“Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.” –Song of Solomon 2:15
Do you have “the yips”? (Have no fear that this CJ is going Dr. Seuss-ish – that would only make your brain blow a fuse-ish!)
Yes, I’m asking about the yips. You know, the condition that pro golfer Bernhard Langer has struggled with all his life.
What are they? you ask.
Well, when you have the yips, your putting stroke is herky-jerky. It’s not smooth – resulting in scores that are way too high.
Bernhard says that the yips is an uncontrollable thing that improves only with focus and practice. His first battle with the yips began at age 18, when he was playing his first European tour, and they persist today.
Although he has had great golf success, those pesky little yips have given him fits for a quarter of a century. He keeps working on them, so his game will be stronger. Yielding to the yips – giving up – is not an option.
As a believer in Christ, Langer (just like you and me) has yips in life that he must confront. Persistent behaviors and ways of thinking that drag us down spiritually are what we’re concerned about.
Here’s a partial list of yips we may know quite well:
* Procrastination
* Pretending to be someone you’re not
* Pride
* Poor study of God’s Word
* Preoccupation with yourself or with things
The writer of Proverbs encourages us to “know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds” (Prov 27:23). In life, this means looking for those persistent yips, those little foxes, that will end up breaking down your relationship with Christ and ruining your testimony before others.
“When the hay is removed and new growth appears and the grass from the hills is gathered in, the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field” (Prov 27:25-26). When we submit to God and seek His work in removing the yips in our lives, new growth and blessing follows.
Don’t try to ignore the little sins in your life. They will only become more distracting and defeating–to you . . . and your friends. –TF
REFLECTION
* What yips in my life do I need to address?
* How can some close Christian friends help me with the little sins in my life?
Don’t feed little sins – fight them.
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[Original illustration at this number was a duplicate of HolwickID #9736]