Are You on the Game Board?

I had a vision at church a couple of weeks ago.  I love when God speaks to me through pictures, because I "get it" that much more and it impacts me so.  I don't believe this vision was for just me and I want to share it with each of you.  May it be an encouragement to each of you.

What I saw was a game board.  As I pressed in to see exactly why, I was extremely amazed.  It was Chutes and Ladders.   Anyway, I saw we were His players.  The moment we accept Christ we are on that board.  I also saw Satan having a tantrum, because he knows once we are on that board, he can't have us.  The game was beautifully loud - as I heard testimonies and praising as each player moved a square and up those ladders.  It was that very act of praising and speaking our testimonies that moved us forward to be closer to God.

But what else I saw were those "chutes" (slides).  I saw people slide down them. 

If you are a lot like me you may beat yourself up when you fall into an old habit that you broke off.  Or you may beat yourself up when you think a way Christ wouldn't.  Perhaps you may loose your temper, be tempted to turn your eyes on something you shouldn't.  Whatever it is, how do you react?  I have been ashamed so much of myself, that I just can't look at God because I believe He is looking at me with that very same shame.  I have even believed the lie that if I can't overcome my mistakes then how can God even love me?  My heart is for Him, and I hate disappointing Him.

But I saw something as those people slid down those slides on that game board.  THEY WERE NEVER OFF THE BOARD!  We may have our set backs and failures.  We may feel we"ll never get close to God but the truth of the matter is...You are still in the Game.  God loves us that much!  It is His love that keeps you and me on that game board.  And whether we have the same issue that keeps us falling down the very same slide, we are still in His presence!

So where are you?  Are you going to stand with me with praise and shout our testimonies to move forward in the game?  And even overcome those slides?  I'm in!  Are you?