We have all felt shame or wanted to hide when we think of past mistakes. But here is the truth: Your story is more powerful than you know.
I'm studying Pixar and thinking of you and me.
Pixar has a recurring formula that goes like this:
There is a character with a “worthy opponent.” This oppositional force transforms the character so that they access something and become something superior to who they were.
Don't ever HIDE or cover up your story; it has power to inspire others. The “blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony” refers to the power of God to redeem you out of a challenge (Revelation 12:11). It's how you overcome the devil. So what story are you rehearsing to yourself?
The older I get the more I believe that all mankind has common struggles, private doubts and wounds. The people who can tell their story—their testimony—about a chapter of life with courage and grace create a safe place for others to exist. Your story empowers others to come to terms with their own story.
When you “own” your story in a healthy and redemptive way you give others permission to be “real.” You create a psychic space where people can be free to drop their masks and share without inhibition their real thoughts and feelings. It's like you fill the atmosphere with the oxygen of self acceptance when you can tell your story without shame.
Believers have a challenge in this regard. We live in an age of increasing lawlessness, so the last thing we want to do is to tell your story in a way that indicates that actions do not have consequences.
On the other hand, the only kind of atmosphere Jesus will really show up in is an atmosphere where disciples are practicing unpretentious unconditional acceptance toward each other.
It's not easy to explain. All I know is that the more you are free from the shame of the past, the more powerful you are. By power I mean self-possession. You are less fearful of what people think. You own all the parts of your life—even the worst parts—but none of them owns you! I love people who are successful and who, under the right circumstances, are honest about their weaknesses and the mistakes that made them who they are now. Such people inspire me.
Feel free to pass this on. Let’s be the best storytellers in culture!
Amen! I wrote my own story in a book as led by the Lord. It took 11 years to complete and ruffled some feathers in my immediate family. Holy Spirit had told me through many prophetic words to write it. It seemed like an impossible task, but I am glad it has finally been published and has encouraged many readers. I used a pen name and changed the names of people mentioned. My desire was to encourage others through my story of walking out forgiveness, discovering and renouncing lies, declaring truths and overcoming fear. My story continues as I step out in faith and shed the grave clothes of my old life. Praise God !!!🙌🙌
Wendy Arelis.( Lisare) ..” The Other Side of Fear. My Journey Into Perfect Love”
Sounds like a story many of us could identify with! Good on ya! (That’s an expression we use in Australia!)
This is the third time I have heard this theme this past week from 3 totally separate sermons or podcasts so I definitely know the Lord is speaking loud and clear, especially to me. I guess this is the 3rd witness that confirms this word…Thank you for sharing this. I know that I have been paralyzed to a degree from my past poor choices and the enemy has continued to throw it in my face. But I am now seeing how the Lord wants to use those mistakes to help others and to redeem them for His glory and for His kingdom! I am ready get out of the gauntlet that the enemy has had me in for years and say NO MORE!
Blessings to you and your family and ministry!
Best timing ever… as usual! 🥰
Currently packing up my life in boxes 📦 and suitcases 🧳 after separating from my husband (permanently this time!). Not exactly how I expected my life to turn out as a mature Christian in my 60’s (!), but still pursuing God’s faithfulness nevertheless, and conscious of His eternal commitment to fulfill my destiny (to HIS glory!) regardless. Looking forward to this next chapter in a new part of Queensland, before eventually taking a trip to USA next year… and reinventing my life. Life is CRAZY sometimes… that’s how we know we are only passing through… and this world is not our home! Hope this encourages someone today to keep moving forward with their eyes firmly fixed on JESUS! Blessings and love. x x x
Blessing your future in Jesus redeeming name….can relate…I’m living day by day in my new life too .He has exciting plans for us !
Shame of your past keeps you silent. We are blessed by the words of our testimony.
“I love people who are successful and who, under the right circumstances, are honest about their weaknesses and the mistakes that made them who they are now.”
