What Holds You Captive?
As a young child, I was most amazed by the massive elephants so easily led around by their handlers. These giant pachyderms were broken entirely and submissive. Years later, during a sales training class, I learned why elephants can be so easily led wherever their handlers want and won’t try to escape.
An Unexpected Plight
When an elephant is young and being trained for service, it is shackled with a great, heavy manacle around its leg attached to a heavy chain anchored to a large post. The young elephant will struggle to free itself from this bondage for a long time. Ultimately, when it gives up and surrenders to its situation, the large chain is replaced by a small rope that the elephant could easily break if it chose to do so. By this time, however, the psychology of ‘no’ overrules the potential of ‘yes’ and freedom.
So, what keeps you from achieving your full potential? What small string in your heart or mind tethers you to a small post and a limited life? For many years, I didn’t think I could make a living writing, which was my greatest passion and desire. Finally, over the past years, I began slowly submitting articles, getting paid to write a newspaper column, publishing my book, and then landing a business column in Chattanooga’s only business magazine. And now, with Linda, I run a communications company helping to tell other people’s stories.
Do limiting Beliefs Hold YOU Captive?
If you think you can’t do something, or feel subjugated to limiting beliefs, consider what the Amplified Version of the Bible shares about Phil 4:13: “I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]”
If you feel stuck, unfulfilled, or have a bucket list longing that continues to be a foggy, far-off dream and not a reality, I encourage you to consider and study this verse prayerfully. It has the power to break your chains that bind you and free you to do what He has called you to do!
Another key verse to consider states that before you were ever born, God laid out plans for work just for you. He lined things up that only you…of all the billions of people on earth could do. Eph 2:10 (AMP) clearly states this, “For we are His workmanship [His master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].
A Step of Faith is Required to Experience Freedom
But to do these works, you must take a step (or steps) of faith. Ultimately, it is up to you to improve your life and positively impact the world. Helen Keller stated, “Life is either a grand adventure or nothing.” Now, if a woman born blind and deaf could impact the world through her faith and courage, what is holding you back?
Just as the elephant finally gives up trying to break free from its bonds, if you give up trying to break free, you too will remain stuck. So, TODAY take a risk. Take a step of faith in the direction of your heart. Even if it is a small step forward, you are making progress and showing yourself that you can do it!
