THINGS ARE NOT GOING GOOD HERE, BUT . . .

 

2 Peter 3:13

 

"But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells." ESV 

 

How often do we let ourselves get caught up in the things that go wrong and create unrest in our lives? Jesus told us that we will have trouble in this life. He said we are strangers and aliens here in this world. Why do we question what God is doing when we know these things? Our Lord has promised us a perfect, righteous dwelling place. All we need to do is look ahead to these great and wonderful promises, and we will find ourselves stronger and more peaceful getting through this life.

 

Lord, forgive us for looking at our circumstances and for questioning Your intentions for our lives. Help us to remember always that we are confined for a short while, in this cursed world. We confess that we question You when things are not going well for us here. Fill us with Your Spirit so that we will continually seek You, and so that we will fan the flames of our faith. In Your great 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

WAIT WAIT WAIT

 

Psalm 130:5

 

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope." ESV 

 

Patience is a spiritual product we choose by faith. It is so much easier to wait when we know God isn't going to disappoint us. But, everyday our faith is tested. Waiting with true faith will keep us on solid ground, enduring under the heaviest burdens and trials. If we can just remember how long the Lord waited for us, we will gladly wait patiently for Him.

 

Lord, forgive us for not exercising the measure of faith You have given us, so that we will be able to wait patiently for You to act on our behalf. Help us to stand strong in our faith so that nothing in this world can cause us to waiver and lose hope. Thank You for hearing us. In Your name, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

PERFECT TIMING

 

Habakkuk 2:3

 

"For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end--it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." ESV 

 

We all have prayers we are still waiting for the Lord to answer. It's human to want to give up when answers don't come in our time frame. When we get our minds off when God should move, and focus on Him and His great plan, we see a much different picture. The answers we are waiting for are already on the way. They will come just at the right time, in just the right way, His way, not ours. We can count on it.

 

Heavenly Father, forgive us for becoming impatient when our prayers are not answered when we think they should be. Help us remember that You are in control, You are God, and You always hear us. We pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

THE ROUGH ROAD: WAITING

  

Psalm 27:14

 

 "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" ESV 

 

Waiting is a very hard thing when we are in need of something right now. It becomes nearly impossible when we have waited far beyond the time we expected we would need to wait. It is at this point we begin to lose heart, become weak and discouraged. However, this is the exact time when we can allow the Lord to strengthen us and give us courage. This act of faith and trust will be a testimony to an unbelieving world.

Heavenly Father, we confess that we become impatient and lose heart quickly. Help us to exercise our faith so that we will be strong and confident that the answers to our prayers are on the way. In Jesus' name, Amen.

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

HE IS OUR SAVIOR, IS HE OUR LORD ALSO?

 Psalm 37:7 "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices." ESV 

We can wait with contentment and acceptance when we have truly given our lives over to the Lord. He has gone before us and has worked out everything in His time and in His way. Wait and see! We will give Him praise and glory for the amazing things He does in our lives. We don't need to get uneasy or upset because there are trials. Nor do we need to worry when we see ungodly people having a seemingly smooth life. They will reap what they sow.

 

Heavenly Father, we acknowledge that Your ways are right and just. Strengthen our faith, draw us to the

Word, and give us an unquenchable desire to commune with You. We recognize we are in critical need of allowing You to not only be our Savior, but to be our Lord. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

 

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

WAITING GETS US FARTHER ALONG

 

 

Lamentations 3:25,26

 

"The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him." ESV

 

We all have times when severe struggles face us. We often wonder where God is, after all, we prayed for His help. If we get our minds off the problem and begin seeking God for who He is, we will find ourselves in the middle of the most satisfying spiritual experience that strengthen us as we wait. God showers His blessings on those who wait with peaceful trust that He will work out our problems.

 

Heavenly Father, we stand in need of Your grace and mercy to help us wait and trust in You. Fill us with the fruit of peace and waiting so that we will be more spiritually mature. In Jesus' name, Amen.

 

©2008-2014

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

 

STAYING WHERE WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE

 

 

Jude 1:21

 

"Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life." ESV

 

While we are waiting for Christ's soon return, it is our responsibility to keep ourselves in the light of His love, just like that first love we had for Him when we first accepted Him into our hearts. We can do this only by His unending grace and mercy. It is His love for us that supplies this grace and mercy so that we will be found ready when He comes.

