DOUBLE WAR

 

Romans 7:23

 

"But I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members." ESV 

 

There are two laws opposing each other within us at all times. There is God's law, which is His Holy Spirit guiding us into truth, and there is the law of sin, which seeks to satisfy our physical senses and desires. If we do nothing with this conflict, our natural desires will automatically have precedence. Submission to the Holy Spirit will allow us to grow in grace and truth, being more like Christ.

 

Lord, how we need Your grace and mercy as we live each day in this conflict between Your will and our own wills. Help us to be open and willing vessels to Your will. In Your great name we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2015

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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HEART'S DELIGHT

 

Psalm 40:8

 

"I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart." ESV 

 

If we are "doing" things for God, and we feel obligated, just doing our duty, then we are not really doing anything for Him at all. Doing Godly things because we know we're supposed to is living by the law. Doing God's will from a pure and willing heart brings delight to our souls no matter how difficult His will is for us. It is knowing God is pleased that brings us joy.

 

Lord, we ask for Your forgiveness when we do things that we feel obligated to do or that give us applaud from others. Give us pure and willing hearts to serve Your because You are worthy of all we have to give. In Your name we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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THE LAWS OF GOD ARE WHERE?

 

Psalm 19:7

 

"The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple." ESV 

 

If we are totally free in Christ, why do we need laws and statutes? Since Jesus Christ died on the cross, and rose again, washing away our sins, the only laws we have are those written on our hearts. They follow the perfect love of God and help us to be like Him and to be separate from the world. If we follow the law of love, we will not break any other law.

 

Lord Jesus, thank You for writing Your law on our hearts so that we can live freely in Your love and thereby keep all laws. Keep us sensitive to Your Holy Spirit, so that we will live each day, separate from the world, yet living witnesses of Your love. In Your name we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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GOD'S WORD IS INSULATION

 

Isaiah 51:7

 

 

"Listen to me, you who know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear not the reproach of man, nor be dismayed at their revilings." ESV

 

If we live by the Spirit, doing what is right in the eyes of the Lord, we are going to be ridiculed by others. If we listen to what the Lord is telling us, we will not be bothered by the talk and attitude of others. We will merely keep walking faithfully with the Lord. He will honor our hearts and he will take care of those who feel free to mock us.

 

Heavenly Father, we confess that we let the things others say keep us from speaking and living Your Word. Forgive us, Lord. Give us boldness and peace to live every moment with integrity so that we will be fit to walk with You. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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HOW TO NOT BE A HIPPOCRITE

 

 

Matthew 5:17

 

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." ESV 

 

 

Jesus stated that He came to complete the Law in living form. The only thing that His life destroyed was Satan's works. The Law speaks of the outward man's obedience to God. Jesus' life and teachings demonstrated how the Law must first live in the inner heart. He taught us that we could practice all the rules successfully in our behaviors, while our inner spiritual lives were dead. If the fulfilled Law that Jesus Christ brought us by life, death, and resurrection lives within us, we will by that nature be living it on the outside.

 

Heavenly Father, we give You praise for sending Your only Son to show us the fullness of how our lives should be. Forgive us for being spiritually lazy, and merely doing the outward things that others expect or that make us look spiritual. Help us examine our hearts and open them to the fulfillment of living the life in our spirit. Then our outer lives will be genuine reflections of the new spiritual nature inside us. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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THE INTERNAL BATTLE

 

 

Romans 7:22,23

 

"For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members." ESV 

 

Are we consciously aware of the conflict inside of us? This conflict is between the desire to do those things that are good and pleasing to the Lord and the desire to do those things that are good and pleasing to ourselves. As Christians, we have put to death our old nature and it's desires, but temptation and spiritual weaknesses cause that old nature to creep back into our lives. Walking close to our Lord, filled with His Spirit, we can be conquerors of sin and powerful to live our lives pleasing to the Lord.

 

Heavenly Father, forgive us for listening to our old fleshly natures and displeasing You. We pray for discernment and courage to continually put to death our old natures and to live by the new nature You gave us when we put our faith in You. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED

 

Romans 13:10

 

"Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." ESV 

 

There is no earthly law that limits how much we can love and do good to others. If we truly love, we will never do any wrong toward others. There would never be anything to condemn. Love verifies that we belong to the Lord and it draws others to him. If we allow love to rule our hearts, love is the only law we need.

 

Heavenly Father, we are so thankful that You are Love and that You pour Your love on us every moment of every day. We ask that You help us to let Your love flow through us so that we will be a blessing to those who so desperately need Your love. In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY

2 Corinthians 3:6    ". . .who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." ESV

When Jesus gave Himself on the cross and rose again, we never again had to rely on the written law to be saved. We can study for hours on end and memorize the Bible from cover to cover, but that in itself will not give us life. It is the Spirit of God that will bring life to His Word in our souls. If we are made alive in the Spirit, we will be naturally abiding in what God has commanded and He will be pleased with us.

Heavenly Father, how we praise You for the precious and wonderful gift of Your Holy Spirit. We thank You for bringing Your Word to life and planting it within us by Your Spirit. Increase our hunger for Your Word and the openness to receive the Holy Spirit who will bring life to all You have told us. In Jesus' name, Amen.

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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WHAT LAWS?

