Sneaky Little Foxes (Habits)

Ever wonder why the smallest habits seem harmless, but slowly sabotage our lives? How many times have we excused those little thoughts, those tiny lapses in character, thinking they’re harmless? It’s not the big, obvious mistakes that destroy our spiritual growth; it’s the little foxes—those sneaky, seemingly insignificant sins—that devour us from the inside out. We need to catch them before they ruin everything. This year, it’s time to stop the little foxes dead in their tracks.” Its time to catch what’s killing us.

Hi, I’m the Urban Evangelist, and today’s episode is really a call for us to be wary of Little Foxes. Song of Solomon 2:15, says, “Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.” While this verse is often read as a poetic description of romantic love, it also serves as a powerful symbol of our relationship with Christ and the subtle, hidden sins that threaten to disrupt our intimacy with Him and kill our relationship.

Foxes are not just random animals chosen in the passage. These creatures are cunning, and elusive masters of manipulation, it's why we have the phrase sly as a fox. Foxes symbolize the sneaky thoughts, habits and even sins that seem harmless at first but slowly erode our spiritual foundation. FYI there is no such thing as harmless sin.

The “little foxes” in this context represent the things that we tend to overlook, excuse, or justify. Because they are little, we feel we can manage them on our own, they’re little foxes that may even appear cute and friendly until they are full blown predators we cannot tame.

We often get defensive about them because we feel we can’t live up to the Bible’s commands. We argue and try to adjust the Bible’s teachings to suit our desires. The inner conflict we experience stems from not fully understanding what Christ accomplished on the cross. He didn’t just die to forgive our sins and leave us to figure things out on our own. He took away our sins and made grace available to help us live the life He calls us to.

Titus 2:12 says that God’s Word teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and live self-controlled, godly lives. This happens through the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us, as Philippians 2:13 says, “It is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.”

However, this doesn’t mean that once we’re saved, all our bad habits just disappear. Salvation gives us God’s life in our spirit, but our flesh remains the same. It’s our responsibility to nurture the new life we’ve received and replace the old habits. It’s our responsibility to nurture our salvation, to seek after him, to diligently search for him, to draw near to him as he draws near to us. This is an ongoing process, which is why the Bible instructs us to renew our minds through His Word, as seen in Romans 12:2: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

So, how can we get rid of these “little foxes”? Here are a few steps that can help. First we must Submit to God. The Bible gives us clear instruction in James 4:7: “Submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Catching the foxes begins with submission to Christ. Only when we submit our thoughts, actions, and will to God can the Holy Spirit reveal those hidden, unhealthy thought patterns that threaten to lead us astray.

When these things are revealed to you, acknowledge them – this is key to getting help.

1. Pray for Guidance: Seek God’s wisdom and strength to address these issues. Prayer can help clarify what needs to change.

2. Engage with a supportive community or church family. They can offer encouragement and accountability.

3. Set Boundaries: Identify areas where you need to set limits, whether it’s in relationships, media consumption, or time management.

4. Grow Spiritually: Regularly engage with scripture, worship, and service. These practices can strengthen your relationship with God.