Tuesday, September 12, 2006

talk & walk game strategy ...

Game strategy has me really chewing over the use of it in a believer’s life journey. Questions like: If good wins over evil in the end, should it really matter what evil is up to? A believer’s lifestyle should be one of love .. should it matter to think through matters at hand strategically? Evil game plan is ‘what is in it for me?’ Should the game plan of a believer be ‘is my action measured in the units of love?’ If a believer uses this strategy, can a believer make moves that thwart the evil doers’ plans of chaos? If one is judged by their actions, shouldn’t a believer be extra cautious to make sure they are not being played or manipulated to act according to an evildoer’s plan? If they say they are evil, should you not believe them .. the first time?

I have been watching a game where a player has announced that he is the puppeteer. He controls the plays. He even uses phrases like ‘caught in my web’. He is makes sure that he is the last person to have a say before the other makes their play. Time and time again the other players are enchanted by his charisma. The pawn admitted that her downfall was that she trusted too many people. I set back baffled but not for long. I am using this as a visual to strengthen my own wellspring.

There is a game being played in real life and in real time. There is a playbook charted out by the Islamic extremists where they have a timeline mapped out of how they are going to take over all world governments including the Islamic countries by 2020somthing. What really gets me is that they are using other countries to take out Iraq, Iran, and even Syria so that there is chaos for terrorists want-to-bes form and spread more evil and ultimately rule the world . Boil it down and you have Islam warring against Islam. Exacting what they say they will not do. I think they are trying to play and manipulated the western world to their ultimate plan.

I do not oppose war. War is needed to fight against wrong, and that the downtrodden and underdogs needs someone to come to their aid. There must be payment for wrongdoing and talk never gets anything done. Freedom is for everyone not just a select few. So what am I purposing? Minds! We need to think strategically and to avoid being played. Yes, we even are going to have to be students of their way of thinking to understand better how to battle in this game after we know our own weaknesses and strengths. We don’t all think the same. There are a lot of cultural, environmental, and religious bits to sort through. We cannot fail to take it all into consideration.

It bothers me so because this is on a higher playing field at worldly vastness. I am left a spectator. Even if I was a player, I know I would fail. So what is left? Be the student! Learn how to play the game on your own playing field .. your life.

Be well-balanced because your adversary the devil walks around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith…(1 Pet 5:8-9a). I put well-balanced in place of self-controlled like in the AMP version. I was wondering how they came up with that for self-controlled. Looking at equivalent words, I found measured and realized yes, well-balanced should be used for a descriptive word for self-control. What better mindset to have than to take measured steps. Notice here the lion is not hiding in the grass watching and waiting, rather he is ROARING. Good grief! You couldn’t help but notice a ROARING lion! Hmmm, so our adversary isn’t going to be quiet about his evil ways. In fact he will be quite charming and seemingly truthful about his intent. Believe him. Don’t get hung up on his ‘truth’. He is a beautiful being. We will fall every time to his attractions.

Our last word whispered to our hearts and minds should be God’s Word. Every thought should be captured and filtered through His Promises. Our confidence needs to stay hold to the Rock, our Strong Tower. Prove wrong every deceitfully charming words of the adversary. Recognize that the devil admits his ways are evil and believe it the first time. Remain strong by exercising God’s Word and Promises in your life. This is the ‘talk’ strategy.

For our ‘walk’ strategy the believers must stand firm that they are responsible for their actions even if they were duped into taking on evil yet on the down low they are really being manipulated by evil. Believers are way to trusting of everybody in the name of being a nice person or even in the name of loving others. Instead our trust should be limited. Steadfast in faith means to trust only that which is a Sure Foundation. So what about being nice? Believers are going to have to pull apart our trust from serving with love. Don’t mix the two up into one. Trust God and serve with love.

I think I am stuck in the struggle of not being played. Let’s take the bigger world game. Taking out an evil man and replacing it with freedom seems to me like a very good move, but it is looking like we played right into the terrorist’s playbook and strategy. I just feel so strongly that if I am accountable for my actions, I don’t want to answer to why I allowed others to manipulate my actions no matter how covert they were. Having thought some more, it is ok to take out evil as long as we stay on the offensive and create peace and security so that evil cannot fester. Sure evil will always ‘look’ like it wins, but God loves to interrupt evil. So it is not of our might but His.

So simply put pay attention to the talk and walk of others. Trust only God and His Attributes. Exercise His Words and His Promises in your life. Strategically go over your actions making sure to serve in love. Being confident in Faith means to refuse all manipulation so your actions prove Him. Lastly, His Wisdom covers you so seek it to shield against exploitation.

Limit trust. Love vastly. Good triumphs over evil in every ending.

life is a game

No comments:

Post a Comment