SermonStudio

Bonnie Compton Hanson

A few nights ago, I let our cat out, as usual, but I didn't see her come back in. "Don," I called, "have you seen Calico?"

You see, our cat loves playing her nightly watch-the-great-lioness-in-action game. Crouched behind a pot of flowers, she stalks her prey -- then, POW! Of course, her prey's never anything more than a moth or cricket!

Soon, though, she usually tires of the game and is ready to leave her "wild side" for our warm, secure, cat-dish-furnished house! We're just as happy to have her as she is to have us. All my life I have loved animals of every description. Well, not snakes, maybe, but everything else, especially dogs and cats.

My husband glanced up from his books. "Didn't know she'd gone out."

"That's okay; I'll go bring her in."

Outside, a golden moon shimmered against the night sky. Crickets and tree frogs chirped. Somewhere in the distance, dogs barked. "Okay, girl," I called, "game's over. Come on out of your hiding place and get ready for bed."

Just then, two huge dogs came bounding down our street. Obviously they'd slipped off their leashes or broken out of their yards. Still calling Calico, I walked out to the end of our driveway.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, those two dogs hurled right up to our yard, stopping inches from me. One was a chow; the other, an ugly mixed breed with powerful, rippling muscles.

I expected them to wag their tails and whine to be petted. Instead, their eyes were glazed, their fangs bared. Both snarled as if ready to leap on top of me and finish me off right then.

I froze. The house was too far away for me to turn and run to it. "God, please help me!" I prayed silently.

Right at that moment, I distinctly heard a voice inside me say, "Stare at them! Don't lose control! Stand still and see the deliverance of the Lord!"

I was shaking so badly, I could hardly stand up. But I did stand. And I stared as hard as I could.

Snarling and snapping, the two dogs stared back. Then they turned as one and headed on down the street.

I let my breath out. Safe!

But instantly, they both whirled around and charged right back -- leaping right up into the air in front of my face!

"Stand still!" commanded the voice. I was absolutely terrified, but somehow I kept standing and staring. And those dogs stopped right where they were. Right in midair!

Again they lunged -- this time close enough for their spit to spray my face. But, again, an unseen hand held them up in midair and kept them from touching me.

They ran off, frustrated. But again, before I could even take a step back toward the house and safety, back galloped those same two howling monsters. This time, with a long, running leap, they hurled themselves at me with all their might.

Again, they were stopped right there in midair.

Finally, snapping and growling with disgust, they headed on down the street. And this time they didn't return.

No wonder poor Calico had been hiding! In fact, it took me a full hour of coaxing before the frantic cat finally streaked in through our front door. It took that long for my own shakes to subside, as well.

But not my praise to my Heavenly Father. For he had not only told me what to do when I was too panic-stricken to think for myself, but gave me abundant power to do it.

I did stand still. And I did see the deliverance of the Lord.