One More Move...

Ok - so a few weeks ago i was at this gathering of christians that happens on some fridays and it really was SUCH a great night. such a blessing to get a glimpse of how intricately and perfectly the body of christ works together.
but while i was there, one of the men shared a story. and he referred to the painting above, and one of my favorite ways to connect with God is through art so this was just a GREAT story and i just have to share it.
so in the painting there is a man playing chess with the devil. and it looks like the man is giving up, he is clearly struggling and about to lose. the devil looks smug - like he knows he's about to win and expected it all along.
and the guy telling the story said that there was a man who was looking at this painting (this man also happened to be a chessmaster) just kept looking because something didn't quite look right. he just kept looking, trying to figure it out.
and finally - someone came to look at it with him and said,"wow, thats rough. looks like a checkmate..." and the chessmaster stopped him and said, "no...no its not...the king still has one more move!"
and that story just hit me in a big way. in our life - there are times when it looks like the devil is winning. that we have lost and there is no hope. why should we even try? it just seems like there is no way that we could ever even hope to fix it or survive, let alone come out on top.
but when that happens, when we are in that situation...the glimmer of hope is that our KING still has one more move. as long as we are still standing - the King, our Lord, the King of everything - still has one more move. the devil will do everything he can to make us believe that its not worth it, that we have been abandoned, that we won't ever make it...but that is not true.
so we cant give up. we need to keep trusting, keep fighting, keep going...cuz He is has not been defeated. HE is not failing...HE still has one more move.
beautiful.
and a song that my beautiful friend Erika just showed me is called Fight by J'Son.
and i love the lyrics because he says (not exact order, but all from the song :))...
"get up off the floor, He gives strength to endure,
as Hes makin you strong, let me help you along...
Its tryin to reel you in, but dont start givin in–
even when its weighing on you like a million men-
we are pressed but never crushed.
He made a promise and He aint finished yet.
i know its hard as you press for the throne
but we're a WHOLE BODY,baby,
you’re not fighting alone.
Welcome to the fight club."
its a fight...but God will help us through it. Remember that He promises to stay by our side, to finish what He completed. So He WILL complete it...Hes just not finished yet. and the body of Christ is here to help you through it...so as a brother or sister in Christ...Welcome to the Fight Club.