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People, organizations, corporations and nations that are great are that way for reason. They have connected the dots to the reason for their existence. Organizations or people that exist merely for themselves aren’t worth leading. Idolatry of self is the biggest “miss” in our age. We all long for purpose – a reason to invest our lives in something bigger than ourselves. The good news is that we each carry a story that God has written in our hearts… it’s a story book!
Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 139:16 NIV
Read your book – We each have a book with the story of our future in it! Want to read it? Absolutely! Everyone does. So how do I practically go about finding my story?
The “testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Rev 19:10). Jesus’ testimony is the “evidence” of our personal story. When we hear it, the truth of that story resonates in our hearts because it’s already written in our deepest desires. Jesus is constantly interceding for us to fulfill our book… so that the dreams that He wrote in our hearts will come to pass.
Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Rom 8:34-35 NIV
he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Heb 7:25 NIV
When we know the story written in our book and walk it out in our life and vocation, we have leverage to overcome obstacles, and a reason to get excited about life. It leads to a great destiny. We make Jesus’ testimony about us our own story. Now it’s our testimony about ourselves too.
They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. Rev 12:11
Those who obey God’s commandments and hold to the testimony of Jesus. Rev 12:17 NIV
Yes, but how? – How do I know specifically what’s written in my book?… What is Jesus testimony about me? Here are a few simple approaches to hear it. PS: We have a Heart Plan coaching process to help you find it.
- What resonates? We all know people whom we would like to emulate. That’s usually the Holy Spirit pointing us toward our direction, “Pay attention, there’s something about this person that I have for you.”
- What’s the desire of your heart? The Kingdom is built around people walking out the desires that God wrote in their hearts. He loves to grant the desires of our hearts because they are also the desires of His heart. (Heb 8:10, 10:16, Jer 33:31:33)
Leaders Tell Stories – Real leaders are in touch with the story written in the book of individuals, corporations, and nations. Their primary purpose is to articulate the prophetic “why.” It’s important via the narrative in that destiny… where it all leads; why it’s important; how it’s a dream comes true. People don’t remember facts, follow orders, or naturally get excited about bureaucracies. No one is enthusiastic about self-serving people or organizations. We are all motivated by one thing, “What’s written in our hearts?” Leaders simply tap that narrative and tell the story of where it leads. Our hearts do remember the “experience” of hearing and feeling the story in our book, it’s unforgettable.
With individuals – Managers, supervisors, teachers, and pastors often tell people what’s wrong, what to do, and how to change. Leaders tell them what’s written in their book – their “why.” The difference is night and day. People are ignited by the passion that God wired into their DNA. They love to talk about it, love to clarify it, love to plan the details, and love to make it happen. Leaders facilitate those dreams coming true. In return, those same leaders have friends, partners, and staff that love them back and would do anything for them. It’s motivation, teamwork and respect.
With Corporations and organizations – Like individuals, there is a book or purpose for every company. The people who can articulate that prophetic direction are the leaders. Those who can communicate the essence of their book to customers are the marketing directors. People don’t buy what you have to sell; they buy your “why.” Leaders are the stewards of the story: they protect it, develop it, and communicate it. The corporate story is a tool of evangelism that actually connects the company and the Kingdom. What is the corporation doing that the Father is also doing? In secular circles it’s called social responsibility. It simply means that the company is connecting with its Kingdom ministry in the community, the story written in their corporate book.
Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. John 5:19-20 NIV
With Nations – Nations also have a book. We can simply ask God to show it to us and He will. Every nation has a ministry to its people and to the world. There is great power and blessing in cooperating with that direction. Individuals, corporations, churches, and schools that understand that story can make a nation great. That greatness translates to prosperity and ministry to people that is glorious… a glory that has value in the Kingdom. Political leaders who can best articulate what’s written in the book of a nation get elected. It resonates in the hearts of people and in the heart of God.
The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Rev 21:24-26 NIV
Tell the story – Over the last decade Jesus has led me through a personal reformation. Instead of discerning problems, I’m focused on hearing the testimony of Jesus about people. Then I just tell them the story of what’s in their book and where it will lead. They love me for doing it and that same story gives them the reason to fix their own problems. It’s very prophetic, very moving, very loving and very fun. I decided not to narrate the story of the accuser of the brethren… and where that leads. Condemnation doesn’t produce fruit.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free… Rom 8:1-2 NIV
