Slow Fade

*With lyrics from Casting Crown’s Slow Fade

Be careful little eyes what you see
It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings
Be careful little feet where you go
For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade

I was reminded how compromises (or little foxes, as King Solomon puts it) corrupt a whole being. It may sound innocent, but a reply “just this one time” to an invitation becomes an open door for the spirit of complacency and stubbornness to creep into one’s system. It brings a slow fade in one’s spiritual health, which when neglected, leads to eventual death.

Be careful little ears what you hear
When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near
Be careful little lips what you say
For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day

Oh! How many times I have allowed just-this-one-time mentality overtake my priorities. The results surfaced, unfortunately not in an instant but in a sure hit, gradual manner — and I was caught unprepared. All the time I know I am strong enough to make counter-attacks should there be any attempts to meddle my spiritual growth, but I never realized that I was already caught off-guard, thanks to the compromises I have made. I almost found myself asking “am I fighting a losing battle?”

The journey from your mind to your hands
Is shorter than you're thinking
Be careful if you think you stand
You just might be sinking
It's a slow fade when you give yourself away
It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray
Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid
When you give yourself away
People never crumble in a day
Daddies never crumble in a day
Families never crumble in a day

Indeed, people really never crumble in a day. Just like a simple crack eventually destroys an edifice, a little rumor ruins integrity, and a trivial misunderstanding breaks relationships. Our biggest problems in life aren’t those we fear the most — broken relationships, flawed personality, bondage to a certain problem — usually they are the little foxes creeping their way behind us, slowly ruining our vineyards. Compromises only give birth to bigger frustrations.

“Our vineyards are in blossom;

We must catch the little foxes

That destroy the vineyards.”

Song of Songs 2:15

Oh be careful little eyes what see
Oh be careful little eyes what you see
For the Father up above is looking down in love
Oh be careful little eyes what you see

“Please celebrate with me that Satan cannot do anything to us God cannot use through us! No matter what gains the enemy has had in your life, if you will cooperate with God and allow Him to direct your life henceforth, God will turn defeat into victory! Satan does not have to have the last word the circumstance he authored in your life.” — Beth Moore

First Published: January 2, 2010