Storying

The hardest question you will ever have to ask in order to start a spiritual conversation is: How can I pray for you? The next part is the tricky part. You must then listen to everything that the other person says in order to see which story it reminds you of.

Listen for anything that points to a need in their life that can be spoken into through a story from the bible.
“This reminds me of a story…”

Once you decide that you want to be used by God in spiritual conversations, then you must begin to learn stories. Here are just a few examples of some stories from the bible that can be used in certain situations.

Depression
Joseph’s life,
Elijah (I Kings 19:4) (Just take my life)
A powerful prophet who called fire down from heaven to consume a sacrifice ran from a woman’s threats. Elijah had performed many miracles, stood up to King Ahab, and just killed hundreds of evil priests and prophets. Yet here he is, afraid of Jezebel.
After this emotional high he would have felt letdown and had to be physically exhausted. His mind wanted to give up and die.
But an angel touched him and said, “Get up!” (1 Kings 19:5-6). Basically, he was told to eat what the angel provided and stop feeling sorry for himself.
Elijah moved to a cave and the Spirit spoke to him out of a still, small voice with new guidance (1 Kings 19:12). When we listen for the Holy Spirit’s voice instead of the threats around us, we can receive that same reassurance.

Jeremiah
Alas, my mother, that you gave me birth, a man with whom the whole land strives and contends! I have neither lent nor borrowed, yet everyone curses me. (Jeremiah 15:10)
The Lord gave Jeremiah messages Israel didn’t want to hear. He was imprisoned, beaten, and put into a miry pit due to his words. These are not events anyone would rejoice about, and we can only imagine the despair this prophet felt.
God reassured Jeremiah that He would save and deliver him and these promises are for us too (1 John 5:4).

Bad things happening to good people - Acts 16

Death of a loved one
Son - David (2 Samuel 12:14-31)
Family – Lazarus (John 11:38-44)

Finances
Story of the man and the talents - Matthew 25:14-30
Stories
Lazarus and the Rich Man - Believing while you still have time - Luke 16:19-31
Paul Jailed for doing good - Bad things good people - Acts 16
Cain and Able – Anger over riding Wisdom - Gen 4:7
Abraham – Trusting God without having any History with God
Moses – Not feeling adequate for what God calls us to – Ex. 4:10
Joshua – Sitting in the presence of godly men to prepare to be a godly man - Ex 33:11
David – Trusting God while you run for your life -15 years on the run
Abraham – Trusting God with your children - Offering Isaac at a sacrifice - Gen 22
Jacob – how to respond when someone cheats on a contract -Gen 29
Abraham and Sarah – trying to help God bring about His will - Genesis 16
Esther – The right place at the right time (for such a time as this)
Jonah – Running from God’s plan, not doing what is right because you don’t think people deserve forgiveness.
Woman caught in adultery – Jesus doesn’t want to condemn, he came to save us from our sin - John 8:1-11