WE STILL OFFER SACRIFICES?

 

Psalm 50:23

 

"The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God." ESV 

 

How can thanking God be a sacrifice? We cannot give anything to God that isn't already His, except our genuine, heart felt, pure thankfulness for who He is. That's going beyond anything we own, any money we give, any works, and any consideration of ourselves.

 

Lord, forgive us for speaking words of gratitude to You because we are expected to or because we want others to see how spiritual we are. Do not hold it against us when we feel our gratitude is satisfied by our efforts, time, and money we give. It is because of who You are that we give thanks. Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

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EXTREME MAKE OVER

 

 

Romans 12:1,2

 

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." ESV 

 

What exactly is a "living sacrifice?" It is dedication of our total selves to God. This includes giving our physical bodies. Just as Jesus gave His body for us through death, we willingly give our living bodies for His service. We give our minds to Him so that He will transform our thinking through prayer and study of the Word. We give Him our wills so that by obedience and faith, He changes us into victorious Christians. This is true worship.

 

Heavenly Father, we cannot offer ourselves as total living sacrifices without the help of the Holy Spirit. We ask that You help us to be open, ready, and willing to give ourselves totally to You. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

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HERE WE ARE, LORD

 

Romans 12:1

 

"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." ESV 

 

If we want to worship our Lord in the way that is the most pleasing to Him, what would we be doing? Would we be spending hours a day in deep prayer? That is certainly a noble service. Would we be reading and studying our Bibles with great focus and thought? Of course that would be very good for our spiritual growth. But what would be the most pleasing thing to Him? It is giving our daily lives, our everyday living to Him to use as He sees fit. It is laying ourselves out before Him without any agenda but to be used by Him. That is the way we worship Him!

 

Heavenly Father, we are so blessed by Your mercy to us. We know that in ourselves we have nothing we can give You that would repay what You have done for us. We come before You, giving You all we have, our daily lives, for Your pleasure. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

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WE ARE SHEEPLE!

 

Isaiah 53:6

 

"All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--everyone--to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." ESV

 

As humans, just like sheep, we are naturally inclined to scatter and wander around taking our own way. Christ brings us together, just as a shepherd with his sheep. Because we are so bent on going our own way, Jesus, who was pure and innocent, took the punishment for our selfishness and insistence on our own way. He made it as if we have never strayed. He is the Great Shepherd. We are just like sheep.

 

Heavenly Father, there is no way we can repay the sacrifice you made for us, so that we would not wander off to our own destruction. We can only give you our lives, and as we do, we ask that You make us more like you. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

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MERCY PLEASE

 

 

Hosea 6:6

 

"For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." ESV

 

God's mercy moved Him to bring Himself to us through Jesus Christ. If we desire mercy, we will come to Christ and allow Him to make us like Himself. Without mercy, any religious act or Christian work is useless. They are only empty acts with a religious appearance. God would rather we show mercy to the poor, needy, and lost than to give all our time, talents, and gifts to a religious cause.

 

Heavenly Father, we humbly bow in Your presence because we have engaged in religious activities and have neglected showing mercy those who are in need. Mercy is Your great desire for us to give out just as You give to us. Help us to show mercy each day and bring You glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

          

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

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OBEDIENCE AND SACRIFICE

 

 

1 Samuel 15:22

 

"Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams." NIV

 

"Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." KJV

When performing outward good works becomes more important than the inward obedient attitude, God becomes displeased. It is a sacrifice of time and energy to volunteer to clean the church, but it is a greater spiritual work to bring all of your thoughts captive to Christ. Make this more important in your life without neglecting the good works.

Heavenly Father, forgive us for thinking our attendance at church, our reading our Bibles, and involving ourselves in Christian activities are what we need to do to please You. Help us to understand and begin living out obedience to Your Word that is more pleasing to You than anything. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

       

©2012

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

drbobbijo@yahoo.com

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

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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/

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MY BODY IS HIS

Are you a Christian? If so, you no longer own your own body.
It belongs to the Lord, who purchased it with His own blood,
death, and resurrection. His Holy Spirit lives in your body.
Honor Him with your body in all you say and do. If you don't,
you will crowd out the Holy Spirit with your disobedience
and self gratification. Then you will own your own body
again.

Read 1 Corinthians 6:19,20

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit,
who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not
your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with
your body." (NIV)

"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost
which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body,
and in your spirit, which are God's." (KJV)

MERCY

God's mercy moved Him to bring us to Himself. If we are merciful,
we will be brought to Him and will be like Him. Without mercy, any
religious act or Christian work is useless. Without mercy, it is only
an empty act. God desires us to be merciful above all else.

Read Hosea 6:6

"For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God
rather than burnt offerings." (NIV)

"For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God
more than burnt offerings." (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)

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)


  
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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WHERE IS YOUR HEART

It is easy for our spiritual gifts from God to become our own. If that happens, our total devotion and intentions of the heart become tainted and our God receives no glory from the very gifts we are given for His use. But God is faithful. He is always monitoring our hearts and prompting us to get our spirits in tune with Him. If we look
for Him to do this and obey, He will make Himself know to us. If we continue in our own selfish way, we will be left to our own destructive course.

Read 1 Chronicles 28:9

"And you my son, Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever." (NIV)

"And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever." (KJV)


 
  
Daily Grace
Bobbi Craigmyle
drbobbijo@yahoo.com
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OBEDIENCE AND SACRIFICE

"When performing outward good works becomes more important than
the inward obedient attitude, God becomes displeased. It is a sacrifice
of time and energy to volunteer to clean the church, but it is a greater
spiritual work to bring all of your thoughts captive to Christ. Make this
more important in your life without neglecting the good works.

Read 1 Samuel 15:22

"Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in
obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to
heed is better than the fat of rams."

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