SNAPPING, SNARLING, THOUGHTS - All Our Daily Bread Daily Devotionals for 2026

Our Daily Bread - Saturday, August 1, 2015
by RBC Ministries

Details

SNAPPING, SNARLING, THOUGHTS

READ:
Psalm 59

You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble.
-Psalm 56:16

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Psalm 57-59
Roman 4

Many years ago, my father and I hiked through Big Bend in Texas. It is a national park now, but in those days it was rough country.
One night we were rolling out our sleeping mat when a couple with a dog asked if they could camp nearby. We welcomed their company and turned in for the night. They tethered their dog to a stake beside their tent.
Some hours later, my father nudged me awake and turned his flashlight in to the darkness. Illuminated by the light, we saw pairs of yellow eyes peering out of the shadows. A pack of snapping and snarling coyotes were closing in on the dog. Although we chased them off and our neighbors put the dog in their tent, we slept fitfully.
I think of that night when I read Psalm 59 and David's twice repeated imagery; "At evening they return ,they growl like a dog"(vv,6,14). David was thinking of Saul's army that was closing in on him. I think, however, of the thoughts that return to menace us. They come back at nightfall, snapping and snarling: "You are stupid" "You are a failure" "You are useless" "Who needs you?"
When we have such thoughts, we can revel in God's unconditional, unending love. His steady devotion is our refuge in the dark night of self doubt and fear(v.16)- David Roper
Dear Lord I am so thankful that you love me unconditionally. Please chase away destructive thoughts that keep returning to take away my confidence in you and your work in me. I want to rest in you and your love.

Knowing that God loves us can dispel doubt.

More From Our Daily Devotional Archives

Open Heavens
for Tuesday, December 3, 2013
by Pastor E.A Adeboye

OFFENDED IN CHRIST?

The Christian race must be run with lots of patience or else it will be bungled midway. If you are inpatient with Gods timing, you will not only get into trouble but may not be able to finish the race. A good number of backsliders derailed from their heavenly track because of impatience. In Matthew 11:6 Jesus...More

The LORD is near
for Monday, December 9, 2013
by Jacob Redekop, Brian Reynolds, John van Dijk, Eugene P. Vedder Jr

Jehovah appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre. And...

Jehovah appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre. And he sat at the tent-door in the heat of the day. And he lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, three men standing near him.
(Genesis 18:1)

The spiritual elevation of Abraham in Genesis 18 and 19 is something very peculiar. He seems...More

Open Heavens
for Thursday, December 19, 2013
by Pastor E.A Adeboye

THE HOLY SPIRIT

It is one thing to receive the anointing and another to keep growing on it. There are people who had the anointing, but today, everything has virtually ebbed out. It is possible to connect with the Holy Spirit and to continue to flow in the power of the anointing even at increasing levels. If this is your desire,...More

Open Heavens
for Friday, February 28, 2014
by Pastor E.A Adeboye

BEFORE YOU GET ANGRY

Yesterday we learnt it is not right for us to get angry with God or to take offence against Him, even if we experience the deferment of our hopes. The example of John the Baptist who earlier acknowledged Jesus as the Messiah, but later doubted Him because of his painful experience of incarceration is a warning...More