Though chess is a game where it’s utmost goal is to protect the king which is contrary to what we believe where our King is the One Who protects us, we still can learn something from it.  None of the chess piece can move unless someone’s hand will choose to move it with a carefully thought strategy otherwise it stays in the same place.

You and I are like chess pieces postured to carry the glory of God to wherever He desires us to be.  When we say “YES” to Jesus, we choose our will to be enthralled in His love. Every purpose where He moves and positions us to be is all launched from the beauty of His love.  He leads us to be at the right place at the right time all because He wants His love to be made known into one person whom He calls us to stop for.  We are called to win people with His unfailing love.

Prayer is an intimate communication between the Lord and us.  It is also one of the most powerful weapons that He graced us to influence the atmosphere by our spoken words. Yes, our words frame our world and the world of those around us, thus, it is then vital to mind what comes out of our mouths.

We are exposed to this world that is influenced by a political spirit that accuses, feeds on failures and shortcomings of people.  It feeds on dead things.  How then do we combat an atmosphere that is governed by such?

I believe it’s time for us to press on to upgrade the effect of our prayer.  Why is it an upgrade?  Because the norm is to pray for the ones we love and those who walk in agreement with our opinions and ideas.  What about those who don’t? Or maybe those who we don’t personally know or those who don’t know us?

 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?  Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  Matthew 5:43-48 NIV

Many of us say it’s easier said than done.  Ohhhh that’s very true … but IT’S POSSIBLE, not by might nor by power, but by the Spirit of God.  What He has spoken, you and I were already graced to do it.  He is a purposeful God and He’ll never put something to be written and not fulfill it in and through us.

What we speak changes the atmosphere.  When we speak life, then life fills the atmosphere.  When we speak death, then death impregnates the atmosphere.  What are we hearing from our own mouths?

Years ago when my life was still a mess, I wasn’t a regular church-goer.  On occasions I would but if none, I won’t.  One day I was waiting for the embassy to open where I applied for a visa. It was still early in the morning and I happened to pass by a chapel.  I thought, why not go inside?  And so, I did.

My eyes were closed when I felt someone passed by in front of me.  I wasn’t taken by surprise because I had goosebumps all over me.  It was very strange.  I opened my eyes to see who it was and I saw this petite lady walking away from me and knelt down. I literally was wondering what happened.  What was that all about?  Then, I just left it at that.

The very next morning, I went early and decided to wait at the chapel again. I looked around and saw the same lady way across the other side.  The same thing happened to me.  Now, my curiosity was raised to the highest degree that propelled me to go near her and inquire.  I politely introduced myself and mentioned what happened to me.  I boldly asked her, “What have you been praying for?  It seems like I have been affected by it.” She smiled and said, “I have a very dear friend and she stopped going to church.  I would really love her to be back.”  That very moment I knew I was on the same boat as her friend.  I may not have stopped but I was way far from what a normal church-goer would do.  I told her, “Do you know that the arrows of your prayer intended for your friend hit me as well because I, too, am almost in the same condition as your friend?” There I met a new friend.

See how our prayers affect the atmosphere of where we are?  And because our words are spirit and life, then they aren’t bound by space and time.  She didn’t know me and I didn’t know her either but her prayer touched my heart.

I believe it’s holds true when we pray for others who disagree with us?  YES!  We don’t pray contrary to what other people are praying for, but we speak words that submit and come to terms with the plumb line of His word.  When we do, we target people in such a way by setting up a PRODUCTIVE ENVIRONMENT by the power of our words that cause relationships restored, families glued strong, friendships firmly built and more so wooing them back them back into the loving arms of our Heavenly Father.   When we don’t pray and choose to have a critical spirit, we open ourselves and those around us to be vulnerable to the influence of the world that causes division and separation.  We have a responsibility and a great opportunity to make a difference.

“And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].”  Roman 12:2 AMP

The key to our transformation is WORSHIP, to be able to do what He called us to do, to pray for those who violate our freedom to be ourselves .  It is when we come face to face with our Heavenly Father and HIM revealing Himself and His plans and purposes to us as we dedicate ourselves to be set apart for His use.  It is an act of worship where we become the sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him by the power of the Blood of Jesus, consumed by His love.  We offer our hearts to be filled and flooded with His amazing love poured in us by the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.  It is when we marinate ourselves and be soaked in His presence in the secret place day and night, night and day, fully persuaded of how much He loves us and constantly aware that He is IN us, FOR us, UPON us and He is walking WITH us.

When meat is marinated in a particular marinade for a period of time and put it on the fire, how does it smell like?  Exactly the same as the marinade, right?

When we are constantly and consistently soaked in the marinade of His love, when trials and challenges come as fire, we are expected to emit the same fragrance of His love.  Our response would be effortless.  The marinated meat didn’t struggle to smell like the marinade.  The very same way when we’re immersed in the glory realms of His love, we shouldn’t battle to release the same scent, the aroma of His love.

Coming from being drenched in His love, He empowers us to speak life to those who mock, persecute, criticize or even do away with us and positions us to be a blessing. How we used to see people negatively changes.  Instead of nailing them as they are, the Holy Spirit lifts us higher and allows us to see people from a heavenly perspective unveiling our eyes to see what He sees, seeing them as people fearfully and wonderfully made by God, created according to His image and likeness.  It is HE Who anoints us to love those He loves.

When our thoughts towards people change, our hearts changes and out of the abundance of our hearts, our words change.  When our words are changed, the atmosphere changes and the people that are targeted by the love of God changes.  Then our prayers just got an UPGRADE.