The Little Foxes 🦊

Posted on April 27, 2024 by

32 Comments

Our lives contain many big moments. But the majority of our lives is filled with the small moments. Every day we have small blessings that bring us joy – beautiful sunsets, a hot cup of coffee, a good book, laughter, and so much more. Taking notice of these gifts will bring gratitude to our hearts.

But just as we have many small blessings, we also have small speed bumps that are a part of every day life. Sometimes the little bumps in the road are just normal life. (But I also believe that the enemy will use small grievances to get to us. The enemy has been studying us for our entire lives, so he knows the things that will bring us down.)

These small trials could potentially bring large frustrations, if we allow them to. Or at times, we might even ignore them, and our negligence could usher in more trouble. But when we walk closely with the Lord, and seek His help and strength, it makes all the difference.

Several weeks ago I had a few nudges that reminded me to not allow the small trials in life to turn me upside down.

The first nudge came via a quote that I saw on Instagram: “Be so confident in God’s plan that you don’t even get upset anymore when things don’t go your way.”

(I tried looking it up, and I did find this to be a very popular quote. However, I was unable to tell who it should be attributed to.)

I really love this thought. Sometimes we get so uptight about how we think things should go. But we have to remember that God’s ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts (see Isaiah 55:8-9). God is always looking out for His children. A huge part of our Christian walk is learning to trust Him. He has our best interest at our heart.

The second nudge was a quote by Henri Nouwen, “My whole life I have been complaining that my work was constantly interrupted, until I discovered the interruptions were my work.”

This hit me because it speaks to the heart that I want to have as a Christian. I want to have a heart that overflows with the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23). Often interruptions come from other humans. When we pause our own agenda to give someone else attention, we are walking in love. Jesus had a servant’s heart. While He was on this earth, He always helped anyone who sought Him. I want to be more like Him, in every way.

The last nudge that came my way was from Scripture. Song of Solomon 2:15 NKJV says, “Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes.”

The late minister Charles Taze Russell gave these definitions:

  • The foxes — Very cunning, not capable of ferocity and viciousness, but is nevertheless cause of much harm. An appearance of docility makes it more dangerous, less likely to arouse suspicion of its evil intentions.
  • Little foxes — King Solomon seems to be picturing the depravities of our fallen nature which are not so extreme, but very harmful. Little sins which are really more dangerous than grosser sins because we are less likely to be on guard against them. Careless, thoughtless, impatient words; little grumblings; a sarcastic word or laugh or look or shrug.

These thoughts are eye-opening. Do we have bad habits or small sins in our lives that we think are “no big deal?“ Do we allow small annoyances to sneak in with grand destruction? Do we store grudges in our hearts and allow a wedge to form in our relationships?

When we remember that there are little foxes that sneak into our lives, awareness is key. Small things might go unnoticed, and over time they could wreak havoc on our lives, our jobs, our homes, our relationships, or even our walk with the Lord. The little foxes can be so many different things in our lives, and I feel it would do us good to prayerfully keep our eyes open for them.

I pray we can learn to face each day and each moment with the words of Jesus – “Thy will be done.” It’s not easy, but it is possible when we face our days with His strength.

I don’t know what you are facing today, but no matter what, Jesus is there. He will help you through the challenges of life, big or small. He walked this earth, so He understands all the things we go through. And when you place your trust in Him, He will give you beauty for ashes (see Isaiah 61:3).

Thank you for reading. I hope you have a blessed weekend.

Photo taken Sunday, April 21, 2024

© 2018-2024 Bridget A. Thomas. All rights reserved.

Category: Seeking GodTags: , ,

32 Comments on “The Little Foxes 🦊”

  1. Thanks Bridget. Your post caused me to want to examine my own habits to make sure the little things are not creeping in. Little things can become such a part of us that we accept them as ok, when it’s not ok with God. He’s sees our actions and knows our thoughts. I asked God recently to show me the source of some negative thoughts I was having towards someone. And He did! I was able to have understanding, repent and move on. Beautiful photo. 😍 Have a nice weekend.

