I was incredulous as I eyed this dog with its head bobbing up and down. My friend added, “It’s to put on the dash of your truck.” I thought quickly, “Maybe my wife will put it in the back glass of her car. No, probably not.”

My first thought was, “That’s not cool, a pastor driving around town with a dog, it’s head bobbing up and down, riding on his dash. It’s kind of nerdy and not too dignified.” But I didn’t want to hurt my friend’s feelings, so I smiled and said, “Thank you.”

I learned a few lessons from that unusual birthday gift. First, God has unique ways of humbling us and keeping us from becoming to proud and dignified. The great golfer Tiger Woods’ father once told him, “Remember son, you’re never as big as you think you are or as big as you’re portrayed to be.”

Second, God has a sense of humor. How He must laugh at some of our antics. If you don’t think God has a sense of humor, look in the mirror or go to a shopping mall and observe some of the people.

Third, friendship many times is more important than being right, rude or unthinking. Being considerate of other’s feelings is the oil on the hinge of friendship. That’s why I always wore the neckties that my children gave me at Christmas (at least once), even if it had Bugs Bunny or a Tasmanian Devil on it.

Fourth, God can teach us a lesson even in the seemingly ordinary or insignificant things or people. You’ll see that hound dog with the bobbing head sitting on the dash of my truck. I named him D.O.G. It means, “Depend On God.” Everytime I see that head bobbing up and down I am reminded that yes, I can depend on God. Jesus said that Our heavenly Father takes care of the lilies and the birds of the air, and we are more valuable to Him than they. Jesus is “The Faithful and the True,” “the Beginning and the End;” His promises are “Yea and Amen”. You can depend on Him.

When I was a boy, I had a picture over my bed of a shepherd dog rescuing someone in a snowstorm. When I was afraid of the dark, that dog reminded me that I had the Good Shepherd to look out for me. (See Psalm 23 and John 10:1-18)

The words “Fear not” occur many times in the Bible. The Word of God has no suggestions, only commandments. So if we fear and worry, we are being disobedient and disobedience is always sin. D.O.G. reminds me to always “Determinedly Obey God.” The only way failure and destruction can occur in our lives is when we forget to trust God or disobey Him. When we take things into our own hands, we usually mess everything up.

In our increasingly fast paced age, it is easy to follow the crowd and let materialism become a god. Worry and tension then become your master. But Paul writes, “…I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances may be. I know how to live when things are difficult and I know how to live when things are prosperous… I have learned the secret… of facing either plenty or poverty. I am ready for anything through the strength of the One who lives within me.” (Philippians 4:11-13; Phillips)

Some people are turning to the occult and the “new age” to find answers. Evil spirits work through many psychics or fortune-tellers and give just enough accurate information to keep people going back, but something else happens. Many develop fears, depression, and anxiety. Some begin hearing voices or have suicidal thoughts.

Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world. So if you follow me, you won’t be stumbling around in the darkness, for the living light will flood your path.” (John 8:12; Phillips)

If you are in darkness or gloom, you don’t have to stay there. You can be set free. Depend on God.

“When you were spiritually dead because of your sins and because you were not free from the power of your sinful self, God made you alive with Christ, and He forgave all our sins. He cancelled the debt… He took away its rules and nailed it to the cross. God stripped the spiritual rulers and powers of their authority. With the cross, He won the victory and showed the world that they were powerless.” (Colossians 2:13-15; NCV)

You can close the door on worry, fear, and demonic oppression and open it to Jesus, the Good Shepherd. Confess doubt, disobedience, worry and sin to Christ. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9-10) If possible, also confess to a trusted friend who can pray with you. (James 5:13-16)

Perhaps you would like to borrow D.O.G. for a while. We can learn some valuable lessons from him. Depend on God.