¶ Intro / Opening
Good morning and welcome to Starting Right . I am Danny Mac and I'm going to be here every Monday to Friday to help you get a great start to your day . So grab your cup of coffee , sit back and relax for the next five minutes as I help you start your day by starting right . What's your favorite animal ?
Maybe it's a dog , maybe it's a cat , maybe it's a goldfish , maybe it's a tiger or a lion . Those are incredible animals . Maybe it's a dolphin or a whale . There's so many different animals that God has created and all of them have their own beauty . I have a few animals that I would call my favorites , but one of them would be the elephant .
I think the elephant is a magnificent creature , although he is built a little bit strangely , with those big floppy ears and the long trunk , the gigantic tusks , the legs that are the size of tree stumps , a body as big as a minivan and a little wee tail at the back . Some might say it's a very strange looking animal . Personally , I think it's magnificent .
They are incredible animals . At one point in my life I did some studying about different animals , and elephants were one of them . I found out that they are very , very intelligent . Not only that , they are also extremely loyal to their family . They look after each other . They keep each other safe . They will never leave an injured member behind .
They will always stand guard and help them in any way that they can always stand guard and help them in any way that they can , and there are records where wild elephants have actually sought out the help of humans to assist them in helping an injured elephant . It's incredible what these animals have done .
Recently I came across an elephant arable that I want to share with you this morning , and it's actually a challenge because the story is called Be an Elephant . It goes like this An elephant and a dog became pregnant at the same time . Six months later , the dog gave birth to six puppies .
Six months after that , the dog became pregnant again and nine months on it gave birth to another six puppies . And the pattern continued . All during this time , the elephant still remained pregnant and after 18 months , the dog time . The elephant still remained pregnant . And after 18 months , the dog came to the elephant and asked her are you sure you are pregnant ?
I mean we became pregnant at the same time . I've given birth three times to six puppies and now they're grown and have become big boy dogs and yet you are still pregnant . So what's going on ? The pregnant elephant smiled and replied there's something I want you to understand what I'm carrying is not a puppy , but an elephant .
I only give birth to one every two years . When my baby hits the ground , the earth feels it . When my baby crosses the road , human beings stop and watch in admiration . What I'm carrying draws attention . What I'm carrying is mighty and great . Sometimes we need to be like that elephant when we see people praying and getting answers very , very quickly .
It can be disheartening , it can be depressing to some people . Why isn't God answering my prayers ? But not everybody gives birth to a new vision and a new plan and a new idea at the same time and in the same way . I love the line of the elephant that said what I am carrying is mighty and great .
Over in 1 John 4 , verse 4 , john says you belong to God . My dear children , you have already won a victory over these people , because the spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world . When you see people around you getting answers or getting ahead , and even unrighteous people seem to be prospering , don't let that frustrate you .
Don't let that get you down , because what you have within you is greater than anything that they have within them , and when it finally gives birth in your life , it will be mighty and great . Let's go back to our parable just for a moment .
In this story the dog thought there must be something wrong with the elephant , because the elephant had been pregnant much longer than she had but somehow still was not able to produce anything . But the elephant was smarter than that . She knew that she was an elephant and what she produces in her life is going to be great and powerful and will shake the earth .
And there are times for us as well to be the elephant . Romans 8.37 tells us that in all of these things we are more than conquerors . In Christ Jesus Over . In Philippians 4.13 , it says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me . In Ephesians 3.20 , it says our God is able to do exceedingly , abundantly above what we ask or think .
That's our God and that's the power of Him and His Spirit that is within us as we live our lives . We have got the ability to shake the world with what God has placed within us , and yet we sometimes still get impatient , waiting for it to come .
We need to be more like that elephant , to be confident that at times it may take a little longer to get the answers we want , but when it comes it will be awesome and powerful , and that's because of what God has placed within us . I hope you have a great day , my friends . Enjoy it , believe that God has placed greatness within you .
Have a great day , my friends . We will talk again tomorrow . Thank you for listening today and I invite you to join me Monday to Friday , right here on Starting Right with Danny Mac .