HOW DO WE GET THERE?

 

Matthew 16:24

 

"Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'" ESV

 

 

Following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ is not for the weak and fragile hearted. Following Christ is refusing to recognize personal agenda. It is disowning personal rights and taking on the nature of His fellow heirs of the kingdom.

 

Lord, we can't deny our selves in our own strength. We recognize our weakness and self-centeredness that separated us from You in the first place. Help us to draw from the strength of the Holy Spirit so that we can put our own agenda aside by following You and bringing glory to Your name. In Your name we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

EVERYBODY HAS A CROSS TO BEAR

 

 

Luke 9:23

 

"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'" ESV

 

We are all familiar with the Biblical call to bear our own crosses. Just what does that mean? If we live day to day focusing on the negative things that are in our lives, we will most likely be grumbling and complaining. Yes, some people do have terrible "crosses" to bear. But, carrying our cross like Jesus did it won't matter what our circumstances are, whether horrible or great. We will be living testimonies of the grace and mercy of God to the unbelieving world. In fact, the greater our crosses are, the more desperate our lives, the greater opportunity to show Christ to others.

 

Heavenly Father, help us focus on being more like You, no matter what our circumstances are. Help us carry our crosses and follow You. In His name we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

WHO MAKES ALL MY DECISIONS?

 

Matthew 16:24

 

"Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'" ESV

 

How would we feel if we could not do any of the things we want to do, think the thoughts we want to think, say the things we want to say, or go to places we want to go? How would we feel letting someone else decide all these things for us. If we follow Christ, this is exactly how it will be. It is a difficult, narrow path. Very few are willing to do it. But those who do quickly find a life of peace, joy, and freedom that is far greater than any life they could make for themselves.

 

Heavenly Father, we thank You and praise You for the gift of eternal life. We give You the glory for rewarding our faith to trust in You to have control of our lives and lavishing us with Your peace and joy. Help us to show this great gift to everyone we meet. In Jesus name, Amen.

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

 

HOW TO BE CHRIST'S DISCIPLES

 

Matthew 16:24

"Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.'"NIV

"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, 'If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.'"KJV

Jesus made it very clear what we must do in order to be His own followers. First of all we have to want to be His disciple. He will never force us. Then we must be willing to give up our rights to ourselves, working to stop following our natural inclinations. Next, we must be active in meeting with the trials and tribulations that will come because we are living for Christ. Finally, we are to simply live the way Jesus lived and the way He taught us to live through His Word and by the Holy Spirit. It's a long narrow journey, so let's get going.

Heavenly Father, we thank You that You gave us clear instructions on how to live like Christ. We pray for Your grace that we might live lives that show Christ and His love. We pray for courage and strength to stay the course. 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

BEARING OUR CROSSES

We have all heard about picking up our crosses and following Him.
What does it mean to bear our own crosses? It means that we will
not focus on the life that has been dealt to us by this world, but we
will focus on being more like Christ. No matter what our circumstances
are, we can be like Christlike, a living testimony to the unbelieving
world. In fact, the greater the cross one bears, the more desperate the
life, the greater the opportunity to show Christ to others.

Heavenly Father, help us focus on being more like You, no matter what
our circumstances are. Help us carry our cross and follow You. In Jesus' name.

Read Luke 9:23

"Then He said to them all: 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.'" (NIV)

"And he said to them all, 'If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.'" (KJV)

     
©2010

NO MORE SELFNESS

Imagine how you would feel if you could not do things you want
to do, think things you want to think, say things you want to say,
or go places you want to go? Imagine letting someone else decide
all these things for you. If you to follow Christ, this is exactly how
it will be. It is a difficult, narrow path. Very few are willing to do it.

Read 1 Corinthians 11:32

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone would come after me,
he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.'" (NIV)

"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, 'If any man will come after me,
let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.'" (KJV)

REAL CHRISTIANITY

To actively choose to follow the way of Christ is to ignore what the
"self" desires. It is to walk out in active steps each day the kind of
life Christ lived. That is so unlike many "Christians" today who glut
their minds with knowledge about the Lord and exchange their ideas
at the meeting place with others who do the same.

Read Luke 9:23

"Then He said to them, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny
himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'" (NIV)

"And he said to them all, 'If any man will come after me, let him deny
himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.'" (KJV)