 

 

Romans 3:20

 

"For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." ESV

 

Laws were created to give us boundaries so that we would stay within the limits of doing right. The problem is, laws do not give us the ability or even the desire to stay within the boundaries. Actually, the law just shows us that we do not have the ability to stay within the boundaries of what is right. We can only be made right(eous) by the sacrifice Christ made. Faith in Him gives us the desire and ability to stay right, even when there are no boundaries.

 

Heavenly Father, forgive us for thinking we can follow rules on our own and then find ourselves outside Your will. Help us to draw closer to you so that the law of the Spirit will keep us where we need to be. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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Galatians 3:23

 

"Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed." ESV

 

So many people who have not accepted Christ as their Savior continue to see Christianity as a large list of do's and don'ts. Even some Christians are still under the teaching of this same concept. The good news came as Jesus Christ, who showed us a new way. We are no longer bound by the laws of do this and don't do that. We have been set free to live by the Spirit of the living God who leads us by His Spirit. It is by His Spirit that we know what is pleasing and right in God's eyes. We no longer need a list of rules to follow. If we are walking in the Spirit of God, we will never be breaking any laws. There are no laws against the things God would lead us to do.

 

Heavenly Father, how can we ever show our gratitude for the freedom You gave us through Christ. Help us to always walk in Your Holy Spirit so that we will be beyond the law, being full of Your living Spirit. We will no longer need a list of rules, but we will be living right and just before You and before our fellow men. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

 

          

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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SPIRIT VS LAW

 

 

2 Corinthians 3:5,6

 

" . . .but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." ESV

 

Jesus angered the religious leaders of His time because He chose to live by the Spirit of the Living God rather than the law, given to Moses before the Holy Spirit came to fill all those who seek after Jesus Christ. If a child fell into a sink hole on the Sabbath, and we adhered strictly to the law, we would have to let the child lay in that sink hole until the Sabbath was over. Where is the mercy in that? Where is the love and concern for a child in desperate need, even on the Sabbath? This is what Jesus was trying to teach those rigid religious leaders. The Spirit would lead us to immediately come to the rescue of that child. Would we be profaning the Sabbath? No. God desires mercy rather than sacrifice.

 

Heavenly Father, how grateful we are that You have given us a day of rest, to honor and glorify You and refrain from our every day tasks. We are equally as grateful that You have supplied mercy to us and allow us to extend mercy to others even on the Sabbath. Give us a fuller understanding of living in the life giving Spirit. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

 

          

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

 

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IT'S THE LAW!

 

 

 

Galatians 5:18

"But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." ESV

The law is a set of rules that govern a community or group of people so that order is maintained and the rights of people are not violated. Why do we need laws? Because the human default mode is to do what seems the most profitable for the self. We can see what results this has on our world. Being governed by the Spirit is an attitude of the heart committed to obeying God. In doing so, by His nature, we will be doing those things that are good and right, orderly and respectful, pleasing to the Lord. If we allow the Spirit to lead us, there is no need to worry about breaking any of man's laws.

Heavenly Father, how we pray for the indwelling of Your Holy Spirit so we can stop doing things our own way and begin to walk in the Spirit. Forgive us for the problems we have caused by living under the direction of our human natures. Help us to continually walk in Your Spirit, living the law of Love. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

         

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

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CARRY EACH OTHERS BURDENS

 

 

Galatians 6:2

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." ESV

Are we supposed to carry each other's problems and issues when we have our own to carry? In a way, yes, but not like we think. If we share with one another the issues and baggage we carry day to day, we are aware of the struggles of each other's burdens, and we are to keep these things in mind when we interact with each other. We will have a better understanding of why others think and act the way they do. We will not become defensive and take things so personally because we have shared and understand their perspective. This is bearing with the burdens of others. And remember, if we share our burdens with others, they are bearing with us.

Heavenly Father, how we seek to fulfill the spirit of the law by sharing and bearing with the burdens of our fellow Christians. Forgive us when we fail to do so. We ask in the name of Jesus, Amen.

         

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/

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WRONGED IN HONOR OF GOD

To allow ourselves to be wronged by our fellow Christians without
pressing the issue is far better than to take the matter to a public
court in front of unbelievers. What they will see is an example of
Christians who are not practicing what they preach. This is dishonoring to God and His working of love through us. Love does not keep an account of wrongs.

Heavenly Father, give us spiritual maturity to honor you by not
insisting that wrongs committed against us by fellow Christians
be satisfied. Fill us with your love, In Jesus' name.

Read 1 Corinthians 6:7

"The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been
completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated? (NIV)

"Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law
one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?" (KJV)

    
©2010

THE LAW ONLY MAKES US AWARE OF SIN

Laws are given to help us stay in the boundaries of the right way.
The problem is, laws do not give us the ability or the desire to stay
in the boundaries of the right way. The law merely shows us that
we do not have the ability to be "right"eous. We can only be made
right by the sacrifice Christ made. Faith in Him will give us the desire
to do right, whether the law is present or not.

Read Romans 3:20

"Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing
the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. (NIV)

"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in
his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." (KJV)

THE SPIRIT IS OUR LAW

The law is a set of rules that govern a community or group of
people so that order is maintained and the rights of people are
not violated. Being governed by the Spirit is an attitude of the
heart to obey God. In doing so, by His nature, we will be orderly
and respectful of others. If we allow the Spirit to lead us, there
is no need to worry about breaking any laws.

Read Galatians 5:18

"But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law." (NIV)

"But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." (KJV)


  
Daily Grace
Bobbi Craigmyle
drbobbijo@yahoo.com
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