The Mind Prisoners

Elephants are huge. Way stronger than ten strong men; yet, many live as prisoners, held in check by a rope around one of their hind legs--rope that is attached to--nothing!

How is this possible?

When the elephant is quite young, men attached it to a stake via a rope around its hind leg. The elephant isn't strong at that age, and no matter how hard it tries, it cannot move away. After a while it stops trying. Even after it grows strong enough to drag the stake out of the ground, it will not even try to run away as long as it feels the rope around its leg. It truly believes that it is a prisoner, even though it may not actually be attached to anything.

So many of us have that same mindset. We end up defeated, prisoners of our own minds. The one who attaches us to that "stake" and "rope" is the evil one: "The thief (The devil) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." John 10:10 (NASB).

Here is how it works: We become attracted to a vicious habit--drugs, sex, a bad temper, or anything else. It is, in fact, the evil one whispering in our ears: "Why not try this? It will be fun! Don't be a chicken!" Unawaringly, we come to believe that these are our own thoughts, and we give in. Before we know it, we are slaves to the addiction.

So many people have asked me to pray with them for deliverance. The problem, once we are a child of God, that rope is already broken! It is no longer attached to that stake! The only thing keeping us bound to that addiction is nothing but a loose rope! We have simply become slaves in our minds to the evil one, and believe me, the evil one will make us believe that he is our master. As long as we think that our addictions are bigger than anything else, as long as we believe they are bigger than God and that there is no way to find freedom, we will continue dragging that rope with no hope in sight.

Breakthrough is possible, but we must be willing to leave that rope behind. After all, it is not attached to anything, and it cannot keep us from our victory: "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:57 NASB).

Our mindset has to be thrown into the waste basket. That rope (Our addiction) is truly not bigger than God; but as long as we think it is, we will continue to be slaves. It's time to give that lie up. We are free, not through our own merits, but through the merits of the One who was crucified so that we could experience victory: "But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37 NASB) It's time that we see our Heavenly Father in His splendor. He is way bigger than our puny "rope" (addiction): "You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." (1 John 4:4 NASB) Once we focus on His greatness, we will become confused as to why we thought we were prisoners at all. A loose rope! Come on! That's ridiculous! And even if it were true, which it is not, our Heavenly Father could move earth and heavens for us to be free completely: "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed." (John 8:36 NASB). No doubt about it!

What are you going to do with this rope? It's your decision!

Rob Chaffart

The Mind Prisoners

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