Elephants are amazing creatures. As someone who is not an animal lover—let me repeat, not an animal lover— I still find myself awestruck by the sheer size of these mammoth creatures. They’re gargantuan, strong, and gentle when they’re not running to violently retaliate against an attacker. These massive animals often measure up to 10 feet tall and weigh up to 14,000 pounds. Even a newborn elephant weighs 260—imagine giving birth to that bundle of joy. But it’s more than their size and physicality that prompts my fascination. It’s the fact that elephants have such good memories.
Unfortunately it’s the elephant’s memory that ultimately provides the pathway for their enslavement.
It’s a sad reality, but it’s very true. Sometimes everything can absolutely change around us, but if we see through the lens of our old memories we will still miss the new good things the Lord has brought into our lives and the destiny He’s crafted for us.
“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”
Isaiah 43:18–19
I read an article once describing how baby elephants are captured and are chained to a stake in the ground. At that point they’re still so small that the small chain holds them fastened to one spot regardless of how much they struggle to break free. Again, I’m not an animal lover, so there’s absolutely no way I’m tearing up right now over enslaved baby elephants. The pollen is just so thick this time of year.
Ahem.
As the baby elephant grows so does his musculature and strength. As a full grown adult, he could easily rip the metal stake out of the ground and escape to freedom. However, the memories of how he struggled years ago, completely unable to free himself are stuck in his mind and he still believes he’s destined to spend his days chained to a small metal stake, unable to be free. He has stopped every attempt to break free, because the idea of freedom has become an impossibility in his mind. But if he only knew that he was an unstoppable force, that all the power he needed to escape to the place he was really supposed to be was inside of him, he would try, just once more, to pull against what was now a weak stake in comparison to his size. With just a little bit of effort, he would see that what he thought held him was really just an illusion, that what occurred in the past no longer dictated his future. In his current state, it’s not the stake that holds him, but memories of past experiences.
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
Galatians 5:1 NIV
The enemy often wants us to think that we are weak and destined to live out our days bound and hobbled by the past. With every taunt and threat, he attempts to distract us from the possibilities and reality of what has been made available to us. He wants us to ignore the Word so we loosen our grip on the promises and benefits God has made available to us as His children. Because if there’s one thing the enemy knows, it’s that he can only win if we allow him to have/take our victory.
That’s why the Bible is very clear about how we are to advance in this life. God’s goal for our lives is overwhelming success in this life and in the next. As our instruction manual, the Bible is filled with God’s wisdom to help us navigate through the various scenarios in life, showing forth His nature as a good Father and good God for all our days. Our success was made possible by God Himself, but one thing that can quickly deter that success is when we allow the past to undermine our present and dictate our future. What we think about, believe, and meditate upon can either help propel us forward or undermine the good things set up for us to succeed.
“13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Phillipians 3:13–14
When we come into covenant with God we gain access to His numerous benefits. Like an overflowing treasure chest of riches, the benefits of God affect every area of our being and every season of our lives.
“Galatians 5?”
From Genesis to Revelation we see God constantly working to advance His people, as He presents the solution to the challenges they face. We also see His people resist that advancement, oftentimes out of fear, disappointment, and discouragement.
The widow at Zarepheth had given up on her future (1 Kings 17). In the midst of a desperate situation, she had very little food, was down to almost nothing and had no hope for a way out, until God sent a prophet to reverse her plans and lead her into abundance.
Naomi had resigned herself to a state of depression (Ruth 1). Rocked by the death of her husband and two sons, she returned to her hometown ready to settle into her despondent state until the Lord encouraged her through favor shown to her daughter in law to believe she could once again have a sense of family, belonging, and an opportunity to see her family extended to future generations.
And Moses seemed fine in his stagnation until God called him out of the desert and into the role he was born to fulfill as a leader of His people (Genesis).
Each person argued against the goodness and possibilities of what God had for them, but He still led them.
“If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”
2 Timothy 2:13
That desire to withdraw and retreat to a more familiar environment is is no more evident than in God’s people as they left Egypt and headed to the Promised Land. As a 10-day journey morphed into a 40-year saga of epic proportions, God continued to guide His people as they continued to doubt Him.Yet God remained faithful to His promise. Despite their doubt and unbelief, their complaints and rebellion, He met their needs, desires, and protected them day and night —for 40 years!—desiring to give them victory against their enemies.
“And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet.”
Deuteronomy 29:5
Time and time again, their old way of thinking only served to delay and ultimately deny them of the gift God had prepared for them. The Israelites overlooked the oppression of 400 years of slavery to selectively draw upon memories about their former meal plan. They cowered in the face of an enemy that was already afraid of their God. They traded in enslavement to Egypt for slavery to fear and wrong thinking. Regardless of the magnitude of the feats God performed they remained obstinate.
So how much more should we who have not just a better covenant with better promises, but overwhelming victory through the blood of Jesus and the example of what not to do in challenging circumstances move forward in victory to the Promised Land God has prepared for us?
We are more than conquerors through him that loves us.
Get Your Mind Right
God has set us up for victory, but walking in that victory daily requires our participation. Jesus was victorious in life and death, but it still required Jesus walking out His everyday, yielded and obedient to the Father’s commands. God didn’t drag Jesus up and down the shoreline or to the cross. Instead Jesus chose to embrace God’s plan.
Because we live in this life, it’s safe to say we’ve probably all experienced some level of disappointment, if not traumatizing encounters. And while the enemy would love to use those past events to counter God’s goodness in our lives and corner us into staying small and sedentary, we always have the opportunity to heal, grow, and advance through the Word of God. The only way to live in that reality of overwhelming victory is to stay connected to the Trinity. That’s why God instructs us to stay in His Word.
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Romans 12:2
“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Hebrews 12:1–2
We are set free through Truth. Through the Word we are able to see that we really have been chosen, cleansed, made completely new and set free to embrace and enjoy God’s goodness, here in this life and the next. The price has been fully paid for us as His children. When we confessed our sins and asked for forgiveness we entered into an agreement that God has promised He would never walk away from or nullify. We’ve entered a covenant that allows us to believe for and walk in His promises.
Always remember, you are qualified for His blessing and the only one who can disqualify you from the benefits of your relationship with the Father is you. He won’t walk away. He won’t desert you.
“…and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:20
This week, as you take thoughts captive, meditate upon the truth that defeats every lie. The power of God has completely upended the enemy’s tactics and is leading you into the very things he thinks you’re unqualified to enjoy. You weren’t made for small things. Your destiny in God was chosen so you will have great impact and live far from the place of defeat, shame, bondage, or stagnation. Through Him, you are victorious.
“And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
John 8:32