I read once that an elephant can be held in place by a small wooden peg in the ground and a little rope. If the elephant knew that he was stronger than the small wooden peg and rope, he could easily uproot it. They are held captive by what they don’t know – the truth!
Elephants are trained from the time they are young that the wooden peg and rope is stronger than they are. Therefore, they stay stuck. Long after they have grown in stature and strength, they are still held in place by a miniscule object. Amazing, isn’t it?
I think strong-holds are the same way. If we believe a lie long enough, it becomes truth to us. This lie that has become truth over us rules us and we stay stuck. But oh how amazing it is when we realize the power of God within us. Through His Grace-Filled, Loving-Powerful Word, we can begin to measure the lie with the weight of who God is, and all of a sudden, the lie is uprooted!
If every lied-to Christian got a hold of this truth, the sound of captives being set free would sound like a stampede of elephants running freely into the horizon of God’s will, and the sight of such a parade would be more glorious than an African sun-set.
Ps 68:1May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him.
Ps 68:2As smoke is blown away by the wind, may you blow them away; as wax melts before the fire, may the wicked perish before God.
Ps 68:3But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God; may they be happy and joyful.
Ps 68:4Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds — his name is the LORD— and rejoice before him.
Ps 68:5A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.
Ps 68:6God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
Ps 68:7When you went out before your people, O God, when you marched through the wasteland, Selah
Ps 68:8the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.
Ps 68:9You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance.
Ps 68:10Your people settled in it, and from your bounty, O God, you provided for the poor.
Ps 68:11The Lord announced the word, and great was the company of those who proclaimed it:
Ps 68:12“Kings and armies flee in haste; in the camps men divide the plunder.
Ps 68:13Even while you sleep among the campfires, the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver, its feathers with shining gold.”
Ps 68:14When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land, it was like snow fallen on Zalmon.
Ps 68:15The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains; rugged are the mountains of Bashan.
Ps 68:16Why gaze in envy, O rugged mountains, at the mountain where God chooses to reign, where the LORD himself will dwell forever?
Ps 68:17The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands; the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.
Ps 68:18When you ascended on high, you led captives in your train; you received gifts from men, even from127 the rebellious— that you, O LORD God, might dwell there.
Ps 68:19Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Selah
Ps 68:20Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death.
Ps 68:21Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins.
Ps 68:22The Lord says, “I will bring them from Bashan; I will bring them from the depths of the sea,
Ps 68:23that you may plunge your feet in the blood of your foes, while the tongues of your dogs have their share.”
Ps 68:24Your procession has come into view, O God, the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary.
Ps 68:25In front are the singers, after them the musicians; with them are the maidens playing tambourines.
Ps 68:26Praise God in the great congregation; praise the LORD in the assembly of Israel.
Ps 68:27There is the little tribe of Benjamin, leading them, there the great throng of Judah’s princes, and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.
Ps 68:28Summon your power, O God; show us your strength, O God, as you have done before.
Ps 68:29Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring you gifts.
Ps 68:30Rebuke the beast among the reeds, the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations. Humbled, may it bring bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war.
Ps 68:31Envoys will come from Egypt; Cush will submit herself to God.
Ps 68:32Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord, Selah
Ps 68:33to him who rides the ancient skies above, who thunders with mighty voice.
Ps 68:34Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the skies.
Ps 68:35You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.
May you bask in the grace-filled love of God in His Word.
Kristina Seymour loves to encourage and equip women through the Word and through community. She is the author of The Warrior Mom Handbook, The Warrior Mom Leadership Manual, and The Warrior Wife Handbook; they are available at Amazon.com. Kristina's Bible studies are for women who desire to live by faith in the midst of their everyday lives. She has learned that women can't survive on caffeine and animal crackers alone; women in the Word and in community are united and able to stand firm. To learn more about Kristina, please visit her recently founded Share & Company Publishing House http://seymourkristina.wix.com/shareandcopublishingto. God loves to share His story of love and grace through us all, and Kristina believes that everyone has a story to tell.
