TENATIVE PLANS

 

Proverbs 19:21

 

"Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand." ESV

 

It is a good feeling to have plans, dreams, and goals for our lives. However, we cannot forget that it is God who has already made plans for our lives. He will use our plans, or make alterations to our plans, or may totally disregard our plans. That is not a problems for those who have completely entrusted their lives to Him.

 

Heavenly Father, in our human nature we tend to make plans, appointments, and schedules. You know we are on enemy territory where distractions and busy lives keep us running to and fro. Help us to place all our plans into Your hands and wait with faith and anticipation for Your plan to unfold in our lives. We know You have wonderful things in store for us. We praise You and pray this in Jesus' name, Amen.

 

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

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WHAT IS OUR PLAN?

 

 

Isaiah 14:24

 

"The Lord of hosts has sworn: 'As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand.'" ESV

 

Whether we make plans for our day or for our lives, it is a very wise thing to make sure these plans are tentative. God may have other plans for us and His plan trumps ours.

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for being in control of our lives. Help us to make our plans with the knowledge that You may have a totally different direction for us. Show us how to be ready to change the plan, whether it is a plan for today or for our whole life's journey. In the name of Jesus' we pray, Amen.

 

          

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

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HIS WAY IS THE HIGHWAY

 

Isaiah 55:9

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."NIV

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts."KJV

It is human nature for us to play out in our minds how the Lord is going to work in our situations. And then we are surprised at how He does it, a way we would never have thought. It shows us that God's ways are much different than ours. How different? His ways are a greater distance than the heavens are from the earth, which by the way, scientist have not been able to measure. When we ask God why, or wonder what He is doing, we can let our faith kick in full and just trust Him. He is in control.

Heavenly Father, forgive us for questioning what You are doing or not doing. Help us to strengthen our faith so that in any situation, although we may not understand, we will know that You are working in Your way, not ours. In Jesus' name, Amen.

           

©2011

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

drbobbijo@yahoo.com

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

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WHO IS IN CONTROL

We all like being in control, especially of our own lives. There is

a lot of comfort in being able to plan out our comings and goings.

But, it is easy to forget that we are not our own masters. We belong

to Christ or we belong to sin. As Christians, we were bought by

Christ with His blood. He is in control of our comings and goings.

Heavenly Father, it is comforting to know that you are in control of

our lives. We know you are leading us to yourself. That is where we

long to be. Help us to keep hearing your voice and following in your

steps. In Jesus' name.

Read Jeremiah 10:23

"I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to

direct his steps." (NIV)

"O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man

     

©2010

OUR PLANS HIS PURPOSE

It is a good feeling to make plans, dream, and set goals for our lives.
However, never forget that it is God who has already made plans for
our lives. He will use our plans, or make alterations to our plans, or
may totally disregard our plans. That is not a problem for those who
have completely entrusted their lives to Him.

Read Proverbs 19:21

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose
that prevails." (NIV)

"There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel
of the LORD, that shall stand." (KJV)

WHO UNDERSTANDS?

Those who truly seek God, spend time with God, and learn from
God will understand the goodness and the severity of God. His ways
will be understood by them. Those who have this understanding will
be known by God. Everything about God is true and without error. The
true believers will walk in God's truth and experience peace and
assurance. Those who don't know the Lord will find themselves
stumbling with confusion and uncertainty.

Read Hosea 14:9

"Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He
will understand them. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous
walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them." (NIV)

"Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? Prudent,
and he shall know them? For the ways of the LORD are right,
and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall
therein." (KJV)

GOD'S JUDGEMENT

If we are spiritually open to God's judgement of our thoughts,
feelings, and actions, He will let us see if there is anything
contrary to Him and His Word. This allows us opportunity to
change and get our lives in harmony with Him.

Read 1 Corinthians 11:32

"When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that
we will not be condemned with the world." (NIV)

"But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we
should not be condemned with the world." (KJV)

HOW STRONG IS YOUR FAITH?

Is our commitment to the Lord God such that we can be stripped
of every good thing, be abandoned by all, and be passing through
the threshold of death, yet still fully trust that He is faithful and
just, worthy of all honor and praise? This is true faith. Oh, that He
would find this faith in us!

Read Job 13:15

"Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my
ways to His face." (NIV)

"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine
own ways before him." (KJV)

SUFFERING IN GOD'S WILL

There are times when we suffer because we have sinned and failed to
act in the way God has chosen for us. That suffering we must accept
and gain wisdom from it. When we suffer after having obeyed God's
Word to us, we can be sure that keeping our trust in Him will result in
His keeping us close to Him in communion and peace.

Read 1 Peter 4:19

"So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit
themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good." (NIV)

"Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit
the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful
Creator." (KJV)

GOD BECAME MAN

Christ became human flesh and blood for the specific purpose of being
the sinless sacrifice for our sin, once for all. As God, He could not die.
With a body like ours, He died and took control of death from Satan. Now Satan cannot taunt us with fear about death and hell. Christ holds the key to death and the fear is gone because He has made death the passage to eternal life.

