A PIECE OF MY HEART...roll with the punches

I really do not know much about the rodeo or cowboys. But one thing that I do know is that when a cowboy is thrown from the saddle, he can do one of two things: he can either tense his muscles, stiffen his arms and resist the fall or he can relax his body and hit the ground rolling.

Think about it ... if he should tense up, he risks further injury like a possible torn ligament or broken bones. But if he rolls with the impact, the chance is greater that he will just spring right back up and be able to remount and keep riding.

I am reminded of a man named Saul, who was a devout Jew. He took a fall because he was resisting. Saul was fighting Christianity will all of his might, he hunted down Christians so they could be impisioned, tried and put to death. On his way to Damascus. Saul saw a great light. He fell to the ground and he heard the voice of Jesus:

"Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads". (Acts 26:14)

Eventually Saul stopped opposing the church, he accepted God's will for his life and proclaimed the gospel. Saul learned to roll with the punches. While the enemy wanted him to continue down the wrong road of destruction, God had a different plan for his life. Saul didn't give up, he sprung back and got back in the saddle and rode towards the prize.

When we face adversity, we need to pray for wisdom so we will know how to stand firm and roll with the punches. It is not God's design for you and for me to resist His plan and get banged and bruised up from the fall. God's plans include ciccumstances that will take us to places totally unimaginable...if we would only saddle up and let God take the reins.

and that is a piece of my heart today;