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Lay it All Down
This week as I was running and praying, God convicted me of thoughts I had regarding some individuals that I don’t understand. We don’t exactly see “eye to eye” if you know what I mean. As my thoughts jumped around a little from prayer to those individuals, God reminded me of a lesson He had taught me many years ago.
He reminded me that I don’t have perfect perception – things aren’t always like I see them. God on the other hand sees all things clearly. Once again, He had me lay down my thoughts and commit my way to Him regarding these individuals. He reminded me that laying down what I hold onto and releasing it to Him is the first step to wisdom.
He used the following analogy to teach the point more fully. Although I have no experience with the game of Poker (so forgive me, those of you who know the game), He displayed the wisdom of humility and surrender through a comparison to the card game. I will attempt to write this as He taught it to me.
“Many people play out life as if it were a game of Poker. They hold up their thoughts, attitudes and perceptions in front of them, making decisions by what they are holding onto, they try their best to win. Putting on their best “poker face”, people bluff their way through life and try to live by the luck of the next draw. Don’t live that way! Who cares who you fool? Who cares who has the biggest pile of money at the end of the game? Guess what – that’s not the prize! The rewards are yet to be handed out. So, don’t get sucked into the world’s system of play.
Listen – lay your cards down, all of them! Everything you think you’ve figured out, lay it down right beside the thing that you admit you’re clueless about. Lay it all down. Allow Me to point out what has to go and then allow Me to deal you the cards that will build you a winning hand. I’ll replace lies with Truth and foolishness with Wisdom.”
Very simply, God is constantly trying to help us win in the arena of life. He is ever present, helpful for every situation. I encourage you, as I was encouraged myself that morning, since God is all wise and all knowing – trust Him! Trust Him, trust Him! Lay down everything you think – open up His Word, the Bible, and find out what He says about life, about every circumstance you are facing. Replace your thoughts with His and watch your life become a winning combination of wisdom, love, grace, mercy and peace; a true, Divine, Royal Flush.