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    • Dawn, I love that you prayed about your negative thoughts. Earlier this year I read a book by Charles Stanley called Emotions, and he basically advised that very thing. He said sometimes our emotions are deep, perhaps even stemming from childhood. But when we pray and ask God to reveal their source, He helps us uproot them. You provided a great example of keeping our awareness open for the little foxes. Thank you! About the photo – I had been singing praise music when the rainbow appeared before me. It was a special moment and my heart was full! God is so good. ♥️ I hope you have a nice weekend too!

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  2. “When we pause our own agenda to give someone else attention, we are walking in love. “ Best Bridget Thomas quote ever!

    This, and the Nouwen quote, speaks to where I am in my new job.
    Someone recommended a book recently, it may have been Dawn or Manu, entitled “The Bait of Satan” by John Bevere. I’m just getting started with it, but the premise of the book is that when we choose to take offense at something, we are taking the bait of Satan—opening our lives to his influence.
    Excellent post, sister! The foxes 🦊 analogy is one to meditate on, as well.
    Blessings!

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    • Lol, you made me laugh with your best Bridget quote ever comment 😂 Thank you! I have heard a lot of great things about that book, but I haven’t actually read it. I need to do add that one to my list. Thank you for mentioning it. I’m glad this post was inspiring. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Blessings to you and your wife! 🤗

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  3. The little things that we tend to ignore, that struck me. There is this book I have been intending to read called ‘Respectable sins’ and it talks about sins that we tend to accept in our lives. As you said they do have a snowball effect on our lives if we keep them unchecked. Your post makes me reflect. May we indeed prayerfully keep our eyes open about these little foxes. Blessing my friend 💙

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    • That sounds like a good book, Manu! I haven’t heard of it. Thanks for the reference. In our daily lives it can be easy to overlook the little things like that. Just having an awareness is helpful. And as you said “prayerfully” keep our eyes open. It’s so important to keep an open dialogue with the Lord at all times. He will help us when we keep our focus on Him. Thank you, Manu! Blessings to you too! ♥️

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  4. “ face each day and each moment with the words of Jesus – “Thy will be done.” It’s not easy, but it is possible when we face our days with His strength. “

    I frequently see interruptions as just that and I know I should see them as opportunities to love others as I give them attention. You’re right, it’s not easy, but with His strength, it’s made possible.

    Thanks for sharing! Great post 🤗

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    • I understand completely because I’m the same way with interruptions. I would like to remember that sometimes interruptions are divine appointments. Sometimes Interruptions are part of God’s plan to mold us. Each moment we can trust that we are right where He wants us to be. And even when we get off course, there is always a lesson we can learn. What a gift that the Lord is always with us, helping us, and guiding us! Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Summer. ♥️

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  5. A few little foxes popped into my head. Fortunately, I’m aware of them. Unfortunately, I have thus far failed to overcome those little things that distract me and create a sense of separation from God. Not giving up.

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  6. I have tried to look at those small things as GOD’s hand reaching right into my life to say ‘HEY HERE I AM’. When things don’t go my way, I figure that GOD is trying to turn my attention……..to HIM! Oh to notice HIS HAND! And if we don’t we are asleep.

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    • I love that perspective! I pray I can have more of that perspective too. Thank you for sharing. And yes good point that if we do not see His hand, we are asleep. (LORD, awaken our souls! 🙌)

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  7. Thank you for this post and wishing you blessings as well. It is easy to over-react and get upset when things do not go our way. Resting in God’s peace and taking it all to Him in prayer is the very best thing we can do.

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  9. Well said, Bridget. We need to live aware in order to note the small blessings; we need to live aware in order to note the little foxes! I’m going to interrupt myself (!) right here and write a card for my prayer box, asking God to help me develop the habit you’ve presented here. Thank you, Bridget!

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    • I love that you have a prayer box, Nancy! I have not tried that. But I do have a prayer journal that I use at times. Something about writing prayers feels extra special. But I agree with you. I am going to write a prayer about this too! Thanks for the nudge. I hope you have a wonderful week. 🙂

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  11. Great reflective writing, Bridget!!

    I really love this, “My whole life I have been complaining that my work was constantly interrupted, until I discovered the interruptions were my work.”

    What a great realization.
    May we take notice of the little and big sins alike—confess, surrender and keeping pressing into His way!!

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    • I’m so glad the Lord is continually renewing us, and helping us grow, when we allow
      Him too. As it says in Psalm 23, He leads us in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

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