SALVATION AND SUFFERING

 

Philippians 1:29

 

"For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have." ESV

 

For every born again child of God, there is joy and peace in knowing that we are His and that we will live in eternity with our Lord and Savior. What an Honor! How humbling to know that He did this for you and for me. Sometimes we forget that along with this wonderful salvation, we are still confined to this world until He takes us home. While we are here, we will endure the trials and sorrows that this world brings to us. Our tribulations are the same as those who don't know Christ. The difference is, we know what awaits us. We can continue on in this life going through very difficult times with no complaining while continuing to praise Him.

 

Lord, how can we ever thank You enough for Your unending love and Your sacrifice on the cross? The least we can do is to keep walking through this life enduring the harsh and difficult things with praise on our lips, looking for Your return. In Your name we pray, Amen.

 

 

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

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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/

 

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SEEKING THE RIGHT THING

 

Mark 9:2

 

"And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them." ESV 

 

What an awesome thing to have a mountain top experience with the Lord. They are rare events indeed. The Lord did not intend for us to get up on the mountain top and stay there, or even to seek having a mountain top experience. Those times are for preparation to live and serve in the real world where it is evil and dangerous. We are not to seek the mountain top experiences, we are to seek Him. The Lord will take us to the mountain top when He sees fit to do so.

 

Lord, we humbly seek You and ask You to forgive us for striving to reach and stay on the mountain top where Your presence is rich and full. We pray that You will find us going about Your business, seeking You, not spiritual "highs." In Your name we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

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I FORGIVE YOU

Matthew 6:14

"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ESV

Can we detect even the slightest hint of unforgiveness in our hearts? Is there lingering resentment over hurts and disappointments that we just can't get over? Our human nature tells us that if we forgive someone who has wronged us, it's like telling them that what they did was all right. How can we accept the forgiveness of God for our own sins and failures and withhold that same forgiveness from someone who has wronged us? We can't. Before we can receive forgiveness from God, we must forgive others. There's no other way.

Lord, help us to examine ourselves so that we can detect unforgiveness and make it right. We are in awe of the forgiveness you have given us after we were so ungodly toward You. Help us to see that this is all the more reason we must forgive others. We pray in Your name, Amen.

 

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

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WE THINK WE'RE SO SMART!

 

1 Corinthians 1:21

 

"For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe." ESV 

 

Human wisdom has never and will never be capable of understanding God. Knowing and understanding God can only be known through His desire to make Himself known. By choosing to reconcile mankind to Himself by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, God has allowed us to know Him. We accept Jesus Christ and seek to be like Him, and we will know God.

 

Lord, sometimes we rely on our own wisdom to understand spiritual and temporal things. Please forgive us for that. Help us to seek the Lord Jesus Christ so that we will know You more fully while we are here on this earth. In His name, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

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LIVING ON AUTO PILOT

 

Haggai 1:7

 

"Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways." ESV 

 

Living in a non-stop, hectic lifestyle, we find ourselves getting into a fixed pattern of daily living that requires little thought to those things we do day after day. We go on "auto pilot." In a way, we go through the motions of driving back and forth to work or school. We have our minds on a thousand other things while we go through our morning routine. What about our personal time with the Lord? Do we get into that auto pilot mode when we pray and read His Word? If so, we are not getting connected to the Lord at all. Consequently, we lack spiritual renewal and growth. Being deliberate in our time with God, or considering our ways, results in our growing in Christ and being effective in our witness for Him.

 

Lord, forgive us for mindlessly hurrying through our prayers and devotions. Put a strong desire in our hearts to give careful thought to the important things that cannot be accomplished when we are on "auto pilot." We ask this in Your name, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

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HAVE A PIECE OF HUMBLE PIE

 

Psalm 25:9

 

"He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way." ESV 

 

Without humility, we are choosing to make decisions and live by our own abilities. Because we are so limited in our knowledge and understanding of the Truth as a whole, we have no hope of staying on the path of Truth. We acceptingly stumble around in the darkness with the rest of the crowd. If we put on true humility, we give up our right to follow what we think is right, and we walk by faith with our Lord leading our every step.

 

Lord, we know we cannot know You and have true relationship with You if we do not have humility. We ask that You show us when we are not wearing our cloak of humility so we can get back to Your will for our lives. In Your name we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

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LIGHT SPECTRUM TRANSFER

 

Colossians 1:13

 

"He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son." ESV 

 

Since the fall of man, we have been held in captivity by the forces of evil and of self-satisfaction. We have literally been held prisoners in a cursed world. After so long a time in this condition, we have become adapted and accepting of it as normal. However, when we are drawn to the Lord by the Holy Spirit and we accept Him, our eyes are opened to His Light that shines on the truth of our depraved and lost condition. We can also see the glorious realm of God's Kingdom that is now ours through the blood of Jesus Christ. What an amazing rescue!

 

Lord, how we thank You for the wonderful gift of salvation from darkness to knowledge of the Truth through Jesus Christ. Anoint us to be Your light so that we can speak and live the Truth to those who still walk in darkness and they can choose to have their eyes opened to You. In Your name we pray, Amen.

