Protecting the vine

Every Thursday I host a deaf ladies bible study in our home. I love this time since it incorporates my 3 favorite things: The Word of God, Fellowship, and Food.

Today's study was so interesting and so fascinating to me that I just had to share a part of it with you.

The book we're reading is called "A Woman's Walk With God" by Elizabeth George.

Song of Solomon has a verse that says "Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes." (2:15)

To many times in our lives "little foxes" slip in trying to destroy our vines. These little foxes mess with our fruit-bearing process. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." Galatians 5:22-23  These little foxes want to strip away and spoil each of these Godly qualities in us.

What are these "little foxes" anyway? They are thoughts, actions, or attitudes that are contrary to God's character. Surround by the world and the flesh, there are plenty of little foxes out there we need to defend our vineyards (lives) from.

Selfishness spoils love.
Discontent spoils joy.
Anxious thoughts spoil peace.
Impatience spoils patience.
Bitter words spoil kindness.
Indolence spoils goodness.
Doubt spoils faith.
Pride spoils gentleness.
Love of pleasure spoils self-control.

So how do we make sure the little foxes do not creep in? Well three things need to happen.

1. We need to recognize the little foxes.
          What are the things that are stealing our love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?

2. We need to capture the little foxes.
           At the times we notice the little foxes slipping in, we need to immediately capture those thoughts, actions, or attitudes.

3. We need to kill the little foxes.
           It sounds brutal but the only way we are going to keep those sneaky foxes out of our vineyard is to kill or do away with them. When we recognize, capture the little foxes or attitudes, actions, and thoughts in our lives that are unGodly we need to quickly remove ourselves from the temptations. Come to God and confess our sin and make it right before God.

It's a hard life-long process but one that does get somewhat easier with practice. So ask God today for the wisdom and strength to remove the "little foxes" from your "vineyard".

Grace and Peace,
Erin