Is it a skill or is it a gift? Whatever it may be, attention to detail or ATD as it is commonly referred to as valuable. Most jobs that require precise execution require ATD as a skill and is always listed as a fundamental before one can get hired. There is detail in God’s word that he requires of his children to pay attention to. That is why his word is written. It is curated by God himself for a record. It can be referenced. It qualifies who he is. God can’t be explained. He is the ultimate and is Infinity. That’s why when Moses encounters him at the burning bush incident Exodus 3, Moses asked the Lord “who are you? God replies I am who I am. The great I AM is indescribable. However, he affirms that I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
When Jesus Christ was tempted by the Devil he had undertaken a 40 day fasting. No food and no water for 40 days. The bible says at the end of the 40 days he was hungry Luke 4:1-13; pay attention to that scripture. Jesus was being tempted for 40 days but at the end of the 40 days the Devil had lost out on tempting Jesus Christ and as such now comes up with his 3 last tactics. What is critical for us to observe is that Jesus was hungry. Hunger is something that can make anyone vulnerable.
The Detailed Language Your Body Speaks When You Fast.
I have done some fasting. I know what it means. The body begins to speak a different unfamiliar language when deprived of food and water. Some of the words it says are;
• I crave this and that
• I am shivering
• I am weak
• I can’t think clearly
• I am dizzy
• My mouth is bitter
• Mood swings go on a roller coaster
• Headaches are a definite dose
These are but a few. Anyhow when Jesus was confronted by the Devil he stood his ground by the word of God. He overcame all the 3 final temptations by saying ‘it is written’ then quoting God’s word. In the second temptation the Devil realized Jesus had shifted the temptation landscape to God’s word. He also quoted scripture but in a twisted way, as his nature is. The devil is twisted. Jesus knew the true context because he is indeed the Truth. John 14:6- “I am the way the truth and Life”. He knew the Word because he is indeed the word John 1:1-5.
‘It is written’ can only be used as a reference, if you have read the word of God and encountered the word as a matter of fact; it affirms reference of a documented word. God’s word is ultimate and indeed it is the final complete and flawless authority of God. Who is God’s word? Jesus Christ himself… Wow…Wow…Wow.
The Power Of The Written Word
That’s why when we say we overcome by the name of Jesus Christ, it is the short form of saying it is written. It is a known fact that something written is validated as a record and can be used in court both on earth and in heaven, as an account of expressed intent.
Oh how Jesus loves us. All He did when he was here on earth was for us. He gave us a blue print and a practice and practical lesson of how to overcome the devil and his gambits. ATD is called of us not only in the word of God but in all aspects of our lives. When Jesus came and paid the price, He gave us abundant life. He expects us to live with ATD so that we may not miss out on His true authentic love. Without ATD we may miss the obvious things of his love and dwell on petty things and things that don’t even matter.
The Psalmist says it well in Psalms 103:2 – “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits”. The underlying word there is forget not all his benefits. I learnt to always count my blessings. Last year, 2022 was my hardest year ever. I encountered so many storms like never before in my life. I even saw some very terrifying visions. If permitted by the Lord, I will share them one day. When I weighed the good compared to the bad, I realized that the good by far and I mean it, by far outweighed the bad. ATD helped me remember God’s goodness. It was a sign of relief that even in the middle of those storms God was always with me. Right there in the middle and he never left even when it seemed like he had bolted on me. He was always there besides me. He may have been silent, but always there. Glory to him eternally. Hallelujah. Amen Amen Amen.
Till next time.
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