March 23, 2013

  • Little Foxes

    Jesus gave a prayer model to the disciples, and one of the lines goes like this: "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" (Mat. 6:13 KJV)

    The MESSAGE Bible gives an interesting take on the verse above. "Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You're in charge! You can do anything you want!"

    Think about it. KEEP US SAFE FROM OURSELVES! Do we ever stop to consider that sometimes we are our own worst enemy? I read "Keep us safe from ourselves" and it made me think of how easily I can make a wrong decision or react in a wrong way which ends up causing myself or another hurt. When we forget that God is in charge, we can really blow it. When we make choices based solely on what WE want and how WE feel, we are heading in a bad direction. When we are ME focused, rather than GOD focused, we can be easily led into temptation.

    Most of us are not stupid enough to fall for blatant evil. But, what about staying up later than we should playing on the computer? We know this is going to make us tired in the morning, which will affect our job, family and our own health. Or what about making excuses for why we can't get to a church event? We know we should. We know we need to be a good example, and that if we go, we will be blessed, but we choose the lazy way instead. What about griping, complaining and talking bad about other people? God HATES gossip and negative talk, yet we find it comes so easy. Then there are those questionable movies and television shows. Hmmm.... I could go on, but I think you get what I mean.

    (Song of Sol. 2:15 NIV)  Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.

    We all have "little foxes" in our lives. We all have things that need to change -- behaviors which have the potential to ruin us. In our hearts we know they are spoiling the vineyard of our lives. Maybe the damage is not as noticeable as if there was a herd of elephants galloping through the field, but over time, those little foxes can do a lot of harm. It is usually not the big things which mess us up. It is the accumulated effect of many little things. Little by little they steal our dreams and destiny, they lull us into mediocrity until one day, we look back over our life and think, "This isn't how it was supposed to be! How did I get HERE? I never planned this kind of life."

    That's why we have the Holy Spirit. He will guide us. He will warn us. He will help us. But we first have to listen, and then we need to obey. We have to be willing to let Him speak to our hearts, and we must train ourselves to respond to Him. I think we often ignore Him. We harden our hearts and will not listen. But His quiet voice is the voice of hope and reason. He wishes to bring loving correction and direction. He can help us win the battle against the little foxes.

    Don't let little foxes spoil your life.

Comments (10)

  • But the little foxes are sooo cute!

  • @Aloysius_son has a point, your fox picture is indeed so cute!  But, good blog. I know there are foxes about. One way to help thwart them is to not read some Xanga posts. I purposely have mine set so I don't see the stuff intended for those over 18. I may miss some good discussions, but I also miss a lot of the tempting foxes. I wonder how many other adults, if any, do the same. I want the Lord to be pleased with me. Noone is perfect. Surely not I. I am guilty of gossip at work, or bad-mouthing someone out of frustration, but I also ask for forgiveness and try to turn from selfish choices when I notice myself succumbing.

    I like your line "When we are ME focused, rather than GOD focused, we can be easily led into temptation." Amen to that.

  • now that i look back on my life I was my own worse enemy. God was there all along taking care of me. All he asked me was to keep it between the lines and I messed up something so simple but he said,"everything happened exactly the way I planned it."

    guess God wanted me to learn my lesson. lol

  • I know that's right.
    May we all notice it when inside our heads we are giving in to the wrong way, taking a wrong step in the wrong direction

  • Um...glad I didn't read this so very late last night/early this morning! ;) . Does it count if I was also doing laundry? : D

  • Ah I love this post Mae, so true we all do have little foxes. I am making an effort to try and accomplish something each day. I know I am the worst at letting myself fall prey to many things by just allowing my mind to wonder with so much free time. I am thankful for Gods guidance and pray that I do listen.

    ryc: Your day sounded so full and lovely. I use to do the rag rugs goodness I couldn't began to remember how to do them, lol I had the tools and all but I must have sold them at one point weird how that slipped away from me lol. I know yours are lovely... an yes I would so enjoy sitting in my swing on my screened porch I do believe it will get done lol .

  • My Foxes look like I-Pads, I-Phones and Notebooks--way too much time on them.

  • As far as foxes go, I think Facebook is the one that slips me up. Maybe I'm a rare bird, but I almost felt guilty telling my husband that all I want for my birthday this Tuesday is a drive (2 hours) to the Scottsdale/Phoenix area so that I can smell the orange blossoms. God has said no. As it turns out, my dad will be going into the hospital to have a stent put into his heart. My sister and I will be sitting with mom, waiting, waiting, waiting. So, the simple, unselfish, NOT over-the-top  birthday request gets dashed. Unfortunately, I now feel angry. Maybe it's because I live simply and just wanted to get out of town, away from the load of life here. This pity party is pathetic, isn't it!?! (another fox).

  • Just like the fox, evil sneaks up on you..

  • @Richgem - Aww... I do pray your Dad will be OK. Not a wonderful way to spend a birthday, I agree. Maybe you can still do the "birthday ride" another day.  Like you, we live very simply and have to be so careful with how we spend our support. I don't ask for much. I have kind of trained myself not to want things I know I can't have. The hard thing for me is seeing my kids go without stuff they need and not being able to help them. I love to give, and it is quite a challenge now to find ways to give! Uh... remember, anger can be another little fox! I am praying for your dad, and counting on your hubby to take you on that drive sometime! Hugs!

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