BE MERCIFUL

Luke 6:36

"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." NIV

"Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." KJV

Just exactly what is being merciful? It is defined as being compassionate and lenient in our attitude and treatment toward anyone who offends us. How merciful is our Heavenly Father? His mercy never ceases. He is rich in mercy. He accepted the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ as complete payment for us, offenders against Him. Jesus commanded us to be merciful. If we have given our hearts to Him, we will have all the grace we need to show mercy to those who offend us. We have no excuse for not being merciful.


Heavenly Father, we ask you to forgive us for those times we have not shown mercy. Help us to remember that You will show mercy to us as we show mercy to others. Give us the right attitude and compassion for those who offend us. In Jesus' name. Amen.

©2011

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

PRIDE

Proverbs 16:18

"Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." NIV

"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." KJV

There are times when we feel pretty good about the way we are doing spiritually. And at times, we may be. However, it is when we think we are spiritually strong that we must be particularly on guard and prepared for the enemy to attack in subtle and deceiving ways. If we remember that we can fall from any level, we will be more apt to humbly trust in the Lord rather than our own spiritual strength.


Heavenly Father, forgive us when we get caught up in pride about our abilities and spiritual feats. It is then we need you more than ever to keep us on the narrow path. Keep us aware that pride will always precede a fall. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

©2011

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

TIME FOR ALL THINGS

Ecclesiastes 3:1

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." NIV

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." KJV

When things are going fairly well and we feel life is quite good, we thank the Lord and feel blessed by Him. When trials and difficult things are coming into our lives, we become unsettled and ask God what He is doing, or what did we do wrong that we must suffer so. As long as we live on this earth, there will be good times and there will be bad times. We will stand on the mountain tops and bow low in the valleys. Only in heaven will we experience pure joy, peace, and blessing for all time and eternity.


Heavenly Father, help us to understand that we will go through good times and bad times in this world. Give us courage and grateful hearts. We ask in Jesus' name. Amen

©2011

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

HOPE NEVER DISAPPOINTS

Romans 5:5

"And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." NIV

"And hope maketh us not not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." KJV

Our hope is in Him not how we want things to be or how He will work things out for us. We can freely and completely hope in Him because He will lead us to eternal peace and joy. Let's endure the trials and enjoy the journey.


Heavenly Father, what a wonderful God you are to be forever faithful and merciful to us. Give us determination to hope in Christ no matter what we face here on earth because we know all things will work out for His glory and our good. In Jesus' name. Amen.

©2011

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

NONE OF US, ALL OF HIM

Romans 6:6-7

"For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin--because anyone who has died has been freed from sin." NIV

"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin." KJV

Do we ever stop to think of the reason why we are still tempted and, at times, give in to sin when Jesus Christ conquered sin on the cross? The answer is relatively simple. We have not yet put to death all those part of ourselves that still want to have things our own way. When we accept Christ and follow His death in baptism, we are saying we identify with His death and now it will be Him who lives through us. If we have surrendered all those parts of ourselves that allow us to give in to temptation, we will not give in to sin. It is a work in progress, but a work that our Lord expects each one of us to be seriously attending.


Heavenly Father, we know we are like sheep that have gone astray. We confess that we have not surrendered totally to You and that we continue to give in to the pleasures of this world. Forgive us Lord, and help us to embrace all that You have supplied to us, so that You will live through us and we will be totally dead to sin and alive in You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

©2011

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D.

NO OTHER NAME

Acts 4:12

"Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we much be saved." NIV

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."KJV

Those who believe that all major religions lead to God are sorely mistaken. Jesus Christ is the only way to eternal life. He gave up His equality with God, was born into this world, and lived a sinless, spotless life. He was crucified, arose from the dead, conquering death. Jesus Christ showed all of creation that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.


Heavenly Father, how thankful we are for the saving grace brought by the blood of Jesus Christ. Help us to bring this good news, that Jesus is the only way, to those who are misguided and deceived, that they may know Him and eternal life. In Jesus' name, Amen.

©2011

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D.

TO REALLY KNOW HIM

Philippians 3:10

"I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His suffering, becoming like Him in His death." NIV

"That I may know Him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto His death." KJV

God not only saves us but He brings us to the Saviour. As His followers, we join together as we go through the trials and tribulations this world heaps on us. As Jesus suffered without complaint, so should we. Then the same power that brought Christ alive and out of the grave will raise us up from death to eternal life.


Heavenly Father, forgive us for losing sight of the reason we experience trials on this earth. Help us, O Lord, to be more like Jesus Christ, who suffered without a whimper and He was pure and innocent from sin. Lead us to the knowledge of Him and of Your mighty power. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

©2011

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D.