The Devil Is In the Details

Have you ever heard that saying, “The devil is in the details?”  The idea behind this saying is that something which seems simple and straightforward may, in fact, have a catch, a hidden element that can eat away until it causes destruction.  It is important to pay attention to the little things that can cause big problems and to do the work it takes to address these important details.  Seemingly small habits like laziness, lying, denial, and destructive thought patterns can create ruin.  At the same time, it is also important not to snag on the wrong details.  Perfectionism kills.  Some things really are “good enough” and need to be left alone.  Today Cinthia explores what it means to “get the devil out of the details” so that he cannot use details against us.  This means we have to ask God what details are important to Him, what small things could get in the way of what He wants our lives to be.  What little details are potentially eating away at the structures that hold up your life, and which things need to be accepted as “good enough?”

Our Creator is very aware of details.  We cannot be as perfect in detail as He is, and, unlike Him, we are vulnerable to focusing on unimportant details and missing the main point.  Our creations can reflect on God and also show differences between us and Him.  Sometimes we don’t know what to do with the things that are eating away at what is important; even if you cannot yet get rid of something or do not know what to do with it, the

What is getting in your way?  Which small things make a big difference?  Attention to detail can bring freedom, but it takes time.  We need to think about how much time we put into an imperfection and which things need to actually be removed.  To decide well, we must learn the difference between perfectionism and craftsmanship, which involves commitment to excellence but is grounded in understanding of the big picture regarding what is being crafted.  Most extremes are unhealthy except in life-or-death cases, etc.  Try not to snag on everything like a walking piece of Velcro.

Do your habits help you to represent yourself in an honest way?  Do you pay attention to your own behavior?  Do you put real effort into parenting or figure that your children will navigate the world pretty well on their own?  Do you pay attention to the words you say behind others’ backs?  What is trying to contaminate your soul? Defense mechanisms flare up to defend us; they are attempts to protect ourselves from harm.  However, they can create problems later.  Do your old patterns work in your current life?  Is it time to upgrade what has been comfortable for so long?  The enemy wants to condemn us.  He will not stop, and he is relentless.  We must pay attention and manage our own internal worlds.  Understand your own pace.  Are you crafting your own life?  Do you leave it undone, skimp on the materials, etc., or are you exhausting yourself with perfectionism?  Differentiate between that which you need to let go and that to which you need to attend.  It is very difficult to change things you have practiced over and over again.

Shortcuts are different than rest.  Rest.  Don’t get in a hurry when it is not an emergency.  Thoughtfully consider where your actions will take you.  Which details are worthy of your focus?  Slow down.  Focus.  Give your brain oxygen.  God is making us into what He wants us to be.  His perfecting is good, but our scorecards usually are not.  He is the only Creator that lets the creation participate in the creation process.  Remember, Satan wants to be better than God, and perfectionism is more in line with this than with the perfecting processes of God for His people.  Remember:  You came from His heart.  Accept who He has made you to be.  Work at being the best version of who He made you, but, if you are thinking of changing the creation that God has made, don’t do it.  Details are work, not weight.  Effort is necessary to address details, but running on a hamster wheel to try to be good enough while feeling weighed down by fear and insecurity is counter-productive.  Some things really can be “good enough.”  We need to know which things these are.  Don’t waste energy on what does not need to be perfect.

As you are looking at details in your life, ask yourself, “Does that detail matter to God?”  If it matters to you but He does not seem to be doing anything, ask Him if this is important to Him, if you should be doing anything.  Learn to trust Him.  Do not believe the devil about which details to address,  Go straight to God.  Tell Him if you are struggling with yourself.  Tell Him honestly what you are thinking, and talk to Him about who you are.  You are not the Creator.  It is amazing and tremendous that God would want to make us, and God wants us to share in His happiness about who we are.