The Importance of Your Story | Monday
Week 2 | Your Story’s Superpower
Listen instead of reading
Take a Moment
Ask God what He wants to show you before reading today
Read The Daily
He continued, “Do you see how this story works? All my stories work this way. (Mark 4:13)
In the movie Freedom Writers which is based on the true story of teacher Erin Gruwell (played by Hillary Swank) and her students at Woodrow Wilson Classical High School in Long Beach, California, we see the power of our story. Gruwell, a new teacher, has the near impossible task of teaching English to a group of at-risk students who are practically written off by other staff at the school. After hearing one heart-breaking story after another and making little to no progress, this passionate teacher had an idea.
With her own money, she bought each student a simple composition notebook and gave them one assignment. The students were to simply write in their notebook each and every day. It could be something in their lives, past or present. “You don’t have to show it to me. I just need to flip through in order to see that you did it. If you want me to read it, put it on this shelf and I’ll read them.” The next day, almost every student left their notebook on the shelf for Mrs. Gruwell to read. It became a powerful connection between teacher & student. It also became an outlet for students to release pain they had been holding inside. Over time, a transformation began to take place in this once chaotic classroom.
Incredible things began to take place as these hurting students would write out their stories in a journal. Eventually, these journals were compiled into a book titled, The Freedom Writers. Now that we’ve piqued your interest, you’ll have to watch the movie to find out the rest of the story. But, even if you don’t watch it, remember this, your story is powerful because it points to your purpose. God may use your messy story to keep someone else’s story messy.
Prayer for the Day
God what are you showing me? What am I going to do about it?
God help me to see one person that I can serve through a kind word, random act of kindness, or simple gift today?
Make sure you complete the reading or comment today.
Read The New Testament In A Year
4 x 6 Plan | Read: Luke 12:49-59 & Hebrews 3:1-6