Friday, January 21, 2011

He's into the Details

But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.1

I’ve always thought of myself as a Big-Picture guy. I’m the guy that looks at something from a high-level view and depends on someone else to handle the details. That’s never been a problem in my profession because technology was my enabler. If there were steps forgotten, technology would always bail me out by identifying a problem. My philosophy was computers think faster than me, so let technology crunch the numbers. I can walk up to a fabulous painting and all I see is a painting. Often, I fail to see the tapestry of colors on the canvas, the subtle nuances of expressions and shapes, or even acknowledge the emotions a painting evokes.

You could say, I wasn’t into the details.

Unlike me, God is very much into the details. While the effort it would take for me to count the hairs on even the skimpiest head would be monumental, God simply knows. The fact is that God knows everything and it takes no recognizable effort on His part to simply know. I cannot fathom simply knowing all; it is beyond my reasoning and understanding. In spite of that, I’m so very thankful that God knows all because it means He knows the details in such a way that nothing pertaining to my life (or yours) comes as a surprise to God. I cannot count the number of times I’ve been caught off guard due to ignorance, absence of information, or just my plain old forgetfulness.

All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge. Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.2

God has me looking at my life, stressing the need for me to get into the details. When God says, “All the words of my mouth…” glossing over what God imparts is missing quite a bit of wisdom that would help me spiritually, emotionally and physically. I tell myself that, God wants all of me, but I forget that part of my heart reserved for me, I forget the details of my stubborn willfulness, and I neglect certain behaviors by ascribing them as just being me.

I say I want to grow spiritually. To achieve spiritual growth, I need to get into the details of my life with God. I can hear Paul McCartney singing:

Someone’s knocking at the door
Somebody’s ringing the bell
Someone’s knocking at the door
Somebody’s ringing the bell
Do me a favor
Open the door and let em in

Time for me to get into the details:

God is knocking at my door
God is ringing my bell
God is knocking at my door
God is ringing my bell
Do me a favor
Open the door and let Him in


Note: This post is linked to Spiritual Sundays (hosted by Charlotte and Ginger).Spiritual Sunday's
Footnotes:
  1. Matthew 10:30, NASB
  2. Proverbs 8:8-11, NASB
References:
  1. The Ryrie Study Bible (New American Standard Version), Edited by Charles C. Ryrie, Moody Publishers, Chicago, Illinois, ISBN 0-8024-8920-6
  2. The NIV Study Bible, Edited by Kenneth Barker, Donald Burdick, John Stek, Walter Wessel and Ronald Youngblood, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530, USA

23 comments:

Nikki (Sarah) said...

love this. Love how you took the song and changed it to God knocking at the door...details....me too NTJ...I'm trying to remember to do them too...some days I want to forget on purpose....and that's where His grace comes in...Stay strong

Sherry Southard said...

I am thankful that God knows all because that means He knows the good that comes from all the suffering and that gives me faith that all will work out to the best interest He has for me. Great post, thank you

Anonymous said...

Oh, YES! AMEN! God reveals to me all the time how he cares about the little details, and provides for my every need.

Joan Hall said...

Love this post. Yes, God is knocking at our doors and He wants all of us...totally and completely. I too loved the way you changed the words of the song.

Blessings,
Joan

LivingforGod said...

I'm very grateful that God knows every detail about me, yet He still loves me unconditionally :)!

My SS post this week is at http://bornagainandblessed.blogspot.com/2011/01/book-review-life-without-limits-by-nick.html .

Ruth said...

how comforting to know that God is into and interested in the details of our lives... thank you for this post!

Wanda said...

Grateful for God's all seeing eye. However, it prompts me to pay closer attention to those areas of my life that I may be skimming over.

Charlotte said...

It's amazing to know and understand that God knows all of the details of everything. It is so reassuring. Thank you for sharing this thoughtful post.
Blessings,
Charlotte

Peggy said...

ohhhh MTJ...

"God is knocking at my door
God is ringing my bell
Do me a favor
Open the door and let Him in"...

too good...too much... and oh sooo delightful the picture your words paint... I love that Our God is into the details and you contrast your own "big picture" outlook, which I know God has that perspective as well yet He does not overlook the finer details and i'm ever so thankful. I'm so glad that we can answer that door and let Him in and He waits like a perfect gentle man/God... does my heart good to know that God has you "looking at your life, and getting into the details" so that you are growing in Christ and that our words would bring God the glory!

