Little things, over time, add up to big things. It might be a slight demand on your time, a situation that requires your attention, or a question that you have to answer. Those small things, while not necessarily bad things, can multiply, crowd out and overtake the things God wants us to focus on, especially our time with Him.
I’m not much of a Star Trek fan, but when God recently spoke to me about allowing the aforementioned little things to build up in my life, I was reminded of the episode of the Tribbles. I don’t remember the episode details, but those cute little balls of fur multiplied so fast, it caused problems for the crew. They weren’t bad, but they weren’t good either and they became so prolific that they were everywhere. Scripturally, the Holy Spirit brought to mind this verse: Catch all the foxes, those little foxes, before they ruin the vineyard of love, for the grapevines are blossoming (Song of Solomon 2:15 NLT)!
Often it is not the major events that disrupt our time with God, it is the small, ordinary, every day things that pop up. Those things that happen and we say “I’ll pray in a bit” or “I can catch up reading later”, those things that alter our schedules or seem like great ministry opportunities. Then, all of a sudden a week (or more) has gone by and we haven’t had any meaningful conversation or study time with Jesus. Sometimes it isn’t even a tangible thing, it can be a small disappointment we linger on, a relationship (family or friend) that has fizzled out, or thoughts we’ve dwelt on. Most of the time, when we realize we’ve strayed off the path a bit, it is usually when things seem to be going really good.
As for those little foxes – well, Scripture says they will ruin the vineyard at the time when the vines are ripening. We must be guard our time with Papa jealously and fervently pursue Him, especially when things are going well because that is where the foxes are going to pop up. Let us not allow small or (cute) little things to build up in our lives and crowd out the one person we need to focus on. No is an anointed word and we could use it more often than we do. I’m going fox hunting, are you?
Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need (Matthew 6:33).
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