FIRST RESPONDER DEVOTION from 1 samuel 16:7

But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7, KJV).

Reflections from 21 Years in Law Enforcement

The Journey of a K9 Handler

2024 marks 21 years as a Law Enforcement Officer here in the great state of Louisiana. In 2012, I began my journey as a K9 Handler. Being a K9 Handler, for me, is the most rewarding work in Law Enforcement. I enjoy when my dog finds the narcotics that we were called out to search for. Or, locate the individual we were tracking for a serious criminal offense.

Understanding Change of Behavior (COB)

Part of being a K9 Handler is you have to learn to read your dog. When a dog is in odor, whether drugs or a bad guy, the dog has certain reactions to that odor. In our line of work, we call that a COB or Change Of Behavior.

During his search for odor the dog will open his mouth from time to time, which is the natural way a dog breathes. But when the dog gets in the odor that he is searching for, he closes his mouth and sucks in more air through his nose. That is where his olfactory glands are, where the odor is processed. When he does this, you can normally hear that change happen. You can actually hear him sucking in more air. This is normally the first of many indications that he is in odor.

The next thing you may notice is that the dog has a change in body posture. The dog may get lower to the ground or go up high on his hind legs, depending on where the source of the odor is and the odor’s movement. The dog’s tail may become stiff or wag differently. The dog will start trying to trace or follow that odor to its source. You will notice the dog’s movement has become more intense, with more purpose trying to locate that source of the odor.

And finally, once the source is located the dog comes to a final response. For narcotics it is normally a passive indication which is indicated by a sit. For the apprehension, well, it normally ends with the bad guy screaming in pain. To be a good Handler you must learn your dog’s COB.

As you grow in your career as a K9 Handler it gets easier to read your dog. You know pretty quickly when your dog is in odor. You know his COB.

A Believer’s Change of Behavior

As a Believer in Christ, there should be a change in the way you walk, talk and live as you seek out the Lord and draw nearer to Him. My Pastor always says “Something as big as the Holy Spirit of God moves into you, there should definitely be some big changes in your life”. In 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) the Bible says:

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. – 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)

You see, before you were a Believer in Christ, you walked, talked, thought and acted like the world. The Enemy of God had you blinded to the things of God (2 Corinthians 4:4). But when you were saved and the Holy Spirit now took up residence in you, you were made a new creature.

living as salt and light

Does the world see, by your actions, that you are a new creature, a follower of Christ?

He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.. – 1 John 2:6 (KJV)

The Lord knows our heart, but does the world know it? Can they look at you and say to themselves, “There is something different about him or her; I want to know what that is”? The world CAN know our heart, by the way we live our life (our Actions and Words) — our COB!

You may say, “I am not living my life in a way that shows my heart for Christ to the world.” I understand we battle our flesh daily. I encourage you, the believer, that if you are not seeking out the Lord and living for Him as you should be, let today be the day that you start living for Him. God’s mercies are anew every day (Lamentations 3:22-23).

As Christ followers, we are to be the “salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13-16). Salt makes you thirst, and light shows the way! Let the world see your COB and let your light shine for the Lord. Point others to the Source of Eternal Life (John 3:16) and the Peace which passeth all understanding (Philippians 4:7). God Bless!