The Foxes, Those Little Foxes

 

 

Catch all the foxes,
    those little foxes,
before they ruin the vineyard of love,
    for the grapevines are blossoming!

 

— Song of Songs 2:15 (NLT)

 

Loving Heavenly Father,

 

Help me never get so comfortable in my marriage relationship that I fail to guard against the little things that might grow to cause deep relationship problems for us.

 

Just as little foxes could wreak havoc in a vineyard of blossoming grapevines, help me to see how quickly small things can grow into large problems in my love relationship with my spouse.

 

Help me to remember that there is a tender fragility to the intimacy that I enjoy with my spouse that relies on both trust and truth—an intimacy that the enemy would love to disrupt and destroy.

 

So, help us not to ignore or minimize any of these small things, but rather carefully work together to identify them and eliminate them, as we continue to grow the bonds of our intimacy.

 

Help me never get so comfortable in my marriage relationship that I fail to guard against the little things that might grow to cause deep relationship problems for us.

 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

Those Little Foxes

 

Catch all the foxes,
    those little foxes,
before they ruin the vineyard of love,
    for the grapevines are blossoming!

 

— Song of Solomon 2:15 (NLT)

 

Loving Heavenly Father,

 

Help me never get so comfortable in my marriage relationship that I fail to guard against the little things that might grow to cause deep relationship problems for us.

 

Just as little foxes could wreak havoc in a vineyard of blossoming grapevines, help me to see how quickly small things can grow into large problems in my love relationship with my spouse.

 

Help me to remember that there is a tender fragility to the intimacy that I enjoy with my spouse that relies on both trust and truth—an intimacy that the enemy would love to disrupt and destroy.

 

So, help us not to ignore or minimize any of these small things, but rather carefully work together to identify them and eliminate them, as we continue to grow the bonds of our intimacy.

 

Help me never get so comfortable in my marriage relationship that I fail to guard against the little things that might grow to cause deep relationship problems for us.

 

In the Name of Jesus, Amen.

To Those Who Love God

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

—Romans 8:28 (NLT)

Merciful and Gracious God,

Help me to walk my life path courageously—in the strength, joy, hope and peace that come from truly believing that You are always working all things together for my good.

Sometimes, it is easy for me to believe that You are at work to bring about Your perfect plan and purpose for my life—especially when it seems, from my viewpoint, as if everything is flowing smoothly and falling into place just as it should.

Sometimes, it is hard for me to see Your hand at work for my good—when I am so consumed by the difficult things that I am facing at a particular moment, that I fail to trust that my present trials will take me to a place where You can ultimately use them for my good.

Help me to remember that it isn’t about what I see—for my sight and my insight regarding what is really going on is so limited—but it is all about trusting in the truth that You are always demonstrating Your unfailing love for me in everything I experience.

Remind me that, even when it isn’t so obvious, You never stop working to use whatever I may face in this life to bring about good for me—because I have chosen to love You back and walk in the calling that You have placed on my life.

Help me to walk my life path courageously—in the strength, joy, hope and peace that come from truly believing that You are always working all things together for my good.

In the name of Jesus, Amen.

This prayer is presented in honor and memory of my father, Irvin K. McArthur, who went home to be with our Heavenly Father one year ago.  

He told me many times how much this verse meant to him and I am grateful that his love for the truth of this verse continues to live in me.

                                                                                     - Robert A. McArthur