Little Foxes
Let’s talk about little foxes.
This past weekend, while watching Dora the Explorer with my grandson, the Lord was speaking to me about how the little foxes come into our lives. I know—you can giggle. I was giggling too as I watched it. At one point I even said to the Lord, “Are You going to use a cartoon?” He quickly reminded me that He once used a donkey.
As I watched the cartoon, I noticed how sneaky the fox was. He would hide out, waiting for the perfect opportunity to swipe—looking for an opening to creep in and cause havoc. In Song of Solomon, it talks about “the little foxes that spoil the vine.” Those small doors of opportunity the enemy uses to swipe. It could be overlooked sin, bad habits, a relationship He told you to deal with, or unforgiveness. It could even be something you thought you had dealt with, but the damaged root is still there, spoiling the vine.
When Dora finally saw him, she would yell, “Swiper, no swiping!” and sometimes call on her trusty backpack for help.
As I watched, I thought about the cracks in my own life—places where he might be hiding, waiting for the perfect opportunity.
In 1 Corinthians 10:12, we are warned to be careful: if you think you are standing firm, take heed lest you fall. I really like the Amplified version of this verse:
“Therefore let the one who thinks he stands firm [immune to temptation, being overconfident and self-righteous], take care that he does not fall [into sin and condemnation].”
That was me at one time—thinking I had overcome alcohol. I was overconfident, and that little fox snuck right in.
One socially accepted drink at a time.
For 10 years I didn’t drink, then in my over confidence in self I told myself, “Oh, I can just drink on vacation.” It was the crack the fox needed. And the opening got a little bigger every time I gave in, allowing the enemy to swipe my joy and replace it with guilt and shame—pushing me into isolation.
Eventually, like Dora, I saw him. But I didn’t start out yelling; it was more of a whispered prayer:
“Lord, save me. Fix this mess I have made. In Jesus’ name.”
I began using my trusty backpack—everything the Lord had given me over the years. My church. The Word. My prayer time reminding me of Psalm 121:1–2:
“I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!”
And again, the reminder to be careful… lest I fall.
I pray today that you allow the Lord to show you the small cracks the fox can use to spoil the vine.
Even if He does it through a cartoon…
That was me at one time—thinking I had overcome alcohol. I was overconfident, and that little fox snuck right in.