My house was three blocks from our town swimming pool in Dutton Montana. The second block is where the Freiling’s lived and they had a terror dog named McCeiver. This dog was 8 pounds of terror and constant attack of me when I was 7 years old. He would run me up a tree three times a week as I walked to the pool. I finally walked three more block out of the way to avoid him. One day my dad and I were driving by the house, and the dog was out front and I explained my fear of the dog. He said “that dog!” I said yes, “that dog!” My dad said, “Mark the next time that dog chases you turn towards him and scream and run at him!” I told my dad the certain consequences of death by mauling, yet I knew he had a point that I was so afraid of a small dog with a big bark. The next day as I walked to the pool I told myself I was walking by McCeiver’s house and a must face my enemy. As I did, McCeiver came running across the gravel street after me in ferocious attack mode. I then turned screaming as loud as I could right at him with tears of fear running down my face. To my total surprise, the mighty dog stopped his attack, turned and with tail between his legs ran back into his yard. With a grin on my face and a newfound freedom, I wiped the tears from my eyes and walk to the pool in victory. Not over McCeiver but over something much bigger, my fear!
Dear church may we believe the words of our heavenly Father and then live them out: “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7