Read Hebrews 2:14

"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-- that is, the devil." (NIV)

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." (KJV)

HIS DIVINE PURPOSE

When it seems that the events of life or actions of other people
are surely going to destroy us, take heart. We are where God is
able to use us for this time and season. He intends it to be for our
good and the good of those around us, so that His divine purpose
is completed.

Read Genesis 50:19,20

"Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm
me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being
done, the saving of many lives." (NIV)

"And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto
good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive."
(KJV)


  
Daily Grace
Bobbi Craigmyle
drbobbijo@yahoo.com
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GIVING ALL

It is such an amazing thing when we get hold of the fact that
the Son of God actually left His throne in Heaven and became a
human being. Even more amazing, He gave all He had, Himself,
because of His love, mercy, and grace that would show us the
Way to the One true God. When we take time to dwell on that, it
seems like such a small thing that we would turn our total selves
over to Him. But, that is all we have to give Him.

Read John 1:14

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have
seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the
Father, full of grace and truth." (NIV)

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we
beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father)
full of grace and truth." (KJV)


  
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Bobbi Craigmyle
drbobbijo@yahoo.com
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GOD'S WAYS ARE HIGHER

Do we sometimes believe that God works within the confines
of our human reasoning? We must, because things go wrong,
our prayers seem to have hit the ceiling, and we wonder why
God is not there, hearing us. We are commanded in His Word
to bring our petitions, cares, and burdens to Him but we are not
commanded to tell Him how to take care of these things. We
are only to trust in Him, know that He is in control, and that He
hears us.

Read Isaiah 55:9

"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher
than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (NIV)

"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways
higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts." (KJV)


  
Daily Grace
Bobbi Craigmyle
drbobbijo@yahoo.com
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GET RID OF OLD THINKING

We have learned by human experience that the best predictor of
future behavior in humans in past behavior. This principle does
not hold true with God. He cannot be predicted nor does He limit
Himself to the same ways of working or to the ways we think He
should work. We can be sure that God can and will do that which
seems impossible to the human mind, make something out of nothing,
and call into being those things that do not exist.

Read Isaiah 43:18,19

"Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing
a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making
a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland."(NIV)

"Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know
it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert." (KJV)




  
Daily Grace
Bobbi Craigmyle
drbobbijo@yahoo.com
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If we give ourselves over to the Lord, He will make us into new creatures
from the broken pieces of our old lives. But if we insist on being masters
of our own lives, His judgment will crush and destroy us. Remember, these
are the only two available choices: give ourselves totally to Him or being
masters of our own lives.

Read Luke 20:18

"Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom
it falls will be crushed." (NIV)

"Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever
it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." (KJV)


  
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Bobbi Craigmyle
drbobbijo@yahoo.com
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OUR NEEDS ARE MET

The things we think we need and the things we actually need are often two very different things. What do you really need? You can rest assured that the Lord will supply whatever that need is because His storehouse is boundless and glorious.

Read Philippians 4:19

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (NIV)

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (KJV)


  
Daily Grace
Bobbi Craigmyle
drbobbijo@yahoo.com
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OUR SHELTER

Just as a child that is frightened runs to his mother for safety and
assurance, we, as God's children, run to Him for shelter. Just as
the child knows his mother and can rely on her to protect him, we
can know our Lord and fully trust that He will always take care of us.

Read Psalm 9:9,10

"The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never
forsaken those who seek you." (NIV)

"The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee." (KJV)


  
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Bobbi Craigmyle
drbobbijo@yahoo.com
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LOOK UP

Because we live in the now and there are many things that grab our attention, it is easy to lose sight of the things that will matter for all eternity. If we keep our minds on eternal things, the distractions of this temporary world will not only pale in comparison, but will take their rightful place in God's eternal plan. This will give us peace and tolerance as we walk through this life.

Read Colossians 3:2

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." (NIV)

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." (KJV)


  
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Bobbi Craigmyle
drbobbijo@yahoo.com
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DISCIPLINE

Being disciplined can be a very unpleasant thing. But when the Lord
is the one doing the correcting, we can be sure that it is for our good
and for His glory. His discipline is a blessing that we learn to accept
and appreciate as we grow in His love.

Read Job 5:17

Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the
discipline of the Almighty." (NIV)

"Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore
despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty." (KJV)


  
Daily Grace
Bobbi Craigmyle
drbobbijo@yahoo.com
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FOOD AND WORK

Food is a life sustaining necessity. The problem is, food does not magically appear in our hands so we can eat. Someone has to hunt the food, grow the food, harvest the food, and prepare the food. We are commanded to be a part of the process that makes food available by exerting effort. Work is
therefore necessary to sustain life. This is even more critical for the spiritual life.

Read 2 Thessalonians 3:10

"For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: 'If a man will not work, he shall not eat.'" (NIV)

"For even when we were with you, this we commanded you,
that if any would not work, neither should he eat." (KJV)





  
Daily Grace
Bobbi Craigmyle
drbobbijo@yahoo.com
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Personal Use Only