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

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WHO'S GIVING THIS TEST?

 

Ephesians 6:13

 

"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." ESV 

 

When we are struggling with a temptation or heavy trial in our lives, we sometimes say God is really testing us through this. God does not test us nor does he tempt or wrestle with us. The truth is, we are wrestling with the evil forces of Satan. Our Lord emphasizes that we need to put on and keep on His armor so that we can stand strong and overcome these evil forces. It is our choice to keep the Armor of God firmly on, or to let ourselves get spiritually sloppy and find ourselves wrestling a losing battle to the enemy. Our gracious God have given us all we need to overcome, even the choice to use what He has given us.

 

Lord, forgive us for getting so caught up in our own earthly lives that we fail to even recognize we have only part of Your armor on. You have shown us these are truly the last days. Give us zeal for being prepared and for being witnesses of Truth. 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 CROWD HAS GONE WILD

 

Deuteronomy 6:5

 

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." ESV 

 

A group of people are watching a video of a crowd in a stadium who are cheering, waving, clapping, shouting, and jumping up and down. There is no sound in the video. When the group of people watching the video are told this crowd is at a football game and their team just scored a winning touchdown, they will most likely comment that it must have been an awesome play, a really intense and exciting game. If the group was told it was a Christian rally and souls have just been won for Christ, they would most likely comment that these people are religious fanatics, going overboard with their emotions, Bible thumpers. If football athletes deserve an excited demonstration of celebration from a crowd, how much more does our Lord Jesus Christ deserve our excited, demonstrative praise for saving us and others to eternal life?

 

Lord, help us to never be ashamed to show our full excitement and joy at the wonderful gift of eternal life you provided for us and for those who continue to come to You. You gave us the ultimate sacrifice to save us. Give us boldness by the power of Your Holy Spirit to show our thankfulness and praise to You with our hearts, our minds, and with our bodies. In Your great name we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

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TRUSTING THE SHEPHERD

 

Psalm 23:1

 

"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." ESV 

 

When we were little children, we had total confidence in our parents to take of our every need. We could be free to explore and play, learning about the world around us. Why is it so difficult to trust the Lord to take care of everything in our lives now? We say we trust Him, but we still worry and fret over things. If we will take even a moment to think about the marvelous reality that the Lord is our Shepherd, we will come to know there is nothing we will lack in living this life here on earth.

 

Lord, how awesome You are to give Yourself to us as our Shepherd. You love and care for us more than a mother does for her child. Help us to get this amazing truth into our hearts and minds. We know we will have all we need. In Your name we pray,

Amen.

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

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RUNNING THE RIGHT WAY

 

2 Timothy 2:5

 

"An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules." ESV 

 

If we try to win a game by bypassing the rules, cheating so to speak, we are never winners. Even Christians try to use their own set of rules and beliefs to win the crown of life. There is no compromise in the ultimate race to eternal life. There is only One Way.

 

Lord, forgive us for trying to live by rules we have been taught or have adopted as our own that are not the ones You have spoken to us in Your Word. Give us discernment so that we will not be led off onto another path. We desire to hear Your voice and Your voice only. In Your name we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

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LOVE IS GOD IS LOVE

 

1 John 4:12

 

"No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us." ESV 

 

No one has ever seen God. But He has designed things so that our love for others provides a great likeness to Himself. If we express Godly (agape)love to those around us, even to those who don't seem to deserve it at all, we are showing others who God is and that He is love. So many have come to know Him by the love His children have shown to each other and the love we show to those that are undeserving of love. What an honor and a privilege that our Lord has seen fit to fill us with His love so that we can show Him to the world.

 

Lord, we fall so short of showing Your love to the world. We pick and choose those we think deserve to be loved. Forgive us. You flooded us with Your love when we didn't deserve it. Heal our hearts by Your love so that we will love others and give them a glimpse of Who You are. In Your name we pray, Amen.

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

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BESIEGED

 

Psalm 31:21

 

"Blessed be the Lord, for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love me when I was in a besieged city." ESV 

 

To be besieged is to be closed in and surrounded by those whose intent is to conquer and take over, such as a city or military fortress. We were besieged by the forces of sin and Satan. There was no escape for us. We were in position for take over by the enemy and we weren't even aware of it. But God, in His great love reached out to us with His mighty hand to rescue us. Those of us who recognized the danger grabbed onto His hand. Those who believed everything was business as usual, sensing no danger, refused to take hold of His hand and offer of rescue. We recognized we were in danger because someone who had been rescued before took the time to share the Word with those of us who were still in captivity. If we do the same, God is still reaching out His hand to those in danger in a besieged place, and He will use us to prepare them to take His hand.

 

Jesus, how can we ever show our gratitude that You came to us when we were held captive by sin and You rescued us? What love You have for us. Help us to share Your love, as others did, to those who are still besieged in the danger of sin. We pray they will take Your hand and be set free. In Your name, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

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A REALLY BIG GOD, VERY INSIGNIFICANT PEOPLE

 

Revelation 1:8

 

"'I am the Alpha and the Omega', says the Lord God. 'Who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.'" ESV 

 

Just stop for a moment and think about how awesome and majestic our God is. We cannot help but be amazed that He cares for us as if we were each the only one on earth. God is eternal, from eternity to eternity. He created all things and holds the universe in His hands. Yet, when we come to Him with our tiny offerings of praise, He delights in us just like a mother reaching out for the dandelion her child brought just for her. How awesome our God is!

