The last time Silas came to visit, shortly before his third birthday, Chloe scared him to death. What did she do? Nothing. Our sweet-faced red heeler simply existed and Silas wasn’t too keen on being in the same yard with her, not even a five acre yard.
Then he discovered that Chloe was even more afraid of him. She would cautiously creep out from under the porch when we all went outside, but always made sure I was between her and that frightening little human. What had Silas done to her? Nothing. He couldn’t get close enough to do anything to her.
When he finally understood, he thoroughly enjoyed his time outdoors. He picked flowers for his mommy. He loaded the bird feeder. He looked for big hunks of bark that had fallen off the sycamore, broke them into three pieces—one for granddad, one for grandma, and one for himself—and led a countdown: 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1—whee!—at which point we all threw our hunks of paper-thin bark into the air, over and over and over until there wasn’t a piece of bark bigger than a quarter to be found anywhere.
Then he walked around to the side of the house and found the two old bathtubs Keith soaks his smoker wood in. “Oh!” he cried. “A pool!”
First, he simply stood there splashing the water. Then he eyed an old coffee can and some plastic flower pots, and began dipping into the tub and pouring the water back in and, in the process, all over himself.
Then he eyed Chloe, the dog that no longer scared him. You could almost see the wheels turning. He dipped again into the tub and sat the can on its edge. “Chlo-eeeee,” he called in a singsong voice. “I have something fooooooor yooooooooou.” He picked up the can and headed straight for the dog, sloshing water with every step.
I knew exactly what he was going to do, and so did Chloe. She took off running.
Funny how one simple piece of knowledge was so empowering. When Silas learned that Chloe was so afraid of him, he was no longer afraid of her. But it isn’t just the knowing; it’s the believing.
How many times do we fail because we simply don’t believe what we’ve been promised?
With every temptation there is a way of escape, 1 Cor 10:13. We are equipped with armor that will enable us to stand against the Devil, Eph 6:11-20. We are guarded by the power of God unto a salvation that is ready and waiting, 1 Pet 1:5. Our faith stands in the power of God, 1 Cor 2:5. We are supported in our afflictions by the power of God, 2 Cor 6:7. His power works in us, and we are strengthened by it, the same power that raised Christ from the dead, Eph 3:16,20.
Do you think Satan isn’t afraid of you? The devils believe also, and tremble, James says, 2:19. Since it is Christ’s power that rests on you and not your own, 2 Cor 12:9, what makes you think you aren’t a fearsome entity as well? The only thing that would hinder it is disbelief in the promises of God.
Our weapons are mighty, 2 Cor 10:4,5, far more so than a bucket of water in the hand of a toddler, and we should be ready and willing to use them. Yes, we should face the devil with care, just as we would a rattlesnake, but his fate is already sealed. All we have to do is believe it.
…we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. Colossians 1:9-12
Dene Ward
Then he discovered that Chloe was even more afraid of him. She would cautiously creep out from under the porch when we all went outside, but always made sure I was between her and that frightening little human. What had Silas done to her? Nothing. He couldn’t get close enough to do anything to her.
When he finally understood, he thoroughly enjoyed his time outdoors. He picked flowers for his mommy. He loaded the bird feeder. He looked for big hunks of bark that had fallen off the sycamore, broke them into three pieces—one for granddad, one for grandma, and one for himself—and led a countdown: 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1—whee!—at which point we all threw our hunks of paper-thin bark into the air, over and over and over until there wasn’t a piece of bark bigger than a quarter to be found anywhere.
Then he walked around to the side of the house and found the two old bathtubs Keith soaks his smoker wood in. “Oh!” he cried. “A pool!”
First, he simply stood there splashing the water. Then he eyed an old coffee can and some plastic flower pots, and began dipping into the tub and pouring the water back in and, in the process, all over himself.
Then he eyed Chloe, the dog that no longer scared him. You could almost see the wheels turning. He dipped again into the tub and sat the can on its edge. “Chlo-eeeee,” he called in a singsong voice. “I have something fooooooor yooooooooou.” He picked up the can and headed straight for the dog, sloshing water with every step.
I knew exactly what he was going to do, and so did Chloe. She took off running.
Funny how one simple piece of knowledge was so empowering. When Silas learned that Chloe was so afraid of him, he was no longer afraid of her. But it isn’t just the knowing; it’s the believing.
How many times do we fail because we simply don’t believe what we’ve been promised?
With every temptation there is a way of escape, 1 Cor 10:13. We are equipped with armor that will enable us to stand against the Devil, Eph 6:11-20. We are guarded by the power of God unto a salvation that is ready and waiting, 1 Pet 1:5. Our faith stands in the power of God, 1 Cor 2:5. We are supported in our afflictions by the power of God, 2 Cor 6:7. His power works in us, and we are strengthened by it, the same power that raised Christ from the dead, Eph 3:16,20.
Do you think Satan isn’t afraid of you? The devils believe also, and tremble, James says, 2:19. Since it is Christ’s power that rests on you and not your own, 2 Cor 12:9, what makes you think you aren’t a fearsome entity as well? The only thing that would hinder it is disbelief in the promises of God.
Our weapons are mighty, 2 Cor 10:4,5, far more so than a bucket of water in the hand of a toddler, and we should be ready and willing to use them. Yes, we should face the devil with care, just as we would a rattlesnake, but his fate is already sealed. All we have to do is believe it.
…we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. Colossians 1:9-12
Dene Ward
RSS Feed