HE WAS SINLESS, WE WEREN'T

 

1 Peter 2:24

 

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed." ESV 

 

The Son of God took all of my sins, all of your sins, and the sins of the whole world onto His own body. He had no sin of His own. He took the punishment for us so that it would be as though we had not sinned at all. It was a sacrifice of agony and horror driven by His love for us. Because He willingly did that, the bondage of sin no longer holds us. We are free to choose what is righteous, just as He did. And because His body was beaten and battered, like wounds and bruises, we are healed from the disease of sin.

 

Lord, how can we ever thank You for the sacrifice on the cross. You took our sins, while You were sinless, so that we could be clean and free from the grip of Satan and this evil world. Fill us with Your Spirit so that we will be dead to sin and alive to all that is good in Your eyes. In Your name we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

THINGS ARE NOT GOING GOOD HERE, BUT . . .

 

2 Peter 3:13

 

"But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." ESV 

 

How often do we let ourselves get caught up in the things that go wrong and create unrest in our lives? Jesus told us that we will have trouble in this life. He said we are strangers and aliens here in this world. Why do we question what God is doing when we know these things? Our Lord has promised us a perfect, righteous dwelling place. All we need to do is look ahead to these great and wonderful promises, and we will find ourselves stronger and more peaceful getting through this life.

 

Lord, forgive us for looking at our circumstances and for questioning Your intentions for our lives. Help us to remember always that we are confined for a short while, in this cursed world. We confess that we question You when things are not going well for us here. Fill us with Your Spirit so that we will continually seek You, and so that we will fan the flames of our faith. In Your great name we pray, Amen.

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

BOOT CAMP

 

Hebrews 12:11

 

"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." ESV 

 

Living the Christian life is one of constant discipline because we are in a perpetual state of staving off temptations and struggling with our own natural  desires.  At times, we give in to ourselves and to the ways of the world. Then, we feel conviction and remorse. It is rough travelling through this life, but if we stay on course and allow the Lord to discipline us, we will win the prize of Christ's righteousness and peace. That's worth it all.

 

Lord, forgive us when we stumble and fall. Even though we may not like being disciplined, we know it is for our good and that You discipline us because You love us. We thank You and praise You for that. In Your name we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

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/

 

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

THE RESTORING BUSINESS

 

Psalm 23:3

 

"He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." ESV 

 

The Lord not only restores and refreshes our souls, but also provides us with the way that will lead us right to Him. There, we will find perfect peace for eternity. We will not want for anything.

 

Heavenly Father, so often we fail to take notice of the many wonderful things You provide for us and of Your constant grace pouring out on us. Help us to be aware of Your presence and Your working so that we will stay on the path You made for us. In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

BEAUTIFUL PRISON TRANSFER

 

Psalm 37:5,6

 

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday." ESV 

 

Commitment has become a word that very few people of today truly understand. Originally, commitment is defined as: mittimus - a written order of a court directing that a person be imprisoned. Is this what committing ourselves to the Lord means? Yes! We freely become prisoners of His. This sounds like we are giving up all our freedom, but actually we are set free from the prison of sin, and become imprisoned with freedom to live in boundless love and grace, serving the Lord. Would we see living with a clean conscience, peace, and joy as something equal to being confined in a small prison cell. Of course not! As prisoners of the Lord, we are free to say no to sin, that once held us in that small prison cell, and we are under the loving protection and everlasting peace of our Lord.

 

Heavenly Father, we ask for Your forgiveness when we lack trust to fully commit our ways to You. Give us assurance and courage to know that committing our ways to You will bring such freedom to us we will rejoice for eternity. In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

EXPOSING A HYPOCRITE

  

Matthew 5:20

 

 

"For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." ESV 

 

Some people can look so virtuous and devoted as Christians on the outside, while in their hearts, they are full of selfishness, bad attitudes, and ungodly intentions. The thing is, one cannot be a Christian on the outside without the true inner things of the heart coming out in their outward lives. On the other hand, one cannot be a true committed Christian in the inner heart without it radiating out to others at any time or any place. It is pretty hard to tell the true from the fake. We don't want to be hypocrites, but to be true lights with our inward hearts radiating out to a lost and dying world. So, we will not only wash our hands, but our hearts too.