 

Heavenly Father, You know our human nature and how often we drift off into the things of the world around us. We stand in great need of Your grace and mercy to remain in the light of Your love so that we will be ready when You come for us. Help us, we pray, to commit ourselves to staying in the light of Your love. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

 

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

 

 

WAITING

 

 

Psalm 27:13,14

 

 

" I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord." ESV

 

Waiting has got to be one of the most difficult of things we have to do. Wait is defined in today's verse as "to look forward to eagerly." This is not just holding on until we are in eternity with the Lord. This is eagerly looking forward with strength and courage to what the Lord is doing and going to do in our lives now, while we are here on earth. What a precious and comforting wait that is.

 

Heavenly Father, our patience wears thin and disappears at times. Forgive us, Lord. Renew our spirit with Yours, and let that assurance of Your plan unfolding in our lifetime be a source of comfort and peace. We pray 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



 

 



 

 



END OF OUR ROPE

 

 

Job 6:11

 

"What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should be patient?" ESV

 

Have we come to the end of our rope and realize we are helpless to do anything about our situation? If so, it is then, we can get out of the way, and God can do His mighty work in our lives.

 

Heavenly Father, we seem to always get into circumstances that are too overwhelming for us and we hang on by a thread to keep from giving up. When these things happen to us, and they will, give us the power of the Holy Spirit to look to You, put our trust in You, and let You do for us what You have wanted to do all along. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

 

 

          

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

 

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

 

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

 

 

WAIT WAIT WAIT

 

 

Psalm 27:14

"Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord." ESV

Waiting is not one of our favorite things to do is it? If God's Word tells us many times to wait on Him, there is a reason. He is working His plan for our lives, the Church, and the world. God wants us to grow up and learn to be patient adults, content to delay the gratification of our prayers. He has provided the ways for us to be strong and has revealed them to us through the Word. We are responsible to fill our hearts with the things of God that give us courage and strength. There are many things we can be doing for the Kingdom of God while we wait on the Lord.

Heavenly Father, how short we fall of waiting with strength and courage. Forgive us our weakness. Give us Your grace that helps us develop determination to be strengthened and courageous while we wait on You to unfold Your plan. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

         

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

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

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

SEEKING AND WAITING

 

 

Lamentations 3:25

"The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him." ESV

How many times have we asked the Lord for something and we don't get an answer or at least the answer we wanted? Then we begin to question God and His faithfulness and love for us. How many of us seek to receive the blessings, gifts, and healing of God and fail to really seek Him? If we will just wait in faith and focus our minds on His majesty and goodness, He will act on our behalf. It may not be like we thought or even the way we wanted, but it will be for His glory and for our good.

Heavenly Father, forgive us for being impatient and expecting You to alter Your eternal purpose to suit our wants and needs. Forgive us for seeking what You can do for us rather than seeking You and the fullness of Your majesty and glory. Help us to be patient and always mindful of what an awesome and glorious God You are. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

         

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

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

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

HIDING HIS FACE

 

Isaiah 8:17

"I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the descendants of Jacob. I will put my trust in him." NIV

"And I will wait upon the Lord, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him." KJV

There are times when things go on in this world and it seems as though God is hiding His face. We question that He does not intervene in terrible situations. We blame Him for allowing tragedies to occur. If we truly trust in our sovereign God, we will understand that God's plan belongs to a much bigger purpose than what occurs in time. He is not hiding, but waiting for the unsaved to come to repentance. The tragedies occur because of sin that is increasing at a rapid pace.

Heavenly Father, how our hearts grieve at the horrible things that go on in our world. Forgive us for questioning Your plan and purpose. Help us to understand that You are not hiding or ignoring these terrible things, but that You desire for all people to come to You for salvation. Help us to tell all we meet about Your great salvation plan so that You can come back to demolish this sinful world for ever. We ask in the name of Jesus, Amen.

       

©2012

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

drbobbijo@yahoo.com

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

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

GOD'S MERCY

 

 

Isaiah 30:18

 

"Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!" NIV

 

"And therefore will the Lord wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you, for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him." (KJV)

It is a wonderful thing that God waits on us to change our hearts from living for ourselves to committing our lives for Him. He shows us such mercy in His waiting so that we can receive His pure love and blessing. When we truly understand this, we will lift His name up as never before. We will never forget what a gracious and merciful God we serve.

