
What story do you want to tell?
George Washington
Martin Luther King Jr.
Mother Theresa
Abraham Lincoln
External voices most often sum up your story in absolute form using labels to describe the overall narrative.
You cannot write the external legacy of your life.
Many of us allow the external voices to dictate the story we tell.
The Apostle Paul also dealt with this exact dilemma, and because he was steadfast in a mission, he was not sidetracked by many external voices claiming they knew who he was and what he should do.
ACTS 27:42-44
“The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan.
He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.”
“Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god. There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured.”
ACTS 28:1-10
Paul was allowing God’s plan to dictate his story.
Paul was able to keep his courage because there was a God whom he believed in that had already written the story!
If you’re hoping for others to write your legacy in a specific way you are on a fool’s errand.
This legacy question is completely self focused.
Not self-absorbed.
Not self-indulged.
Not selfish
Self-focus is the internal perspective you must build into the tapestry of your life in order to accurately write the story you want to tell.
1. Know Your Legacy
What story do I want to tell?
“And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.””
Acts 20:22-23
2. Share Your Legacy
“After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’ ” When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.””
Acts 21:10-14
Do not be dissuaded.
They can encourage you in it, mourn with you, celebrate with you, and hold you accountable to continue the process of building your legacy.
3. Build Your Legacy
Pour the foundation
You build your legacy over time
Keep doing what you do, and keep being who you are over lengthy periods of time
You can not build a legacy in a day. It is done over the course of one decision at a time, time and time again.
4. Revise Your Legacy
With new information come new decisions.
With that new information and your foundation in tact, you are allowed and free to make new decisions
Because George Washington was resolute and steadfast within his own decision between him and God he was able to move forward and do what he knew and felt was right.
Pick up your pen and start writing.
Know your legacy.
Go share it.
Go build it.
Keep revising as you go. BDFR