Protect Your Faith

Today we are just going to reflect on the lessons we can learn while playing chess.

[ ] In a chess game, the most important piece is the king. The king holds the highest value and its protection is crucial for winning the game. So, the safety of the king is the ultimate goal. Similarly, faith is the cornerstone of our spiritual lives and its protection should be our top priority.

[ ] Just like how the king in chess is constantly under threat from the opponent’s pieces, our faith is also constantly under attack by the challenges and trials of life. Just like how our enemy targets our faith. So, in chess, we protect our king by surrounding it with our other pieces even sacrificing some of them and we are always creating a strong defense. Similarly, in our lives, we must surround ourselves with a strong support system, the word of God, fellow believers, wise friends, and mentors to protect our faith from the attacks of the enemy.

[ ] Just like how the king has limited movement, only being able to move one square in a certain direction, this is a good reminder that our faith also has boundaries and requires us to take one step at a time in our walk with God. And like how the king can be moved in any direction, our faith must also be flexible and adaptable, always seeking to align with God’s will and purpose for our lives. We may not always be able to see the bigger picture or understand why certain things are happening in our lives and the road ahead may seem uncertain, but just like in a game of chess, we must trust that every move has a purpose and it is good to surrender to the one who is at work.

[ ] Just like how a chess player must carefully strategize to protect their king, we must also persevere in our faith in the God who is the author of our life.

Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Our faith in God allows us to surrender our own understanding and trust in His plans for our lives, even when they may seem unusual or difficult.

[ ] In a game of chess, the king may be threatened, but it can never be captured as the game cannot continue without it. Similarly, our faith may be constantly tested and threatened, but it can never be taken away from us as it is what sustains us in our journey with God.

Romans 8:38-39 reminds us that nothing can separate us from the love of God: “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

[ ] Just like how a game of chess can be won or lost in a matter of minutes, our faith can also be tested and strengthened in a short amount of time. It is in those moments of intense pressure and uncertainty that our faith is truly put to the test. But just like how a skilled chess player remains calm and focused in the face of challenges, we too must hold onto our faith and trust in God’s strength and guidance and faithfulness to see us through.
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And lastly, if we play chess, we have the option to take back a wrong move but it’s not all the time, because in some cases there are also touch-move.
Oftentimes, when a chess player plays the game, they don’t give too much importance to the mistakes that they have made but focus more on their next move. Very much the same with our life.
It might be true that what we did in the past may contribute a lot in the course of our life but it is our next move that would determine the outcome because, in our next move, we have the chance to be wiser, to reconsider things, to be alert, to learn from our mistakes and never do the same mistake again.

And a bonus takeaway, in chess, the king is the only piece that cannot be sacrificed for the sake of winning the game. This reflects the truth that our faith should never be compromised or sacrificed for temporary gains or worldly desires. Our faith is the foundation of our beliefs and values, and it should always remain steadfast, even in the face of adversity.

It is also good to remember that even if you only have the king left, you can continue to play the game. This a reminder that even if all else may be gone, as long as you have faith, you can still go on.

1 Corinthians 16:13 ERV‬‬
[13] Be careful. Hold firmly to your faith. Have courage and be strong.