“WHAT’S the use of trying any longer? Looks as if I might as well quit.”

Sound like what you’ve been thinking?

It’s how ten-year-old Joan felt about delivering papers to Mr. and Mrs. Kelley’s home. Once more, she tiptoed up their front steps, across the big porch, gently opened the screen door and placed the paper behind it. Inside, a highly agitated German police dog, named Duke, voiced his strong disapproval.

The admonition, “A good paper carrier always puts the paper safely behind the door,” challenged Joan to faithfulness. Not realizing she was making bad matters worse, the “paper girl” thought if she would be very quiet, the dog wouldn’t hear her. While doing duty to the best of her ability, she had made a deadly enemy.

Joan finally caught on that she could not outsmart Duke. She also knew that if she had a face-to-face encounter with him he would tear her to shreds — probably kill her. Was it worth it?

That encounter did happen. Mr. Kelley let Duke out into the back yard to get some exercise in the sun. About the same time, Joan came through the front yard. Just as she got one foot on the bottom step, the dog tore around the corner of the house. Joan froze in her tracks – and Duke in his! At his master’s command, the dog, front paws already on the step, halted in position and did not move until ordered into the house.

Duke was powerless when his owner said, “Stop!” Our adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. We can’t outsmart Satan, nor overpower him. God instructs us that it is “not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit.” (Zech, 4:6) When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. Martin Luther’s great hymn says, “One little word shall fell him.” That word is JESUS!

Moses, Joshua, the apostle Paul, John Wesley, Uncle Buddy Robinson, and other great men and women of God found God’s power sufficient to make them more than conqueror. He is your victory also. It pays to be obedient, stay surrendered, and keep on believing.

God’s hand never leads where His grace cannot keep. You need not be the victim of Satan. You can be the victor-triumph in Christ.

Originally Published in the August 1982 edition of God’s Revivalist.