 

Jesus, there is no way our human minds can grasp what a great and mighty God You are. But by Your love, You let us know how much You care for us and accept our offering of praise and worship with delight. Oh, how we thank You and praise You for Your unending love for us. In Your name we pray, Amen.

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

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IMMENSE LOSS, AMAZING RESCUE

 

Psalm 86:13

 

"For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol." ESV 

 

Do we really understand what was lost when sin entered the human heart? Before, there was perfect communion with God and constant presence of His glory. After, there was darkness, separation from Him, and vulnerability to evil and destructive circumstances of a world gone bad. Do we really understand how much God loves us, that He would sacrifice the most precious thing to Him, His Son, to rescue us from this tragic and hopeless world?

 

Lord, we fervently seek to know what was lost when sin entered the world. It is in the light of knowing this that we can understand the vastness of the Way You saved us from the destruction it caused. In His name we pray, Amen.

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

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KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES

Proverbs 23:4

"Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist." ESV

The theme of this world is to get rich, accumulate things, have the latest, keep up with those around us. No matter how we try to achieve this, it takes a lot of time and energy. So often, people are so busy making money they have little or no time to enjoy the things it can buy them. By the time the age of retirement and rest approaches, health issues are present and the years of overwork and pushing ourselves to the limit takes its toll. God tells us to live modestly and seek Him. Are we wearing ourselves out for the things of this world or are we nourishing our bodies and souls for Christ?

Lord, forgive us for losing sight of the truly important, eternal things of this life. Help us use the wisdom You have given us to live modestly and to use our energy and time as good stewards of the time and energy You give us. In Your name we pray, Amen.

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

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BEING IMMORALLY REPELLED

 

1 Corinthians 6:18

 

"Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body." ESV 

 

As Christians, our bodies belong to Christ, we are His temple. Because we live in a sexually corrupt society, we will be exposed to sexual temptations. God tells us to run the other way when sexual immorality is present. That includes within our own minds. He knows how weak we are and how easy it is for us to get caught up in that kind of sin. If we desire to be clean and holy for Christ, we will avoid sexual temptation at all costs.

 

Lord, we ask for forgiveness for having allowed ourselves to be in the presence of sexual immorality, whether it be in our homes, in our workplace, through social media, or in our own minds. Forgive us for entertaining sexually inappropriate thoughts when we know it's not right. Move us by Your Holy Spirit to flee from it. In Your name, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

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DEAD OR ALIVE

 

Romans 6:11

 

"So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus." ESV 

 

 

Being alive in Christ, the things of this world no longer have a hold on us. We are no longer drawn to the same things that once kept our attention. We have spiritually died to this world. We have been made alive to unhindered communion with our God and we live in His presence now and forever.

 

Lord, we give You all praise, honor, and glory for rescuing us from the things that kept us wrapped in the temporal things of this world. We thank You for setting us free to live in peace and joy right now in Your kingdom. In Your name we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

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IMMEDIATE OPENINGS FOR WORKERS

 

Matthew 9:37

 

"Then he said to his disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few.'" ESV 

 

So many people are lost and the battle for their souls is huge. Are we willing to go into this battle, this field that needs to be harvested? Why are so few of us willing? Maybe we think someone else will do it, or we just aren't willing to sacrifice the time and energy. If we all think that way, there will be no one to do His work. How many of you will step up to the call and say, "Here I am, Lord, send me."

 

Heavenly Father, please forgive us for not doing our part in this great harvest of lost and hurting souls. Give us a fervent desire to go wherever You need us to go and work. Help us to remember to pray for the other workers and for those who will come and be a part of this great harvest. In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

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LIVING THE WORD

 

Matthew 7:24

 

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock." ESV 

 

Do we truly realize how critical it is to know the words of Jesus Christ and to understand His words are the key to standing steadfast in the most turbulent times of our lives? Jesus told us we are not only to listen to them, but live in them so that they become part of us. Then we will have His strength to stand victoriously when the storms of life come.

 

Lord Jesus, forgive us for not taking Your words to heart and failing to live them day to day. We pray for earnest desire to know Your words and to put them into practice. In Your name, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

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CAN WE BE SURE?

 

Psalm 18:30

 

"This God--his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him." ESV 

 

We have all questioned God or gotten angry with Him. We have all felt God has failed us or hasn't heard us. It is then that we stand on our faith, not our feelings, declaring that God is perfect, holy, and loving. We can choose to ignore our faith and the Holy Spirit. If we do that, we need to search our hearts to find if we have ever really known Him.

 

Lord Jesus, in our hearts we know You are the perfect, loving God. Forgive us for those times when we doubt and our faith is weak. Help us to bring honor to Your name no matter what is going on in our lives. In Your name we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

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