FOLLOW THE LEADER

 

Luke 5:27

"After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth, 'Follow me,' Jesus said to him." NIV

"And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me." KJV

How many of us have said or heard someone else say, "I just don't know what God wants me to do." Some just wait for some kind of voice that will tell them. Some spend time in prayer asking God over and over what to do. While it is a good thing to study the Word, pray, and wait patiently, for God's direction, we can be doing His will right now. If we just do the things Jesus Christ did and the things He said, we will be doing what He wants us to do. Then, when He calls us to a special work, we will be ready. Let's just follow Him.

Heavenly Father, forgive us for holding back until we get a clear personal direction from You to move forward. Thank You that You showed us the way by sending Your Son to live and teach us how we are to live every day. Give us hearts of readiness as we walk in His ways so we will be ready for those greater moments You have for us. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

       

©2012

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

drbobbijo@yahoo.com

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

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

WALKING IN THE FRAGRANCE OF LOVE

 

Ephesians 5:1,2

"Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way 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 that loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour." KJV

How often do we fail to sacrifice our own wants and needs for someone else? Are we guilty of turning the other way when we see someone in need because it is inconvenient or we don't have the time to give in love? The truth is, we don't have time not to show God's love because the world is in such great need of experiencing it through God's people. If we are children of God, we will be like Christ, and give of ourselves and our time to show love and care to those who need it. In so doing, our acts of love become a fragrant offering to our God, because we gave out of love for Him and for our fellowmen.

Heavenly Father, forgive us for our selfishness and lack of love toward those who are in need. Fill our hearts with compassion and love for those who need Your provision and use us to supply to them out of our abundance. Help us to not give thought to the time or amount of money it will take. But help us to give thought to the great sacrifice Christ made for us at the cross. In His 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

LET'S GO FISHING!

 

Matthew 4:19

"Come follow me, Jesus said, and I will send you out to fish for people." NIV

"And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." KJV

Jesus knew the disciples were familiar with the craft of fishing. They fully understood what He meant when He said they would be fishing for people for His kingdom. It is the same for us today in whatever profession or craft we have. The finished product of all we say and do is shining the light of Christ wherever we are so that those who need His saving grace will come to Him. It is not necessary that we be of great speech or in front of large crowds. It is only necessary that we ourselves are following Jesus and encourage others to follow along with us. God will do the rest in the hearts of those who seek Him.

Heavenly Father, how we thank You that You have made us fishers of men. Help us to keep pure hearts, lifting You up in the fullness of Your Spirit, so that we will draw all men to You. In the name of Jesus Christ 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

HOLY SEARCH WARRANT

 

Psalm 139: 23,24

"Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." NIV

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." KJV

Asking God to search our hearts and see if there is anything there that should not be there is like getting a search warrant for the police to search our home for anything illegal. God will search every tiny crack and crevice of our hearts so that He can reveal to us the things with which we need to take care. We tend to be in denial of our anxieties and offensive ways. By allowing God to search us in this way, we are purifying our hearts so that the Holy Spirit has a spotless home within us.

Heavenly Father, we do ask that You search our hearts and help us to accept and change anything You find that is not pleasing to You. 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

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

HOW TO HONOR GOD

 

1 Corinthians 6:20

"You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."NIV

"For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."KJV

Do we really understand how strong our own self wills are? Can we say that those around us can tell we belong to Christ just by the way we conduct ourselves? When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour, we no longer belong to ourselves. We belong to Him. Our bodies belong to Him, therefore, taking the utmost care of our bodies is honoring and worshipping our Lord. So it is with the way we live, speak, and approach life. Our spirit is a reflection of whoever it is we serve.

Heavenly Father, the ways of this world have such a strong pull on us and we often fall into its' practices along with those who do not belong to You. Forgive us, Lord. Keep us mindfully aware that we no longer belong to ourselves, but to You. May we reflect and honor Christ in all we say, think, and do. 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

BEING AN EXAMPLE

Jesus Christ came to earth, lived a sinless life, and revealed the Father to us. Christ also suffered greatly during His time here and more so as He approached His death. He is our example. As Christians, we are called to follow Christ's example including His suffering even if it means death. This is a hard thing and can only be accomplished by our faith and the grace and mercy of our God.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for Jesus Christ who showed us the pattern of living to which you have called us. We ask for your grace and mercy to walk as He did for we know that without you we can do nothing. In Jesus' name.

Read 1 Peter 2:21

"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps." (NIV)

"For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps." (KJV)

    
©2010

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)

MY SHEEP FOLLOW ME

Those who hear and obey God's voice are His sheep. Those who hear
His voice, but do not follow Him and those who neither hear nor follow
are not His sheep. How do we hear His voice? By constantly abiding in
His presence, walking in His Spirit, reading and studying His Word, and
maintaining prayer, praise, and meditation with Him. Then we will know
His voice, He will know us, and we will follow Him. He will guard us and
we will have His gift of eternal life.

Read John 10:27,28

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give
them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them
out of my hand." (NIV)

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I
give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall
any man pluck them out of my hand." (KJV)


  
Daily Grace
Bobbi Craigmyle
drbobbijo@yahoo.com
No Copyright Infringement Intended
Personal Use Only