Narrative: The story of experiences and expectations; whether true or not.

What’s Donald Trump trying do when he says “crooked Hillary,” or previously, “Lying Ted.”  What’s Hillary doing when she describes Trump as “dangerous?” What’s President Obama trying to do when he says, “Climate change is the greatest threat we face”?  They are all trying to control the narrative because the story we tell ourselves is possibly the most powerful single force in society.  Donald Miller calls it, “the power of story.”

It is of course important for political leaders to get the populous to buy into their narrative, but for your personal effectiveness you must decide your own narratives; that’s right I said, “decide.”  Years ago in a counselor’s office in Akron Ohio a wonderful Christian psychologists looked me in the eye and said, “Phil, your life is the story you tell yourself.”  He went on to explain to me that what happened to me was not nearly as important as the story I told myself about what happened to me.

A blind man was brought to Jesus one time and the disciples asked, “who sinned, this man or his parents.”  Jesus replied, “neither this man nor his parents, but that the glory of God might be manifested in him.”  The disciples had a false and broken narrative; Jesus had a true, healthy & hope filled narrative. The disciples narrative would make it most difficult, if not impossible for this man to see.  Jesus’ narrative was packed with hope and positivity for this fortunate man.

The future of your marriage, your parenting, your church, your community, your career and much more will be determined by the story you tell yourself.  Your loving Heavenly Father has put the incredible power of narrative into your soul and onto your tongue. Solomon said, “death and life are in the power of the tongue, those who leave it shall eat its fruit.”   

• Is your narrative clear or confusing?  (A confused or contradictory narrative gives no direction)
• Is your narrative accurate? (You are injustice waiting to happen if you have a false narrative)
• Is your narrative helpful? (Does it call you and others to positive action.  Some narratives just leave us angry or believing we are making a difference when we are really not.)

Philippians 4:8-9 (MSG)  Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.