The Elephant Rope
As a man was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at any time, break away from the ropes they were tied to but for some reason, they did not.
He saw a trainer nearby and asked why these beautiful, magnificent animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. “Well,” he said, “when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size of rope to tie them
and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.” The man was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn’t, they were stuck right where they were.
Message: Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before? How many of us have been conditioned by our past or by current circumstances to feel that we are limited in our abilities? Are we purpose-driven or do we operate in a spirit of fear? These are all valid questions that demand consideration and a response. More importantly, if you are like those elephants, it is time that you realize your full potential and that you set your consciousness on fulfilling the will of God, by walking in your purpose and claiming liberty over all conditions that attempt to have you bound.
2 Corinthians 3:17 (KJV) reads, “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” That same Spirit dwells in all of humanity; whether they choose to accept/believe it or not. That God-given Spirit will afford you the ability to accomplish tasks and overcome obstacles; if only you would cut the rope and be free. God’s Spirit living in us doesn’t remove our humanness; it allows us to operate at a high level in spite of ourselves. When we depend on the Holy Spirit’s power, we conquer the cravings of the flesh. We transcend from natural ability to supernatural ability.
The enemy keeps you in a state of bondage by causing you to focus on your inabilities. This is the main reason why most people have not entered into their purpose. They have allowed themselves to be subjected to negative thinking and defeat. This type of mindset breeds complacency and despair. Bondage is only a state of mind in which your thoughts are magnified through your life. Most people blame the “enemy” for their situation or circumstances but the truth is this—you are more responsible for your successes and failures than you have been led to believe. Your circumstances don’t determine your possibilities.
It is time to tap into your “YOUness” and allow the presence of the Most High to elevate your mind and actions to a level that most people won’t be able to comprehend. God can turn any obstacle into an opportunity. You were made in His image and likeness. How about you start acting like it? Stop making excuses for your downfalls, perceived failures, and manufactured inadequacies. You are more than enough! Anyone that does not see that or attempts to make you believe otherwise doesn’t belong in your circle in the first place. Positive affirmations, Scriptures, a prayer life, meditation, and remaining in the company of wholesome and forward-thinking people, are some of the activities that you must partake in to break the cycle. Growth is painful. Change is painful. But nothing is as painful as staying stuck where you don’t belong. When the negativity from your past calls, hang up!
Who you are, and what you have, means nothing until you have given it to God. He accepts you as you are and begins to use you where you are. Sometimes you may have to pray your way through the day. That’s okay because it means that you are staying in His presence. Try your best to maintain a positive consciousness and the rest will take care of itself.
