A Story Bigger Than You and Me

A thought I've had on and off for years grabbed me again this morning:  

Wouldn't it be great to live a life story so compelling only God could claim credit for it? 

In the Old Testament, God had a reputation. It would have been absurd to claim personal credit for the parting of the Red Sea or for the collapse of the walls of Jericho.  The people of God were caught up in events so big only God could plausibly get credit.

Jesus' life is another example. In the early church there were miracles to be sure, but their extreme generosity and self-sacrifice turned heads.

Part of me wants to write my own script (okay, a big part of me does).  But if I write my story, it will be pretty small.  I'm not talking about fame or renown (it's not that kind of "big" I'm talking about). I'm just saying on my own strength I can accomplish about an ounce of good.  God could accomplish an avalanche of good through any of us, if we let him. He can write stories I could never write.

The problem with a lot of North American Christianity is that our stories are too small.  We're less into life-change and more into life modification or amendment.  We prefer order to disorder, predictability to unpredictability and control to surrender.

So what story do you think God might want to write in you?  Struggling with mood?  Surrender it.  He could use you to bring joy.  Struggling with your marriage?  Surrender and let him write a new chapter...heck, a new book.  Struggling at work?  Let him change you.  Your church boring or stuck? Give it back to God.  It was his in the first place.

My prayer today is this: God, give me a story only you can write.  Whatever that looks like or what it accomplishes is up to you.  But give me (and our community) a story that only you can write.

What's your prayer? 

Comments

[Michael]

Thanks Carey,,,strong very strong