The Rest of Your Story 26: What's your Story Statement?

*  The 21- day challenge started on part 11 of the series. That's why the numbers are higher than 21.

A Story Statement is a lot like a Mission Statement. I like the word "story" because it implies creativity and freedom as well as reminding me that God is the Author.

Whatever you call it, the purpose is the same: to bring focus and intention to our stories.

There are many ways to write a Story Statement. Let's start with the simplest. 

Think back on everything we've covered: Strengths, Skills, WWW. Then create a sentence with this structure...

To bring + (what) + (who) + (how)

Mine: To bring hope and encouragement to the hearts of women through words.

(You can change "bring" to another verb if it helps.) 

We'll talk about how to add more to our Story Statements later.

How we live this statement will change many times during our story.

For example, I have pitcher that I love. I've used it to pour lemonade, water, and tea. I've used it at parties, for my husband, and with family at the holidays.

If that pitcher said, "I'm just made to pour iced tea on Saturdays" then it would only partially understand its purpose.

That pitcher might feel like a failure if I wanted to use it to serve orange juice on Sunday mornings instead. But I would be happy about it.

God calls us His "vessel." That means we'll express our Story Statement in various situations, amounts, and times. The words we write down aren't meant to confine us but rather to bring focus and then set us free to be used by God however He chooses.

For example, speaking encouragement to a tired cashier is just as much living out my life story statement as writing a book that will be read by thousands.

What God wants most in our stories is our hearts. After all, It's not about the size of the word but the meaning behind it.

Big or small, He can use it all.

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TODAY: Write a one sentence rough draft of your life story statement. (Use the structure above or your own way and spend less than 5 minutes on it.)

Every comment during the 21-day challenge = an entry for $50 to DaySpring.com, including the (in)courage shop!

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Comments

[Robyn]

Iv'e found today's -I think?!



Then create a sentence with this structure...To bring + (what) + (who) + (how) :-

To Call forth- Lonely Christian single's- through emails, telephone calls- to various regular social event!

Robyn xx

[Margie]

To bring God's living word to anyone I meet by how I live my life.

[Becky]

Dear Holley,

I think I have mine, too.

Then create a sentence with this structure...To bring + (what) + (who) + (how)

Mine: To share God's love as well as how His love has changed me to God's people in whatever creative way I can.

Thank you, Holley. I never imagined that my story statement would seem so important. :)

Blessings!

[Sal]

Thanks for putting it so simply yet beautifully Holley!

I think mine is:

To bring hope and joy to fellow pilgrims, through my words and as I try to reflect His love through example.

[Beth]

Actually, I did not realize my statement has been a prayer for years.Mine has been:I hope to bring others to Him through the love that I show and share.It's amazing how often we pray that our prayers are a light into who we are, what we think, what's in our hearts. Not everyone's prayers are the same. I think this has been my Mission.

[Carol]

Thanks Holley for helping me focus on the spiritural again, the mission God has for me. Through the years, hearing the word HOPE brought to my heart hope, lifting me out of depression, anger, self-pity, into hope and purpose again. Recently I started to make cards that focused on Hope. After making and giving away a few, the Lord showed me that I needed to believe that Hope for myself first, and then pass it on in several different forms: handmade cards, making a phone call, or visiting a friend, living His hope and praying for, my children, grandchildren, or in my home with my husband. I just need to remember to let God do the leading and choosing of how His love will be brought home:)

So my Life Story (Mission) Statement will go something like this:

To give Hope, Encouragement, Peace and Joy to whoever God puts in my life, even for the smallest moment, leading each one toward the love in Christ.

I'm sure the ways God has me do this will be changed, and that I can do only because "I can do all things through Christ Jesus, who strengthens me." and that beats anything I can try to do through my own self-righteousness.

[Sheila Buchanan]

To allow God to lead me in making life changes through prayer, reading His Word, and through the people that He puts in my life.

This statement is quite profound to me for I have always wanted to have the "control", but I think I have finally "got it" and am allowing HIM to lead and direct all my choices and decisions.

[Grace]

Paul Says it Best..Grace to You and Peace from God Our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ....Christ is My "How" every day:D

[Cari]

As usual, timely and perfect Holley!

My Story Statement:

To bring connection and covenant friendship to women through the spoken and written word.

[Carol]

To provide direction, security and comfort to my family by meeting their needs as a Godly wife and mother.

To empower and encourage the women in my life to know the peace and joy of being in relationship with God by sharing my life’s story of both defeats and victories.