Hallelujah! That He rings and you can sing... C'mon in!!!

Love, peace and JOY,
Peggy
(not been around visiting much just catching some and getting back to ministry and studying~take care)

Sharon said...

What a wonderful God we have - how incomprehensible He is! His thoughts are always higher than ours - but He is always thinking about us. I find such comfort in the sure knowledge that God sees EVERYTHING that concerns me.

I'm opening the door - I'm letting Him in. It's the ONLY way to fully experience Him.

Trusting Him with the details...

GOD BLESS!

Ginger~~Enchanting Cottage said...

What a great analogy. I wish I knew a fraction about my kids as our Father knows about us.I too need to know the details.
Thank-you for sharing your wonderful thoughts today.
God Bless,
Ginger

Anonymous said...

Thank God that He is in control of everything, including the details! And that He knows all about each one!

Donnie said...

That was just lovely.

Kaye Swain - SandwichINK for the Sandwich Generation said...

What a fun post to read for this baby boomer, since I grew up enjoying that song. :) More importantly, what a great way to teach the basic concepts of total surrender to God - such a vital part of our spiritual growth! Very enjoyable Spiritual Sunday visit, thank you :)

Ian Curtis said...

Thank you for the post, and your reflections about God knowing us. I'm bi-polar when it comes to details; some issues receive my utmost attention while others suffer as I gloss through them. I know I should be circumspect with all that I do, so this is a sound reminder; thank you. Your teaching is appreciated, brother. Ian.

Sr Crystal Mary Lindsey said...

Yes He wants all of us, and often, we try to shortchange Him. He cares so much about everyone of us and every detail.
So wonderous. Bless you..

MTJ said...

Sarah: Thank you for being a blessing. Have a great week!

Sherry: I too take comfort in knowing that God has my best interests in mind always.

Whidbey Woman: Thankful for you and Ron, and the testimony of your lives.

Joan: Praying for you and your husband, and for open doors of opportunity.

LivingforGod: There is nothing better than the unconditional love of God.

Ruth: I too find great comfort in that as well.

Wanda: Like you, I'm sensing that God's encouragment for a closer walk with Him also means that He not only reveals Himself to me, but He is revealing me as well. There are details to working out my own soul salvation.

Charlotte: Like you, I appreciate that reassuring thought of Him knowing all that pertains to me.

Peggy: I rejoice at the thought of the Lord seeking me out. Wanting not just to be known, but to know Him.

Sharon: God is concerned about me. That is such a comforting and encouraging thought!. Thank you for always sharing words that bless me.

Ginger: I've overwhelmed by the thought that God knows the details of my life to the extent that I cannot hide from him (though I may try), yet he seeks that I would freely open myself to Him.

Carol: That is truly a thought to give God thanks for.

Donnie: Thank you for being a blessing.

Kaye: The concept you speak of is what I am seeking; total surrender to God.

Ian: I tend to gloss over, so I know what you speak of. I believe God is urging me to a relationship that does not gloss over my life. The things I gloss over are those areas He wants to help me deal with.

Crystal Mary: I do not want to shortchange our Lord. I believe revealing the details of my life is His method of freeing me to be all I can in Christ Jesus.

Pamela said...

Knowing that God is a God of the details makes me want to take care of the smallest attitude that is unChristlike. At the same time, it gives me peace to know that He cares about the smallest detail of my life.

Anita Johnson said...

This was an excellent post and I loved the changed lyrics!

❀~Myrna~❀ said...

There is no one as intimate with us as Jesus , it is wonderful that He wants all of us & more wonderful that He died so He could .No one else loves us like that .
Blessings,
~Myrna

Solid Rock or Sinking Sand said...

Thank you so much MTJ for this post. Very thought provoking. I often wonder why people keep putting off knowing our Lord and Savior personally. God bless, Lloyd

My Mad World said...

Hey stranger! Another wonderful post. I love that God looks at all the little details that the rest of us forget about. It is a nice reminder to have. Something that I still need to work on too, to make sure all my little details are pleasing to Him!
Love the song and the changes you made. Yes, please open that door and let Him in! Hope you had a blessed week! Sorry it took me so long to come and read this!

lioneagle said...

Hi MTJ -

Thank you for this piece. Things to think about indeed.

We are finite - GOD is infinite.

It is such a comfort to know that we are in HIS awesome care.