The goal of Christianity is not heaven when we die but Christlikeness now!! – C.S. Lewis

This implies that we can life a live with no regrets, but it also implies that your life is going to be filled with great stories.

Life is made of up many stories. Think about the stories of your life? Some stories are worth sharing and others are hard to forget. Some are challenging, while others play out so effortlessly you can’t remember how they go.

Check out this story about a Hero CLICK HERE. Imagine if this story was different, if the hero was a villain? Each of us has the power to be a Hero or a Villain. The difference is found in what inspires our story.

What Inspires You?

Success, victory, notoriety, fame, love, and conflict are major inspirations for many stories. For anyone to have a life with no regrets their inspiration needs to come from God alone.

In Jesus’ last prayer to the Father it was clear that his inspiration came from God alone. This beautiful story can serve as a model. Let’s take a look at that conversational prayer and answer some pointed questions and see what we learn.

What authority has God given you?
“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

God granted Jesus authority over all people that he might give eternal life. That authority shaped Jesus’ stories. He’s given you authority to overcome sin, speak truth, share love, serve others, express forgiveness, be kind, and pray. In other words he has given you authority to be a direct representation of Jesus to the world. You no longer need to be bound by what comes natural. You have the authority to act supernaturally. In other words, you’ve been given the authority to be supernatural in mind, heart, and action.

What work has God given you?
4 I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world begun.

Jesus’ work is larger than just his time on earth. He serves as a living sacrifice that reconnects mankind to God, but this required Jesus to have a specific “work” here on earth. His work here was to live as a sinless human, die for everyone’s sins, and rise from the dead to be a living sacrifice for all mankind’s sin. So how does this translate to you?

Jesus now equips you through his Holy Spirit to be a direct representation of Jesus to a world that doesn’t know him. His work was to live out God’s love; your work is to live out Jesus’ love. His work was to die for the punishment of your sin; your work is to continually die to your sinful desires. His work was to be a living sacrifice that continually pays for your sin; your work is to live as a sacrifice revealing the debt he has paid.

What work has God given you? In short, you live to bring him Glory, die to self, and live sacrificing your wants and needs for God’s wants and needs. Can you imagine what stories you’ll have when that’s the way you live?

Who has God given you?
6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.

Jesus was intentional with every relationship because he believed that each relationship was purposefully given by God. That purpose was to reveal God’s glory and return people to right relationship with God.

If this is how Jesus approached every relationship, then you can assume it’s how we should approach every relationship. You have an opportunity. First, be supernatural in mind, heart, and action. Secondly, live by bringing him glory, die to self, and live sacrificing your wants and needs for God’s wants and needs. Finally, who has God given you? He’s given you your relationships. Reveal God’s glory to every relationship God has given you.

Here’s the challenge
Identify your circle of influence and pray that you can write stories inspired by God that point others to God so they can write stories inspired by God.