Don’t sweat the small stuff, says the well-known adage. And normally, that is sound advice. We should never let ourselves be overwhelmed by little things, especially when our faith is rooted in Christ. But there is a time when we must be discerning over little things.

Recently, I had a dream, one that I believe is relevant for every Christian.

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In my dream, I was walking my niece to school. Many other people were outside enjoying the weather. It was a lovely day, the grass was vibrant and lush, and everywhere I looked, flowers were in full bloom. A gentle breeze carried a fragrant aroma. I stopped to smell some roses, literally. As I was admiring nature in its glory, I noticed from my peripheral vision something scurry behind me.

On the trail where I walked, there was a den, inside of which were two young gray foxes. As I drew closer to, the foxes ran into a neighboring yard. Burrowing under the fence, they entered the property with ease. I kept walking and noticed that many of the homes had dens in front of their yards, and many had foxes living in the yards. No matter which direction I looked, I saw them, and the people didn’t seem to mind these wild foxes in their yards. Then I woke up.

The environment of the dream was a paradise of sorts, like a lush garden blossoming. Many people had gardens in their yards, and fruitful vines. The scene reminded me of this Bible verse: “Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom” (Song of Solomon 2:15).

Song of Solomon is a love song about a bride and her bridegroom. This is a prophetic picture of Christ (the Bridegroom) and His Church (the Bride). The verse about catching the foxes is made ahead of their union: Foxes were considered a nuisance; allowed to enter the vineyard, they would ruin it. The Greek word for fox (ἀlópix) translates to mean cunning or crafty. This is an important lesson for Christians today: Catch the little foxes in your life, and keep them out of your garden.

Satan himself is crafty and deceiving. He will try again and again to tempt you into sin. When that fails, he will distract you with “little things.” He would love for you to become so busy that you have no time to tend to your garden — your relationship with the Lord. When your relationship with the Lord is not your first priority, it is easier for the little foxes to get in.

These foxes spoil the vineyard. They come to steal your fruit and harvest: Where there was once the fruit of the Spirit, the works of the flesh will now be manifest (compare Galatians 5:22–23 with Galatians 5:19–21).

Guard the Spiritual Gates

Remember that Satan is the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10): Your peace will be replaced with panic; the joy you once had will fade, and you will find yourself heavyhearted; the love you once had for the lost will dull, until you don’t even give a second thought to the souls of those around you.

In my dream, I was shocked at how comfortable the people were with having foxes either right outside their homes or living in their yards. They were completely unbothered. That’s how the devil works — he may be in proximity, and when Christians aren’t being watchful or praying, he, like a sneaky fox, finds his way in. His goal is for you to become complacent, apathetic, and so comfortable that rather than evict him, you will cohabitate with him.

Those little foxes are sin, and it does not take much to get you into trouble: A little leaven leavens the whole lump (Galatians 5:9). A little bit of compromise with sin can lead you someplace you never thought you would go, doing things you never thought you would do.

In the dream, the foxes were able to make holes in or beneath the fence to gain access. A fence is a means of protection to keep invaders out. As intercessors, our call is to pray on behalf of others. In biblical times, if there was a breach in the city wall, the enemy could easily invade. This is another reason intercessors are needed: to stand in the gap and build up or repair the wall.

We must guard our spiritual gates. We must be careful what we are allowing into our lives. The words we speak or receive do matter. What we are taking in daily through our eyes and ears does matter. We must especially guard our thought life and make war against strongholds that work against the knowledge of God. Scripture tells us to take every thought captive to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). We must also guard our hearts: Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life (Proverbs 4:23 NLT).

The bridegroom in Song of Solomon longs to be with his bride. The bride was lovesick waiting for him. Isn’t all this still true today? What about us? Are we lovesick, or are we sick of waiting? In Song of Solomon, the bride was in preparation, making ready for her beloved, and we should be as well, because He is coming for a Bride without spot or blemish.

Are there things in your life that you know don’t belong there? Ask the Spirit of God to reveal the little foxes in your life. Confess when He does show you, and then repent and turn away from them.

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:23,24).

Let’s pray this way:

Lord, I humbly come before You and thank You for giving me access to the throne to receive grace and mercy when I’m in need. Forgive me for not having been diligent and watchful about some things I have let into my life. Forgive me if I have been so busy that my relationship with You has come second, third, or even last. Forgive me for compromising over “little things” and thus, in the process, justifying sin, which has harmed my relationship with You. Forgive me if I have allowed myself to become apathetic toward sin. Touch me Lord, and give me a heart of flesh that grieves over sin, as You do.

Search my heart, my mind, and my motives, and expose anything and everything there that You find offensive. I want to be like that bride who was prepared for the bridegroom. Lord, I want to burn again with the fire of first love, to be consumed with jealousy for the honor and glory of Your name. I want to be fully clothed and to have my lamp filled with the oil of readiness for Your return. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

How did this article resonate with you? Please share below, and encourage others.

Author Gloria Robles is a passionate intercessor with a prophetic voice for today. For more from Gloria, go to Spotify or Anchor to listen to her podcast Something To Share. Photo Credit: Qijin Xu on Unsplash.