a reminder and perhaps a challenge to be fearless in telling our story. Sometimes we may feel like we might just die of embarrassment or shame if people knew what we had been through, or what we are currently going through. This is a lie of the enemy. The truth is that when we use our story to share our testimony we will experience life. Jesus said, "The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." John 10:10 (NLT). Every time we step out in spite of the devil's lies we walk into God's purpose and experience His life. This is why the devil wants to stop us from telling our story. Knowing this truth will set us free from whatever lies we may believe about telling our stories (see John 8:32). Someone is waiting for you and me to tell our stories. When they hear them they will experience breakthrough, be encouraged or inspired, or receive insight or direction. When we tell our story or testify, we will also experience these things for ourselves. Sometimes, while telling my own story, I gain insight while talking. I hear myself speaking and I am encouraged and truly blessed by a revelation of who God is and how faithful God is. Other times, while testifying, things I already knew sink in more deeply. This is the blessing of our story. Through telling the story to benefit others we reveal the treasures hidden within to them and to ourselves. Treasures of revelation, of faith, and of light in the darkness.

You are a 'person of story'. God has made you this way on purpose. This means there is blessing in your story.

Blessing in Action - The Blessing of Your Story

Look over your life, past and present, and start to record the story of God in your life. I know that this activity will bless you. Here are some points to help:

• Write down any experiences that came to mind as you read this

• Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal and remind you of ways God has been faithful in your life

• Carefully look for what God has done in you and through you as you have journeyed through life

• Think about what you know about God and consider the experiences that taught you this

• Consider positive experiences as well as painful ones because every story has ups and downs and there are things to learn from both

Finally, this is not a one-time activity. Regularly and intentionally spend time discovering and uncovering the story of God in your life.