I HAVE LITTLE FOXES

I'm writing for Five Minute Friday and today's prompt is HAVE. 

When you're on a healing journey, heading for a measure of health (mental, spiritual, emotional and physical) that you've never had before, it's easy to get to a place where you settle for better-than-it-was.  My health in all those areas is considerably better than it's ever been, and I'm content to leave it there, though I'm still working on losing more weight and getting fitter.  That much I don't mind working on.  

But God.   

I suspect He may have more in mind than what I want.    He always has.     Sigh.

It seems our life is a journey of moving forward, growing, working out our salvation with a holy fear, not sitting in one spot being comfortable.    Hmmm.  

After two years of hard work, emotionally and spiritually, of working through a TON of stuff, I just want it to stop.   I'm pretty happy with the results. 

But no.  

This morning, the Lord woke me with a prompt to look up these verses.  I didn't know where they were or exactly what it was about, but I did some research and some reading and was surprised to find out. 

Catch us the foxes,

The little foxes that spoil the vines,

For our vines have tender grapes.   Song of Solomon 2:15

Between the Vines – Artist: Carl Brenders

In the story of Song of Solomon, it's talking about an intimate relationship between Beloved and Lover.  And while the fruit of their relationship is blossoming, still tender, and that vine is not quite established and strong, but it all looks great and promising from the top, underneath something sinister is going on.  

Apparently, foxes in ancient times would come underneath the clusters and gnaw on the base of the vines, and eventually it would collapse.    It looked great up top, but down below it was being undermined and would suddenly give way.  

Apparently, I have little foxes.    And those little foxes are spoiling the vine.   

So many times lately, the Lord has brought me back to the thoughts in John chapter 15, about abiding in Him, and how that leads to bearing fruit.  

I am the true vine and My Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away;  and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.   You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.  Abide in Me, and I in you.   As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.   John 15:1-4

The abiding is about staying close enough for Him to prune the fruit, to make the branch even more fruitful. 

Ouch!!  

There has been plenty of pruning and I'm tired of it.    I mean how much pruning does one branch really need?  Seriously?  

These days, I can see things much more clearly, like why the fruit was rotten or just not there, and how to grow well from here on, and do more than just survive.

But, He wants to talk about the 'little' foxes, the things that will potentially ruin the vine, wreck the fruit and prevent more from growing.   

He has been talking to me about the 'little' things that need attention in my life, the things I have deemed unimportant or not important enough to deal with or give attention to, that I'm happy to cohabitate with.   Apparently, those things are undermining our relationship and spoiling His fruit in my life.  

What things?  

little snacks

little time-wasting exercises

little verbal slip ups

little bad attitudes

little unnecessary expenditures

little lapses of what I watch or listen to

little bouts of resistance to surrender

little episodes of laziness

little time for difficult people

It's not a little list, sadly.   

None of those little things seem life altering in themselves, and are 'minor' compared to the bigger issues I've had to deal with.

And yet they take something away from my relationship with Him

And the fruit of my life is affected.  

And that's really what it's about, eh?   

My relationship with Him should be my motivating factor - and the fruit of my life.   

I can't have one without the other, not real fruit anyway.   

This has been His challenge to me over many months.  

You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.  No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.  You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain ................  John 15:14-16  

I have little foxes.  Do I love Him enough to look for the foxes or pay attention when He points them out, and ask Him to have them, or will I keep overlooking them and stay comfortable?   

I'm reminded of the old saying:  If He isn't Lord of all, is He Lord at all?    

Is my worship of Him in song enough?   No, it isn't.   

Is good works enough?   No, it isn't.  

Is being busy for Him enough?    No, it isn't.  

Is sitting at His feet enough, close enough to see the foxes?  Yes, it is.   

Listen, O daughter, consider and incline your ear;

Forget your own people also, and your father’s house;

So the King will greatly desire your beauty;

Because He is your Lord, worship Him.   Ps 45:10,11 

One day, I pray that this is the case:

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.      Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.   2 Tim 4:7,8

In the meantime, I will stay at His feet, close enough to hear about the foxes and root them out. 

This will be my hymn of surrender

This will be my prayer to You

To move beyond just holy intentions

And let my life be spent on You

No compromise

I won't give You just half my life

If it's all or nothing

Let it all be

Let it all be for Jesus