Daily Devotional for February 12, 2022
Barking Dogs
“Mom, wait!” Sienna called as she hurriedly tied her shoes. “I’ll come too.”
Mom smiled and waited as Sienna ran to catch up with her. “I enjoy having you walk with me,” said Mom.
“I like it too,” Sienna replied. “It’s peaceful on Saturday morning.”
“Why don’t you come with me more often?” suggested Mom.
“Maybe I will.” Sienna grinned. “But not every Saturday. I have to sleep in once in a while, you know.” Just then, two large dogs in a fenced yard bounded toward them, barking and growling furiously. Sienna squealed and darted to the other side of Mom. Her heart pounded as they hurried along. “So much for peace,” Sienna muttered. “Those dogs sound mean!”
“I know, but don’t worry. They’re behind a strong fence,” Mom assured her. “I walk this way every day. They bark a lot, but they’ve never gotten out. They sound fierce, but they can’t get to you.”
When they returned from their walk, Mom got a phone call. “I’m going over to the Tillmans’,” she said when she got off the phone.
“Mr. and Mrs. Tillman are in your small group at church, aren’t they?” said Sienna.
Mom nodded. “They’re going through some hard things right now and need someone to pray with them.” She smiled at Sienna. “They need a fence to protect them.”
“I know you don’t mean an actual wood or metal fence,” Sienna said.
“No,” said Mom. “Remember those dogs this morning? Seeking out other Christians for support when we’re facing difficulties is like building a strong fence. It helps protect us against Satan’s lies.”
“So, Satan is like a barking dog?” Sienna asked.
“That’s right,” said Mom. “Satan wants to fill us with fear and doubt and get us to give in to temptation. He barks a lot, but because Jesus has saved us from sin, Satan has no power over us. We can stand firm against his lies by building fences that remind us we belong to Jesus—fences like praying, reading God’s Word, and seeking support from other Christians. Focusing on God’s truth helps us remember that Satan can’t hurt us.” –Karen E. Cogan
How about you?
Are you being tempted to believe Satan’s lies? Like a prowling lion—or a mean dog—Satan often goes after us when we are hurting and alone. That’s why it’s important to build strong fences that will help you stand firm in your faith in Jesus. Reading the Bible, praying, and seeking out other Christians who can pray for you and encourage you to continue trusting in Jesus can help protect you against Satan and his lies.
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