The Power of Story and How it Can Change Your Life

Today, we’re talking about the power of story. So many times, we go through life just moving from moment to moment. We get busy. We get focused on our to-do list. We forget about the people around us. Even more than that, we don’t take time to listen, care, and learn. Yet when we pause to listen—truly listen—we connect. More than that, when we open up our hearts to tell our stories, we allow others to honestly know us, making a heart connection.Listening to stories has changed everything in my life. Listening to the true stories from World War II veterans inspired and shaped my first novels. Listening to my grandparents share about their lives inspired and shaped my faith. I learned how to be thankful as I heard about their struggles during the great depression of the late 20s and early 30s. My grandparents never sat me down and gave me a two-hour lecture. Instead, they shared about moments in their lives in very ordinary moments, like driving to town or sitting around a kitchen table. I needed to remember to ask about important moments and to pause long enough to listen.

We also need to remember to share our stories with others, especially our faith stories. In fact, God asks us to!

Psalm 78:2-4 says:
I will teach you hidden lessons from our past stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders. (NLT)

Yes, sharing stories is valuable! And I have a special guest to talk about this too.

Who better to talk to us about story than one of the editors of Guideposts Magazines. Their goal is to connect people with uplifting stories of comfort and hope, prayer, and tools for faithful, positive living.

Today, I’m talking with Celeste McCauley, who shares her own “Guidepost” story about a time God met her through an angel of a girl on an airplane. Celeste also provides tips for how we can listen to and connect with others.

Celeste offers three great questions to ask:

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do? (And how did your faith help you in that situation?)
Where’s your go-to place for prayer?

In addition to the questions Celeste shares, think about questions that might yield a more resounding answer. The stories you hear will stay in your heart. Also, Celeste says in this interview:

“Listening is patience. Listening is not jumping in when someone is talking. Listening is being still.”

I know you’re going to love this conversation!

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Scripture to ponder

I will teach you hidden lessons from our past stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders. Psalm 78:2-4 (NLT)

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Mentioned in This Episode

Power of Positive Thinking | Norman Vincent Peale

War Heroes Provide Answer to Author’s Prayer

Remembering You | Tricia Goyer

The Elder Sister: Miriam’s Story | Tricia Goyer

Ordinary Women of the Bible series
Win the Ordinary Women of the Bible series

Who is Celeste McCauley

Celeste McCauley is the senior editor of special projects at Guideposts which reaches four million readers. She is in charge of the celebrity cover stories and has interviewed stars including Jennifer Hudson, Dolly Parton, Tyler Perry, and Amy Grant. She also works on the inspiring first-person stories of everyday people that the magazine is known for and helps writers get their ideas onto the printed page. She lives in New York City.

More about Guideposts

Celebrating more than seven decades in print, Guideposts magazine announced significant investments in the future of the long-running inspirational publication to continue encouraging millions of readers with the message that anything is possible with hope, faith, and prayer. The magazine will begin a bimonthly publication schedule, add a minimum of 30 pages per issue printed on higher quality paper, and new, highly anticipated editorial features in an updated design format. The changes will be unveiled in the upcoming June/July issue, which features former Destiny’s Child singer and actress Michelle Williams on the cover. The issue also features bestselling author Max Lucado, TODAY’s Savannah Guthrie, and inspirational lifestyle expert Katie Brown.

“In today’s shrinking magazine world, we’re making important investments in the magazine that will keep it vital for years to come,” said Guideposts Editor-in-Chief Edward Grinnan. “We’re expanding our mission to make the world a better, more hope-filled place.”

A true publishing success story, Guideposts is the go-to publication for positive, uplifting personal stories from celebrities and everyday people alike. The magazine will continue to offer its 4.5 million readers content spanning a variety of topics, including caregiving, forgiveness, marriage, addiction recovery, prayer, hobbies, travel, health, spiritual well-being, and more. New editorial features will include interviews with today’s faith leaders, regular articles on prayer and Scripture, and profiles of positive people that will inspire readers to live with greater optimism and hope. Another significant investment being made is the use of high-quality paper, which will allow for more vibrant photography and visual storytelling. The redesigned print publication will more closely align with the content featured on Guideposts.org, allowing more expansive, in-depth coverage of the topics and people of interest to the magazine’s faithful following.
“Our readers rely on us for positive, uplifting stories of hope and inspiration. We look for the good in the world during these challenging times and love sharing what we find with our readers. We’ve been inspiring America for more than seven decades, and we are committed to continuing our mission to inspire America for the next seven,” said Grinnan.