Core Scripture: “It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.” (Daniel 4:2)

Message: Monkey King was delicious.  I love Asian food—well, I love most all foods to be real—and I jump at any opportunity to inhale it.  When my good friend Logan, aka Logi Bear, aka the guy I wrote about on my blog a few weeks ago, suggested we go there for lunch a few days ago, it was a done deal!

This lunch date was a long time coming.  I had told him I wanted to share my testimony with him about how I came to Christ.  Last week he balked at joining me, saying he needed to save up a little more money to eat out.  I came to realize that the story being shared was worth a lunch out, and the Lord nudged me to offer to pay. 

Money should not be a factor to share something so precious.

I was looking for the right segway to get into my story but never found it.  Conversation was centered around Logan’s background and the faith he grew up with.  One question led to the next, and before we knew it, we were both nearly done with lunch. 

“Sooo, I wanted to share my story with you,” I began.

A look of relief swept over his exhausted face. 

“I was wondering when we were going to get to that!” he chuckled.  “Clint, you have no idea how hard it was for me to stay at work today.”

I knew we were both tired from working ten hours from 1:20 to 11:50 am, but I had no clue what Logan had been tempted with.  His sleep-deprived body craved precious rest, and he admitted he almost left work early on multiple occasions.  At one point he even pleaded with a friend to give him reasons to stay.

But Logan knew the real answer.  He had given me his word that he would do lunch, and he had wanted to hear my story.  It was the carrot dangled before him to power him through that Amazon shift, and there we were, almost done with lunch, and STILL no story. 

Not gonna lie, I was running on empty myself, but I started right in.  I am guessing it took another half hour or so.  The server probably wondered when we would wrap up, but it was worth it.  SO worth it!  My only regret is that we did not have time to get to the most glorious part of my story.  I focused too much on the past and not enough on how God changed my life today. 

Some other day.

I am man enough to admit that we both wept.  My story is anything from a normal tale, and Logan kept telling me he never would have expected this to be true as I drove him home.  More of his background came out.  Details of his past were haunting him.  As I dropped him off, I realized Logan needed to know about our loving God that is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love (Exodus 34:6-7).

Some other day.

The success of my story being told led me to practice a more concise, generic version with my friends Sam, Jora, and Ashley at Amazon over break time the following day.  My delivery was decent, but the story lacked the emotional component from the day before.  That was okay.  Weeping in the break room would have been a little much.

I crave time to share my story with others now.  The newest member of our Saturday morning Bible study, Mike, needs to hear it.  I am thinking about sharing it with an old childhood friend that I haven’t seen in ages.  And I am wondering if God is calling me to open my mind to share it with even more people that I haven’t even thought of yet.

What about you?  What is your story?  How did you get to know Jesus on a personal level?  What path led you to be saved?  And the most important question of all, who have you told that story to recently?  The power of a well-told story can change someone’s life. 

Forever.

If that doesn’t fire you up to share your testimony, you need to awaken from your spiritual funk!  Here are a few quick tips along with some truths and advice on doing so …

1. Practice, practice, practice.  You will not get it right the first time, and the more you practice, the better you will get.  The first time I shared my story, it was a scattered train wreck that had no direction, but I have perfected it through the years. 
2. Every story is worth sharing.  A lie Satan will whisper to you is that your story is too ordinary or not dynamic enough.  That is hogwash.  Not every story will be dramatic, but each person’s story is unique and tailored to change someone’s life.  Your job is to find that person.
3. Have different versions.  Your testimony can be shared so many ways.  I have a generic version that skips over private, sensitive details.  I have the raw, lengthy version.  I have a five-minute version, an elevator version, and a sit-down-and-have-lunch version.  One of my favorite written versions is here: https://www.1millionstories.org/stories/337.  I encourage you to share your own story on that website.
4. Pray about who needs to hear it.  Life brings so many beautiful relationships.  It could be a colleague.  It could be a family member.  Someone on a sports team you are affiliated with.  A neighbor.  A new church friend.  Heck, it could be the waitress at the local restaurant that serves you.  If you ask God whom to share with, He will reveal it to you.
5. Be prepared with the big three.  The big three are the three parts of your life.  Make it simple.  You have a life before Christ, you have a story of salvation, and you have a life after Christ.  Break down those three categories.  Write out what you want to say.  There is no shame taking those notes with you when you share your story.

I love Paul’s story.  He shares it with a passion and reckless abandon that can only be described as wholeheartedly unashamed.  Paul says, “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile” (Romans 1:16).  He shares his story broadly with pretty much anyone.  Read through the book of Acts and you will discover it.

Who needs to hear your story?  What are you going to do about that?

Challenge: Prayerfully consider who needs to hear your story.  Make an appointment to connect with someone soon.  Expose your heart to them and let them know the purpose of WHY you live for Jesus.  My own personal challenge is for you to share a quick version of your testimony here.  Click the reply button below, and tell me how you came to Christ.

Song application: “My Story” by Big Daddy Weave

If I told you my story
You would hear Hope that wouldn’t let go
And if I told you my story
You would hear Love that never gave up
And if I told you my story
You would hear Life, but it wasn’t mine

If I should speak then let it be
Of the grace that is greater than all my sin
Of when justice was served and where mercy wins
Of the kindness of Jesus that draws me in
Oh, to tell you my story is to tell of Him

Video application: I created this video seven years ago for FCA, and it is worth watching if you want guidance in sharing your story. 

Just for fun: My wife and I were laughing last week about something my 13-year-old said 11 years ago.  His little two-year-old mind couldn’t wrap itself around cleaning up his toys.  The conversation went somewhat like this:

“Time to pick up your toys.”

“No.”

“Yes, it is, sir.  Don’t give me that attitude.”

“Dis is my house!”

“No, this is our house.  You don’t pay the mortgage or anything.  You get to live here for free.”

“I not free!  I two!”

Prayer: Lord, give me wisdom on whom to share my story with, and when You reveal that person, let me proclaim it unashamedly!  Amen.