AVAILABLE GOD

Psalm 116:2

"Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live." NIV

"Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live." KJV

We can get frustrated when we call someone and all we get is the answering machine. Likewise, we wait and wait after sending a text before the other person has the time to answer. While all that can be taxing, it is better than a written letter through the postal service or the pony express. But when it comes to talking to our Lord, He is always ready to hear us and commune with us. He waits for us to talk to Him many times. If we just take time, any time, to talk to Him, He will listen.

Heavenly Father, what a loving God You are to stand ready any time we call on You. Help us Lord to spend more time talking to you, 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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HE NEVER CHANGES

Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." NIV "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." KJV The Lord we serve is the same Lord that was in the beginning, creating the world. He is the same Lord that led the children of Israel out of Egypt. He is the same Lord that gave Elijah the anointing of power. He is the same Lord that changed the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus. He is the same Lord that rose from the dead. He is the same Lord today for your lives and mine. He will be the same Lord when we are in eternity with Him. He is the only constant in existence. Heavenly Father, we praise You for never changing. We can put our trust in You with no disappointments. Help us to remember the our Lord has been here for us, is here for us, and will be here for us. 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

OUR OBEDIENCE MAY COST OTHERS

John 14:23 "Jesus replied, 'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.'" NIV "Jesus answered and said unto him, 'If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.'"KJV When we have truly fallen in love with Christ, obeying Him does not cause us a burden because it is a delight to please Him. However, our family, friends, and others around us may be affected greatly by the commitment of obedience we've made to the Lord. They may become irritated because their plans are ruined. They may chide us for becoming God's children. If we are going to obey God, we cannot prevent the sufferings or inconveniences it causes others. If we will let the consequences happen and take joy in obedience to the Lord, He will take care of the rest. Heavenly Father, we ask for greater hunger to obey regardless of what consequences that might bring. Help us to trust that You will take of all that happens as a result of our obedience. We pray this 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

TRUE FREEDOM

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 If we have been set free from sin, doesn't that mean we are totally free? Why do we become free of sin only to become slaves to Christ? Being a slave of Christ sets us free from ourselves and gives us total freedom in the kingdom of God. There are no restrictions on how much we can love. There is no law against being kind, good, pure, honest, and cheerful. Yes, we are truly free when we become slaves to righteousness. Living right has no boundaries. Now that's freedom. Heavenly Father, forgive us for failing to commit ourselves as full slaves to You. Give us the vision of what it is to be free in You. And we praise You for freeing us from sin so that we can be Your servants. 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

OUR PURPOSE

Ephesians 5:1,2 "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." NIV "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour." KJV Becoming children of the living God is not for the purpose of clearing our conscience, although we are made free from guilt. It is not for the purpose of seeking to grow and mature in spiritual matters, but then, that is a natural consequence of making Christ Lord of our lives. Becoming a Christian is not to just sit back and feel good about God and to fellowship with other believers, however, those are things that we experience as His children. Our purpose is to imitate God, just as a child imitates his parents. We are to offer ourselves lovingly for whatever purpose God plans for us. It may not always be a life of mountaintops. But if we imitate Him, He will be pleased that we are fulfilling our purpose for His kingdom. Heavenly Father, help us to take time to bask in Your presence so that we might know You. Give us more hunger for Your word that we might understand more what it is You would have us do. Increase our desire to commit our lives to imitating You and the love You so freely give. 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 WORD IS TRUTH

Ephesians 6:14 "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist..."NIV "Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth..." KJV We know that the belt of truth is the written Word of God. Of all the spiritual weapons, this is one that we can hold in our hands, the Holy Bible. But we don't forget that it was God's Word sent from the world of God's Spirit to men who allowed the Spirit to write through them. What a powerful weapon God passed on to us from Himself to use as a sword, the Truth, to defeat the enemy. If we believe this by faith, we will be able to stand firm, hiding the Word in our hearts, therefore, defeating the enemy. Heavenly Father, how grateful we are that You saw fit to give us Your Truth in written form that we can hold, study, and hide in our hearts. Help us Lord, to keep Your Word with us so that we can stand firm against the enemy of our souls. We ask 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

OUR WEAKNESS, HIS STRENGTH

2 Corinthians 12:9 "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." NIV "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." KJV How could God use our weaknesses and insufficiencies to exert His power and strength? If we were strong and could do everything in our own strength, why would God need to intervene and show His magnificent omnipotence? When others can see that we are inadequate and insufficient to accomplish something, but we succeed in a miraculous way, the credit can only go to God and God alone. We were not sufficient within ourselves to accomplish such a thing. That's how God uses our weaknesses. He picks up where we have reached our limit and takes it all the way to completion. Heavenly Father, we realize our limitations. Unfortunately, we fail to recognize that You will take us further in Your strength. All we need to do is go as far as we can in our own abilities and allow You to take over to bring us to the goal. Thank you Lord, for showing Your strength and power through our weaknesses. 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