 

Heavenly Father, we pray that you would show us our hearts and to rid our inner selves of anything that is displeasing and inconsistent with the way we live on the outside. Give us clean hearts we pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

NOURISHMENT

 

Matthew 5:6

 

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." ESV 

 

Do we have a deep, urgent craving to be right with God? Do we realize that in order to live, we need daily, fresh supplies from Him, much like we need food and water on a regular basis. If we understand this daily spiritual need, we will not only have what we so deeply desire, but we will have it in abundance.

 

Heavenly Father, forgive us for our complacency in our spiritual lives. Increase our hunger and desire for Your Word and to know You more. Then we will know what true nourishment is. In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

IT'S JUST ONE TIME

 Romans 5:18 "Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men." ESV 

 

Haven't there been times we have done something that we thought would make no real difference, but that one act changed our whole lives. This is what happened that day in the garden when Adam and Eve disobeyed God with one act of disobedience. The result was a cursed world and death for all humans that would ever be born. The good news is, God provided a one time act that would bring freedom and hope from this curse of sin. He sent His son Jesus Christ, who died once on the cross. Now the whole course of those who accept Him is changed back into right relationship with Him. Just that one act.

 

Heavenly Father, we are so thankful that You gave Your Son to bring us back into right relationship with You. Help us to be aware that all we do affects something or someone. Let our acts be ones of furthering Your kingdom and bringing glory to Your name. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

BREATH OF GOD

 

 

2 Timothy 3:16

 

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, and for correction, and for training in righteousness." ESV

 

 

The words of Scripture came from the very breathe of God. They are the Creator of the universe speaking to us. From His words we learn what we are to believe, to know the Truth, to correct the things in our lives that hinder our walk with Him, and to teach others about Him. The Word of God is our life manual.

 

Heavenly Father, we praise You and thank You for giving us Your Word, so that we can have direction for our lives and be equipped to teach others to trust in Your Word. In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

WHICH SIDE OF THE DOOR ARE YOU STANDING?

 

Romans 6:18

 

"And, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness." ESV

 

God's Word is clear that, as Christians, we are free to say no to sin and free to say yes to the Lord. Actually, there is no middle ground. We can't follow our own sinful ways when we feel like it, then follow Christ when we have need of His help. We are either slaves of sin or we are slaves of Christ. The way we live our lives will reveal who our master is.

 

Heavenly Father, we thank You that Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light. We praise You for giving all to purchase our lives so that we would be totally free from sin. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

 

©2008-2014 Daily Grace Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC   http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/   No Copyright Infringement Intended Personal Use Only

FOLLOW THE LIGHT

 

Proverbs 4:18

 

"But the path of righteousness is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day." ESV

 

Our spiritual growth and maturity is seen in the path we walk. Each step we take toward God, there is an increase in the light to see the path ahead of us. Those who earnestly seek God will see the light and follow it. Those who do not seek God will see different, much less radiant lights, and will follow them into a wilderness of aimless wandering. Following God's light is like the sun rising at dawn. At first it barely lights the day, but with each minute that passes, there is more and more light. Soon the noonday shines, and it's light everywhere.

 

Heavenly Father, help us to keep seeking You and to stay on the path You have set before us. Help us to grow and mature so that Your light will shine bright through us as we take each step, and will help others find the Way. In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

SOMEBODY TURN ON THE LIGHT!

 

 

Psalm 97:11

 

"Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart." ESV

 

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and turn from being our own sinful god, He will breathe into us the seeds of light, being able to see with our spiritual eyes. The joy this brings to our souls will overflow into all that we think, say, and do.

 

Heavenly Father, how we thank You for Jesus Christ who took the punishment for all we have done against You. Give us more fervor to open our spiritual eyes to see the light You have given us, and to experience the joy that this brings. We want to live our lives so that others will be drawn to You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

OUR TROUBLES ARE OUT THE WINDOW

 

 

Psalm 34:19

 

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." ESV

 

So many buckle in their faith when adversity comes their way. There are always questions as to why God would allow these bad things to happen. We live in enemy territory. We are in active battle with the enemy and there are going to be setbacks and problems. Jesus Christ is our commander and it is an honor to serve Him in this world. There is no need to complain about our afflictions and waver in our trust that the Lord will deliver us completely.

