What God Story Might You Tell Today?

November 10, 2022

By Brooke Holt

“One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.” Psalm 145:4-7

What stories have inspired your life? Are they the stories of great war heroes such as General George Washington or Sargeant Lincoln Clem, social justice pioneers such as Martin Luther King or Rosa Parks, or great evangelists like Billy Graham or George Whitefield? Ponder those stories that have moved you through the years, then consider your own God story. What miraculous thing has the Lord done in your life? How has God intervened at just the right time? Has he rescued you from an addiction or trauma? Just as the stories of people in the past have inspired you, your story can inspire others.

In Psalm 145, King David calls the Israelites to tell their God stories. Why tell stories? It reminds them of God’s past faithfulness and inspires faith and hope in their fellow Israelites. David models this kind of lifestyle by declaring how great God is, how faithful he has been to the covenant he made with Abraham and his descendants, and how God has continually intervened on behalf of his people through mighty works. David knew that remembering God’s faithfulness, telling God stories, and praising God for his mighty work renewed faith and inspired worship.

David’s heart was to see God’s people live faithfully before the Lord. He longed for the temple to be filled with worship of the true King. David wanted everyone to know how glorious and mighty and good God was, is, and will always be. This was not just an ecstatic overflow of emotion that David sought for himself and his people, but praise that also flowed from knowledge of God’s truth. Notice how David meditated on the attributes and works of God. He wanted to know and love God with his whole being.

This complete knowledge and worship of the Lord are often lacking in our churches today. Some churches focus on knowing the truth about God. They are meticulous about doctrines and good theology. On the other side are the churches fixated on the emotional aspects of God. They are very demonstrative in their worship, prayer, and singing but not so consumed with studying God’s Word. David and, more importantly, the Lord would call us to worship with our minds and hearts, allowing the Holy Spirit to access every aspect of our being. When we surrender completely to the Lord, God comes to do his mighty work, and we have a new story to tell.

Reflection:

What is your God story, and who can you share that story with today? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Recommended Resource:

Awaken the awe and the wonder of Advent! “The King Is Coming” is a 4-week Advent devotional especially written with a child’s heart in mind. It takes families through the salvation story by focusing on who God is, the gift of Jesus, and the importance of celebrating and sharing that miraculous gift! Bring your family together this Advent season for a journey exploring God’s big love for you.