TO BE MERCIFUL

 

Matthew 5:7

"Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy." NIV

"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." KJV

How compassionate are we toward someone who has fallen into hard times through no fault of their own? Even more important, how compassionate are we toward those who are in the pits because of their sin, selfishness, and rebellion? Are we able to see beyond the hurts inflicted on us by someone we trusted? Are we truly moved to help someone who has purposely hurt us? If we can say yes, we are compassionate to these, then we are showing true mercy. Mercy does not stop to consider if someone is deserving of mercy, it is only moved to help when someone is suffering. If the Lord has not shown mercy to us, we would still be in the pit of despair.

Heavenly Father, how great is Your mercy, it endures forever. Forgive us for not showing that same mercy to others. Forgive us for deciding first if someone is deserving of our mercy. Help us to show mercy as You show mercy to us. We pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

           

©2011

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

drbobbijo@yahoo.com

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

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NO TOLERANCE FOR SIN

 

Revelation 2:20

"Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel who calls herself a prophetess." NIV

"Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess." KJV

Tolerance in our society today is a virtue. It is being permissive and accepting of all thoughts, opinions, and practices of all people in all places. As Christians, we are to approach the world around us with a heart of love and compassion for all people. However, tolerance of anything that is contrary to the Word of God must stop within the Church, the bride of Christ. Jesus is coming back for a Bride without spot or wrinkle. If we are permissive and tolerant of wrongdoing among those who claim to be believers, the Lord will hold us responsible.

Heavenly Father, we confess that we have been tolerant of people and practices in our own churches and fellow Christians when they are not what You have taught is right. Forgive us for becoming immune to the ways of the world that penetrate even into our church and our own lives. Help us to examine our hearts and to be able to take a stand for Your Truth, not tolerating those things that are against It. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

           

©2011

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

drbobbijo@yahoo.com

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

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KEEPING OUR FIRST LOVE

 

Revelation 2:4,5

"Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lamp stand from it's place." NIV

"Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." KJV

We should never be able to tell a new Christian from a long time seasoned Christian by the amount of spiritual energy, joy, and exuberance. That first love we experienced as a new creature in Christ should never cease to exist. Unfortunately, very often it does. Our walk with the Lord becomes routine and lacks the luster and spontaneity it did in the beginning. If that is so with any of us, we must seek to rekindle that first love because it is crucial to being an overcomer, especially in these last days.

Heavenly Father, it is a wonderful thing that You know us. We thank You that Your Word warns us about letting our first love grow cold over time. Forgive us for letting that happen in our lives. Give us hunger and desire to renew our first love for You. You are so worthy and loving that You would provide the way for us to be equipped for these difficult days. In Jesus' name, Amen.

           

©2011

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

drbobbijo@yahoo.com

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

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SEEK TO BE MEEK

 

Matthew 5:5

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." NIV

"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." KJV

To be meek is not to be weak. It takes a tremendous amount of self-control and dedication to Godliness to be a meek individual. It is submitting authority of our own lives over to God. In fact, it is all our power and freedom to think, feel, speak, and act willfully submitted under God's control. If we are willing to be meek, we will know complete peace of mind and be heirs of all good things to come.

Heavenly Father, we find it difficult to hand over control of ourselves to someone else. Help us to use our faith in You to be able to make that step toward meekness and submit ourselves totally to You. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

           

©2011

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

drbobbijo@yahoo.com

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

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NO TOLERANCE OF SIN

 

Matthew 5:1,2

Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, saying....." NIV

"And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying....." KJV

The part of our Bibles that are written in red are the words spoken by our Lord Jesus. To know and understand his teachings is critically important because He came from God eternal and walked among us. It is impossible to fathom the depth and breadth of wisdom that came from the lips of Jesus. He instructed us how to treat each other. He taught us the way to eternal life. He spoke the words that bring us to spiritual maturity. If we want to know true joy and completeness, we will diligently work to know and understand the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Heavenly Father, we thank You and praise You for giving us Your Word through Jesus Christ. Forgive us for our haphazard study and our rushing over these precious words because we are in a hurry to get on with our day. Help us to really understand the importance of knowing these words and making them a part of our very being. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

           

©2011

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

drbobbijo@yahoo.com

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

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TO FORGIVE IS DIVINE

Ephesians 4:32

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." NIV

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." KJV

When we have been wronged, especially by someone close to us, it is hard to just let it go. We have a tendency to hold on to the hurts and rehearse over and over in our minds the terrible things that were done to us. Each time we rehearse them, the hurts get deeper and deeper. The resentments get larger and larger. Soon there is a gulf so wide between us that we push the offender(s) out of our minds until we decide to rehearse the hurts again. Forgiving does not mean we no longer hurt. It does not mean no wrong was committed. Forgiveness means we let go of the resentment and cancel the wrong without insisting on action to make it right. This is a Godly act that shows the character of a true child of God. The Holy Spirit travels on the beam of forgiveness and the offended cannot help but sense the sweet fragrance of God, nor can the offender deny it.

Heavenly Father, how thankful we are for Your forgiveness to us when we were at a place in our lives where we couldn't have cared less. But You are faithful. We pray that You will bring us to the place that we can forgive those who have hurt us, betrayed us, wronged us. We trust that You will give us forgiving hearts, just as You have a heart of forgiveness for us. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

©2011

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

drbobbijo@yahoo.com

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

 

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IF WE DO THEN HE WILL

 

James 4:8

"Come near to God and he will come near to you." NIV

"Draw night to God, and he will draw nigh to you." KJV

So many of us make up our minds that we are going to get our lives straightened up and change our ways so that we will be be Godly people. Those of us who have tried that route have found out rather quickly that it does not work. We have no power within ourselves to be "Godly." The Bible is repeatedly clear that salvation is a free gift of God and it is our choice to receive it or not. Because of the blood Jesus Christ poured out on the cross, all we have to do is approach God, confess we are sinful, and dedicate ourselves to Him. There is no struggle on our part to be "good" or "stop this or that." We give ourselves over just as we are. Then, God will do the rest. He will make us holy. He will make the changes that need to be made. He will make us useful for Him. It's really not a difficult thing for us. Jesus Christ is the One who did all the work.

Heavenly Father, we confess that we try to make ourselves holy by consciously changing our behaviors. Forgive us, and help us to understand that all we have to do is give ourselves to You and You will do the rest. Help us to keep this truth in our hearts and minds. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

           

©2011

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

drbobbijo@yahoo.com

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

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only