Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom. Song of Solomon 2:15 (New International Version, NIV)

A fox is not a large animal. However, a fox can do considerable damage. In this passage, we see that the fox was considered a real nuisance to those who had vineyards. When the word fox is used in Scripture, it often is mentioned in a negative light. Ezekiel called the foolish prophets of Israel foxes. Jesus called the tyrant Herod a fox.

Just as foxes are small, but can cause considerable damage, so are the small irritations and challenges that come to frustrate us. Our adversary, the devil, uses minor things, those small inconveniences and problems, to anger us and cause us to act according to the flesh instead of the spirit. He may or may not be the cause of the problem we’re dealing with, but he will use it. He will send thoughts and negative feelings to try to get us angry. And if we aren’t alert and on our guard, we may eventually blow up at the irritations and inconveniences we experience. And then, he’ll use our outburst to attack us with condemnation, telling us that we’re not much of a Christian if we allow something that small to get to us!

We can keep such minor things in perspective by keeping our focus on God. We must always be mindful that the cares of this life are not important, and each and every irritation will eventually pass if we handle them correctly. We strengthen our inner man when we pray in the Holy Spirit, and we gain the ability to withstand the temptation to angry at small frustrations. Self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, and praying in tongues will help us to walk in self-control so the devil wont be successful in getting us angry. When we stay in the Word and pray in the Spirit, we can more easily keep things in perspective and avoid the pitfalls that the devil puts in our path.