Whether you are talking to someone, speaking to a group or even preaching a sermon, your personal story is the personal touch you need to connect with people. Without that, your connection will be very limited. People need to know that you are real and feel that you are just like them. Your story makes that connection.
For example, we were watching an episode of The X Factor and there was a story of a girl that talked about her mom passing when she was 14. She was 24 now so that was 10 years ago. She told the story so vividly and then sang the song “I will always love you”. WOW I was so emotional from the story mixed with that song because it put me right there as my mom passed away back in 2003 so basically 10 years ago too. I thought of my mom and all the wonderful times we had together. That is the power of your story!
When you are making your points with your life thrown in, people can feel what you are saying not just hear it. You want to touch people in a way that makes change happen and you can only do this when your story is in the mix.
When I am talking to people, I almost always talk about my marriage of almost 11 years or my addictions that I went through for 19 years. I want people to see that I am just like them with situations too. The worst thing you can do is be so impersonal that people think you are fake.
When I look at Rachael Ray, you can tell she does not try to be perfect. You get what you see. I can respect that. That is how every person should be but that is the exact opposite of how most Christians are.
How many times do you go to church to see so many people put up this front like they are awesome and God is doing great things in their life to then hear how they have fallen apart later down the road. You are like were they telling the truth or what? Church should be the one place you can go to let the cat out of the bag and not be judged so that you can get the healing you need but in most cases when people find the sin in your life, they want to kick you out of the church and talk behind your back.
I hear many stories like that. It is caused by so many people trying to live up to something they are not in church. Yes the church has to get the sin out of it but also needs to be a place where the sinner can come and find God. Its time to lay your sins at the alter of the cross with Christ!
So the next time you are talking to anyone, remember if you want to connect with them, open up your heart and tell your story and you just might find someone willing to do the same.
One last thing, God gave us emotions so that we can relate to each other. Now instead of being like everyone else, open your emotions up so that you can get others to open up to you. When you do that you will find a connection that you never thought was possible and then you just might be able to share what God is doing in and through you.
Now go out and share your personal self with others and watch miracles happen in your life. God is ready to use your past to change lives around you but he will only do that when you are willing to open up to people and become vulnerable.
Be Inspired or Be Left Behind!
Chris Benton