Something Parable-ish: What a Video Game Can Teach Us About Our Spiritual Lives [Re-Post] | Praise Podcast

A common pastime yields a spiritual lesson. Tune in!

https://momo634.com/p/parable-video-game-spiritual-lives

#bible #inspiration #motivation #motivational #inspirational #MentalHealth #mentalhealthawareness #MoMo634 #selflove #selfcare #depression #anxiety #prayer #endthestigma #videogames #gamers

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit momo634.com

00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 A common pastime yields a spiritual lesson.

00:00:04 --> 00:00:04 Tune in.

00:00:07 --> 00:00:08 Hello,

00:00:08 --> 00:00:10 and welcome to Momo 634,

00:00:10 --> 00:00:15 the daily podcast chock full of faith-filled inspiration and motivation.

00:00:16 --> 00:00:18 Please like, share, and subscribe.

00:00:19 --> 00:00:24 Momo 634, motivational moments just for today.

00:00:39 --> 00:00:41 In my immediate family, we're gamers.

00:00:42 --> 00:00:45 My oldest has his bachelor's degree in game design,

00:00:46 --> 00:00:48 so he makes and plays them.

00:00:50 --> 00:00:51 But here's the rub.

00:00:52 --> 00:00:54 I'm somewhat spatially challenged.

00:00:55 --> 00:00:59 Plotting out a number of steps ahead is hard for me.

00:00:59 --> 00:01:00 Like chess.

00:01:01 --> 00:01:03 Not my jam.

00:01:03 --> 00:01:07 But there's a game Hubby and I have become obsessed with lately,

00:01:08 --> 00:01:11 and it really calls for some strategy and plotting ahead.

00:01:11 --> 00:01:16 The cool thing about it is that it's never the same game twice,

00:01:17 --> 00:01:19 even if you have to repeat a level.

00:01:19 --> 00:01:22 It's sort of like that choose-your-own-adventure book series.

00:01:23 --> 00:01:25 You can choose your own path.

00:01:25 --> 00:01:28 You can make it super twisty or straight.

00:01:29 --> 00:01:31 At several junctures on each level,

00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 you get three items popping up,

00:01:34 --> 00:01:38 and you have to choose one for the current iteration of the game.

00:01:39 --> 00:01:40 Maybe it's a weapon,

00:01:40 --> 00:01:44 and there are a number of them to address both air and ground threats,

00:01:45 --> 00:01:49 so you can defeat the enemy that you know is coming,

00:01:49 --> 00:01:51 because there are two on each level.

00:01:53 --> 00:01:57 Maybe you choose a twist because it slows the bad guy down.

00:01:57 --> 00:02:02 Or maybe you upgrade your defenses, all while protecting your fortress.

00:02:03 --> 00:02:06 Sometimes you have to pick practical things like expanding your

00:02:06 --> 00:02:08 field or moving an

00:02:08 --> 00:02:12 item so that you can accommodate more track for your path.

00:02:13 --> 00:02:18 Sometimes the enemy wins, but you get a revive.

00:02:19 --> 00:02:23 There are only so many before it's game over.

00:02:24 --> 00:02:27 The true victors defend the fortress and get treasure.

00:02:28 --> 00:02:32 Though, truth be told, everyone gets treasure in the game.

00:02:34 --> 00:02:35 So what does all of this mean?

00:02:36 --> 00:02:41 Well, we have free will and we can choose our own paths.

00:02:42 --> 00:02:45 Some are treacherous because we choose poorly.

00:02:46 --> 00:02:48 Some are pretty straightforward.

00:02:49 --> 00:02:52 We encounter obstacles constantly.

00:02:52 --> 00:02:54 The enemy is trying to take us down,

00:02:55 --> 00:02:58 and we have to have our weapons and defenses ready.

00:02:59 --> 00:03:04 Read about the armor of God in Ephesians 6 and how it protects

00:03:04 --> 00:03:05 us from the fiery

00:03:05 --> 00:03:06 darts of the evil one.

00:03:07 --> 00:03:10 You know that you will be facing the enemy,

00:03:10 --> 00:03:14 and you have to think ahead as to the best way to defeat him

00:03:14 --> 00:03:15 with what you have on

00:03:15 --> 00:03:17 hand and be prepared.

00:03:18 --> 00:03:21 You don't know what weapons will be offered to you ahead of time,

00:03:22 --> 00:03:24 so you have to balance between offense,

00:03:24 --> 00:03:25 defense,

00:03:25 --> 00:03:26 and expansion.

00:03:27 --> 00:03:30 We don't know how Satan will come at us,

00:03:30 --> 00:03:34 so we have to use what is best at the time to build a

00:03:34 --> 00:03:36 comprehensive strategy.

00:03:37 --> 00:03:45 In 2 Peter 1, 5-9, we are told to build, add to your faith virtue, etc.

00:03:46 --> 00:03:51 These are blocks upon which we are able to build a hero capable

00:03:51 --> 00:03:52 of withstanding

00:03:52 --> 00:03:55 everything that the enemy will throw at us.

00:03:57 --> 00:04:00 Sometimes we have to pick the things that are practical,

00:04:00 --> 00:04:02 that we may think are boring,

00:04:03 --> 00:04:04 because they help us.

00:04:05 --> 00:04:08 And when that evil boss comes at the end,

00:04:09 --> 00:04:13 those less fun things are often what save the day.

00:04:15 --> 00:04:17 And in the end, it's worth it.

00:04:18 --> 00:04:20 We've defended the fortress in the game.

00:04:20 --> 00:04:25 In real life, we've defended the faith.

00:04:26 --> 00:04:30 If the enemy defeats you and you have to use a revive in the game,

00:04:31 --> 00:04:35 it's sort of like when we mess up and we get another chance

00:04:35 --> 00:04:36 because of the grace of

00:04:36 --> 00:04:39 God before its final game over.

00:04:41 --> 00:04:45 And there's a revive in the sense that we are translated from

00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 this life in this

00:04:47 --> 00:04:49 mortal coil into the next,

00:04:50 --> 00:04:52 as discussed in 1 Corinthians 15.

00:04:54 --> 00:04:55 In the game,

00:04:55 --> 00:04:56 there's a fortress,

00:04:57 --> 00:05:00 just like the Christian looks forward to heaven.

00:05:00 --> 00:05:04 And there's treasure, lots of treasure.

00:05:05 --> 00:05:07 That's something we can count on.

00:05:07 --> 00:05:08 And the best part,

00:05:09 --> 00:05:11 the part not in this video game,

00:05:12 --> 00:05:16 living with God eternally after the enemy is fully vanquished

00:05:17 --> 00:05:18 and can't hurt us

00:05:18 --> 00:05:19 anymore.

00:05:20 --> 00:05:25 Our meme for today says it's either game on or game over.

00:05:26 --> 00:05:28 Choose your battle plan wisely.

00:05:30 --> 00:05:33 What's the modern day metaphor you use as a go-to?

00:05:34 --> 00:05:36 Share it in the comments below.

00:05:39 --> 00:05:45 Thanks for listening to Momo 634, motivational moments just for today.

00:05:45 --> 00:05:46 Please subscribe,

00:05:46 --> 00:05:48 give it a like or review,

00:05:48 --> 00:05:52 follow along on social media or your favorite podcast platform,

00:05:52 --> 00:05:53 and tell a friend.

00:05:54 --> 00:05:57 To have episodes and the corresponding meme emailed to you,

00:05:57 --> 00:06:00 subscribe at momo634.com.

00:06:01 --> 00:06:03 To receive bonus episodes and support this podcast,

00:06:04 --> 00:06:06 become a premium Substack subscriber.