I think it’s easier to be transparent when life has turned around and travelling well. For me I find much greater inspiration through those who are still stuck in the mire but are fully open about their failings and poor choices in the midst of the struggle.
Everything you wrote is truth. When not walking in the truth of my story I have no freedom. When I allow the shame of my past to cause me not to speak, I have no power. Praise Jesus for the blood that was shed on Calvary that enables me to speak truth from what He has done to give me my testimony (my story) to speak life into those He brings my way. In doing so, the speaker and the hearers experience both the freedom and power of the Holy Ghost. Thanks for speaking into my life, Lance. Prayering God’s continued blessing on you and yours!
Rather ‘strange’ or not!?
I was reviewing my life’s journey of soon 80 years and the how’s n why’s it has turned out the way it has!
Of course it could have turned out very differently had I known, at the time of making a choice, what I know today!
The awesome difference is that, instead of just making a choice, I first ask for guidance from above!
The greatest gift one can receive is that of Prayer and knowing its power in the making of choices..the results of which follow one through this earthly life!♡
Lance,
I believe this to be one of your most powerful messages. I hope, I wish that you will share this with President Trump. It is always his past that Liberals wish to put forth as why he is not qualified to be America’s president. His past with the forgiveness of God by the blood of Jesus is why he qualified. Those that have become fools, now worship creation instead of the Creator, are now “left” with a reprobate mind, Romans 1. That is a mind that does not work, which is the mind of the president that is not president. The Liberal mind does not function thus best for believers to be cautious not to throw their pearls to liberals. Thank you Lance.
There is always a way to tell your story with redemption as the focus – both for yourself and for others.
Jeremiah 2:13 For My people have committed two evils:
They have forsaken Me,
The fountain of living waters,
To hew for themselves cisterns,
Broken cisterns
That can hold no water.
The broken cisterns that can hold no water, reminds me of my childhood when my mother turned to alcohol to deal with her fear of devastating lost caused by bankruptcy of the family business and it resulted in just 10 years, her death at the age of 50 years. Her choice to turn to alcohol caused me to hate it and not ever start drinking and I realize later in my life like Blaise Pascal stated “There is a God-shaped vacuum in every heart of every person and it can never be filled by any created thing. It can only be filled by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus Christ.”
Being religious and self righteous and thinking that I was good enough because at one point in my life, I had a 3 letter agency security clearance:
The way Jesus led me to recognize my own most urgent need was through a haunting Holy Spirit dream where I was sitting in darkness and I could see inside of me and the darkness was greater than the darkness I was in and I notice that my body cast a shadow which meant there was light and look over to the right and there was door cracked open and the light was shinning in the darkness. I had that dream only 3 times in a 4 year period.
The last time I had it was in August 1976 and it was on Saturday night. The next morning on that Sunday I was ironing clothes and watch TV. In Columbia, SC there were only 3 stations and I happened on a church service of First Baptist Church, where Dr. Ed Young was reading John 1:1-5 and when he read the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it, I knew that was the true answer to my dream, because I did not comprehend the darkness and then he went to Revelation 3:20 Behold I (Jesus) stand at the door and knock: If anyone hears My Voice and opens the door I will come in to him and will dine with him and he with ME.
Needless to say, we were in church the next Sunday and I was saved in December 1976, holding our first child in my arms. I know many people prayed for my salvation, especially the fervent prayers of my mother in law. They must have been praying scriptures like Job 33:15-18 , Acts 26:18, Acts 2:17. Luke 1:78-79. And because of the tender mercies of the LORD God in saving me and the Holy Spirit in dwelling teaching me the Word of God and how to pray for others and Bible studies. I learned that God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than we could ever think and that He is able to keep His Word and promises. Life is not easy because we live in a fallen world but Jesus promised never to leave us or forsake us. I have seen Him rescue and deliver my family from many snares of the enemy. His grace is amazing and overflowing and His mercies new every day.