November 18, 2009
Many years ago, as a young boy, I was out at a fancy restaurant for dinner with my dad and my uncle. I started to get a little bored at the end of the dinner – as the drinking continued and the dancing started. So, I thought I would take a walk around the restaurant property and see what I could find. As I was outside rounding the back corner of the restaurant I came face to face with the guard dog. I have no idea what kind of dog it was, except that it was big, had a nasty attitude and it didn’t like the fact that I was in its domain. It was barking in a way that actually made my knees weak. I really didn’t know what to do. Should I run? Do I stay here frozen until its keeper comes? Who knows – I was terrified and not thinking straight. I figured the best thing to do was to turn around slowly and walk away from the dog.
So, trembling with fear, I turned my back to the dog and slowly walked back to the front of the restaurant. As I walked I could feel the sound waves of the dog’s bark in the small of my back. It was right behind me, stalking me as I moved forward. It never bit me, but the force of its bark sent waves of terror up my spine that I can still feel to this day if I close my eyes and think back to that evening.
I think the enemy is like that. There are demons that dog us – they stalk us and their ‘bark’ can be terrifying. It is important to know what enemies come after you. What “dogs” you? Is it lust, anxiety, greed, rage, despair, dread, hopelessness, pride, fear, loneliness, diminishment, etc? There goal is very simple – to steal, kill and destroy the life that God has for you. Their intent is to convince you that you can’t trust God, to be afraid and take control of things your self. I tend to be dogged by despair, dread and hopelessness. They come after me fairly regularly, but I am learning to recognize them and rebuke them. Rebuking them is simply telling them to go home – in Jesus’ name. Recognizing them is half the battle. Ask the Lord to help you recognize what enemy dogs you. What stalks you? What negative emotions do you struggle with? The root of them may very well be enemy spirits sent against you. Take your authority in Christ and rebuke them – tell them to go!
Identify what enemy dogs you – then send it home.
James 4:7
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
Strength and courage,
David MacLean