Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

~Hebrews 12:2 NIV

My daughter’s dog is a barker. Getting him to stop is difficult once he gets focused on something to yap about. A bark collar—the spell breaker—emits a tiny shock when he barks and works well. However, the barking spells continue without the collar, robbing our walks of peaceful enjoyment.

I discovered, though, that another way existed to break the spell of this negative habit. I employed a command that was effective with my dogs for years. When Tony’s barking erupted, I spoke firmly and clearly to him. “Tony, look at me.”  It took two to three repeat commands before he looked at me and stopped barking. Once I had his attention, I called him over and gave him hugs and head rubbings. Then I told him he was a good dog, but no more barking. Amazingly, this worked. Once I focused his attention on me and gave him positive re-enforcement, he stopped the barking spell, and we resumed a quiet and peaceful walk.

Our daily walks through this world can often be robbed of inner peace and joy if we allow ourselves to fall under the spell of all the negativity, discouraging events, and predictions that yap and bark from our phones, televisions, computers, radios, and social gatherings. Much like Tony, we, too, need to learn to refocus our attention on something more positive and encouraging.

In 1918, Helen H. Lemmel understood this need in people’s lives when she wrote the following beautiful words:

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior
And life more abundant and free

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace

When we turn our eyes upon Jesus and away from the barking and yapping of this world, the things of this world, with all their negativity, grow strangely dim in the light of the truths Christ shares with us. God has a plan for this world and us, and it is a good plan.

So, let’s not become discouraged and fall under the spell of this world’s doom, gloom, and fearmongering ways. Let’s break its spell by focusing on God’s promises and predictions and the future joy of eternity promised to all who trust and believe in Christ as Lord and Savior. As we do so, our daily walk will again become a time of inner peace and enjoyment.

Think of what will be the spell breaker for you, so you can focus more on God’s truths. 

Father God, remind me to focus my heart and mind on You and Your truths instead of the yapping and barking of this world. In Christ’s name, amen.

Genre: Non-fiction

Copyright 2025: The Spell Breaker: Lynne Phipps: All Rights Reserved