 

Heavenly Father, how thankful we are that You are our Commander in Chief in this army against the devil. Forgive us for complaining and losing faith and trust in You when things go wrong and we are suffering. We desire to focus on You and the perfect eternity that awaits us so that these earthly afflictions will seem as nothing. We pray in Jesus name, Amen.

 

          

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

HIDDEN PROTECTION

 

Psalm 119:11

 

 

"I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." NIV

 

 

"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." KJV

 

 

There are many people who have learned the Bible and can quote many passages and scripture. Too often, their use of scripture is from a sense of responsibility or to show others how learned they are in the Bible. If we do not take what we learn from the Word and bury it within our hearts until we are saturated with it, we will be in danger of sinning against God. A heart that is filled with God's Word is sufficiently protected from giving in to sin.

 

 

Heavenly Father, we ask You to give us more hunger for Your Word and to allow it to fill our hearts. Show us how to use Your Word to protect us from sin and the evil one. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

           

©2011

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

drbobbijo@yahoo.com

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

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

LEVEL GROUND

 

Isaiah 26:7

The path of the righteous is level; you, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth." NIV

"The way of the just is uprightness: thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just." KJV

Since we live in a cursed world, all humans walk out their lives on paths that are filled with debris and potholes. However, those who are righteous in the eyes of the Lord, who is the only upright one, will smooth out those rough spots and work out the problems so that passage onward will be less of a burden and more of a blessing.

Heavenly Father, we're sorry that we forget that life in this world is difficult and You have told we will have problems here. When we come across stumbling blocks and things that stop our walk, help us to remember that You are with us to make those rough places smooth. You will work out all those tribulations for us, Your righteous ones. In Jesus' name, Amen.

           

©2011

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

drbobbijo@yahoo.com

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

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

GOD'S GRACE FOR EVERYONE

Jesus Christ is the Divine Favor (Grace) of God sent to provide
salvation for everyone, everywhere, at all times. No one is excluded
except those who choose not to receive His free gift. Those who
receive the gracious free give of salvation are freed to be able to
turn away from all impurity, immorality, and ungodliness.

Heavenly Father, we praise You and thank You for Your grace that
gives us eternal life and the freedom to live Godly lives. In Jesus' name.

Read Titus 2:11,12

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
It teaches us to say 'no' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to
live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age." (NIV)

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should
live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." (KJV)

  ©2010

SET FREE

God's Word is clear that, as Christians, we are set free from the mastery of sin to become slaves of the Master. There is no middle ground, where we can be our own masters. We are slaves of sin or we are slaves of Christ. The lives we live will reveal who our master is.

Heavenly Father, we thank you that your yoke is easy and your burden
light. We thank you always that you bought us as slaves with your blood and we are free from sin. In Jesus' name.

Read Romans 6:18

"You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.
(NIV)

"Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." (KJV)

    
©2010

GROWING SPIRITUALLY

Our spiritual growth and maturity is seen in the path we walk. As each
step is taken, there is an increase in the light by which we see the path
ahead. Those who are earnestly seeking God will see the light and follow. It is much like the dawn at sunrise, which barely lights the day, but with each minute that passes, there is more and more light. Soon the noonday sun shines its' light everywhere.

Heavenly Father, help us stay on the path you have set before us. Help us to grow and mature so that Your light will shine through us and bring others to the saving knowledge of Your grace. In Jesus' name.

Read Proverbs 4:18

"The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever
brighter till the full light of day." (NIV)

"But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and
more unto the perfect day." (KJV)

    
©2010

GOD SUPPLIES FOR OUR GROWTH

God is the supplier of seeds to plant and He brings forth a crop.
From the crop, our needs are abundantly supplied and have
enough to share and provide to others who need it. In the same
way, God supplies us with blessings. We accept His blessings
and use what we need to grow more in Him. We give out of this
abundance of His blessings to others so they can do the same.
The more we give, the more He supplies to us.

Heavenly Father, help us to receive your blessings with a pure
heart and to give freely to others. We desire to be a part of
multiplying your love and grace. In Jesus' name.

Read 2 Corinthians 9:10

"Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will
also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the
harvest of your righteousness." (NIV)

"Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for
your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of
your righteousness." (KJV)

    
©2010