little foxes

little foxes

my fickle heart

so quickly swayed

to worship anything but God

to seek my satisfaction, joy

in all that is created

rather than allow those joys

to point to the Creator

it was a small, a good thing

a gift from God my Father

something pleasant, wonderful -

my heart began to chase it

to crave the satisfaction

the comfort to my soul

and always, wanting more

even when I knew

that this distracted me from Christ

I wanted both.

could I not thoroughly enjoy

a good thing - an end in itself -

and still hold fast to Christ?

and so I strove to do that

knowing Christ should be my all

yet pursuing something else

to be my satisfaction

one cannot have two masters

two rulers of the soul

only one will be obeyed

and here, while flesh still clings to me,

my heart will always stray

chasing satisfaction

from that which has been made -

a broken cistern which can hold no water -

never meant to satisfy the heart

but to turn me toward the Living Water

never think you are secure

unable to be tempted

nor that your hold on Christ is such

that you can safely grasp for other things

seek out your heart:

what are your loves?

what motivates your actions?

what pleasures turn you from the Lord?

where is your satisfaction?

beware the little foxes

they will destroy your vineyard

good gifts quickly turn to idols

for my heart forgets the Giver,

clings to what is seen and felt and touched

as though the gift did not point to the Giver

find the idols; cast them down!

ruthlessly remove yourself

from that which strays your heart

though it seem to be small

or is good in itself

for your flesh is too strong

do not deceive yourself

thinking you can keep idols, and Christ

for the idols will always win

until Christ tears them from you -

humbled, with Jacob's limp -

that you might cling only to Him