Hey friends, I want to talk to you today about the game. That’s right—the game of life. And yes, I know what you’re thinking… “You gotta know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em…” I couldn’t help myself! A little Kenny Rogers is good for the soul, right?

But here’s the real deal: life truly is like a card game. It’s full of strategy, unpredictability, and yes—some serious highs and lows. And just like any good card game, if you don’t understand the rules, you won’t last very long at the table.

Years ago, over Christmas, our family picked up a simple little Minecraft card game. It looked easy enough—just a few cards and some pieces. But oh man, those rules were wild. We laughed, we scratched our heads, and we nearly gave up. But we stuck with it. We learned the rules. And guess what? That confusing little game became one of our absolute favorites.

Why? Because when you understand the rules, you can actually enjoy the game.

And that’s what I want to show you. Life has rules. Spiritual rules. Biblical rules. And once you learn them, you can start to win in ways you never thought possible. So here’s Rule #1 for the Game of Life:

Rule #1 – Everyone Plays.

Like it or not, you’re in the game. When you wake up in the morning, life is happening. The question is—are you playing to win?

Some people wake up every day with a “fight song” in their heart. Others? A “give up” anthem. What’s your song? Because here’s the truth: God didn’t put you on this earth just to survive. He put you here to thrive. You have purpose. You have a calling. And you need to fight for it.

Remember what Viktor Frankl said—life’s not about pleasure, it’s about purpose. When you pursue meaning, everything else starts to make sense. So friend, wake up with your fight song playing. Get in the game with purpose, because everyone plays.

Rule #2 – Everyone Gets Dealt a Hand.

We don’t get to choose our circumstances, but we do get to choose how we respond. Some of you may have been dealt a rough hand. Maybe life has felt unfair. Maybe you’ve said, “What am I supposed to do with this?”

But let me remind you of something powerful: whatever hand you’ve been dealt, you’ve also got the God card. And the God card trumps everything!

Be faithful with what you’ve been given. Luke 16:10 says, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” Stop comparing your hand to others. Stop complaining about what you wish you had. Start playing the best hand you can with what you’ve got—because God honors faithfulness.

More on the game next time. But for now, wake up, show up, and play to win. I’m rooting for you!