Heavenly Father, forgive us for ignoring Your love and mercy when You so freely offered it to us. Give us hearts of thanksgiving and praise for your unending love. We can only give You our lives to show how truly grateful we are. Help us to always know all that is good comes from You. In Christ's 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

WAITING MAKES US STRONGER

 

Isaiah 40:30,31

"Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those whohope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." NIV

 

 

"Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." KJV

The strongest and most able bodied young men become worn out with earthly toils and trials. How can anyone make it through the difficulties of this cursed world? With God, we can! If we put our trust in Him, we will never get tired or weary, no matter what our age or physical health. To expect God to move in our lives is like a farmer who plows, plants, and waits for the crop. God always comes through. Knowing this puts a strength in us this world can never match or duplicate.

Heavenly Father, oh how we need You to give us strength to get through the harsh realities of this world. Forgive us for wearying ourselves and not putting our trust in You. Help us apply our faith and trust so that we will be renewed in strength each day as we encounter the things of this life. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

       

©2012

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

drbobbijo@yahoo.com

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

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

WAITING AND WAITING AND WAITING

 

 

Psalm 130:5

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope." (NIV)

"I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope." (KJV)

Patience is a natural product of faith. It is much easier to wait when we are confident God will not disappoint us. So many things test our faith every day. But true faith will stay strong under the heaviest of burdens and trials. If we remember how long the Lord waited for us, and still waits for us, we will gladly wait patiently for Him.

Heavenly Father, forgive us for not allowing our faith to mature so that it produces the patience we need to wait on You. Help us Lord, to stand strong in our faith so that nothing in this world can cause us to waiver and lose hope. Thank you for hearing us. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

     

©2012

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle

drbobbijo@yahoo.com

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

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

HOW TO GET GOD'S ATTENTION

 

Psalm 40:1

"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry." NIV

"I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry." KJV

The ways of the world teach us from a young age that the 'squeaky wheel gets the grease.' Whoever yells the loudest gets heard. When we become Christians, we tend to carry this worldly teaching with us and expect God to answer us when we wail with tears and loud prayers, falling on the floor, and shouting our needs to Him. Then we become disappointed when the answer is not here as soon as the request leaves our mouths. That kind of intense praying is not wrong. There are times when we are in such critical urgent need, we should cry out to Him with all our being. Most often, though, God will turn and attend to us when we wait patiently with quiet trust for Him to answer.

Heavenly Father, forgive us for expecting the world's ways from You and expecting You to jump at each request we bring to You and deliver immediate response to our needs. Help us to wait with gentle patience when we bring our petitions to You, because we know Your timing is perfect. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.

           

©2012

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

drbobbijo@yahoo.com

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

No Copyright Infringement Intended

Personal Use Only

THE ANSWER IS COMING

 

Habakkuk 2:3

 

 

"For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay." NIV

 

 

"For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie; though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry." KJV

 

 

We pray for specific things to happen in our lives and the answer does not seem to come. As a result, we lose heart, or we question whether God heard us. If we forget that God's timing is so very different from ours, we get frustrated that He is not working on our time schedule. Whatever it is we are believing God for and are waiting upon the answer, be certain that it will come to pass. Believe that it is because His Word is certain and will not return to him empty of His purpose.

 

 

Heavenly Father, we are sorry that we get impatient and expect You to work things out on our time schedule and in our own ways. Give us the ability to use the measure of faith You have given us to wait for the answer that You promised would come. And help us to use our time wisely while we wait. 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

LOOK AND WAIT

 

Micah 7:7

"But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me." NIV

"Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me." KJV

What does the average person do when trouble strikes unexpectedly, or life seems to throw a curve ball? There are a number of responses for the average person to calamity. But for the Christian, we have a sure hope that whatever we are going through, our Lord is with us, leading us along, and working all things out for our good. The waiting part is difficult, but it is worth it when we arrive at the place the Lord has taken us.

Heavenly Father, how we thank You for never changing and for being the source of hope that never disappoints. Help us to wait for Your timing and enjoy our walk with You to where You are taking us. 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

BEING PATIENT

We can rest with acceptance and satisfaction in all that God is
doing. He has planned everything and is working it out in His own
time and His own way. Wait and see! He will be glorified and all
things will turn out for our good. We don't need to get uneasy or
upset by the success of ungodly people, for they will reap what
they sow.

Heavenly Father, we acknowledge that Your ways are right and
just. Help us to be quiet and confident that You will be glorified
and we will be able to share in Your glory if we hold fast to our
faith in You. In Jesus' name.

Read Psalm 37:7

"Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret
when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their
wicked schemes." (NIV)

"Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself
because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man
who bringeth wicked devices to pass." (KJV)

    
©2010

TRUST IN THE LORD

Jesus Christ knew what was in mankind and how the human nature is.
We, too, understand that putting our trust in other humans instead of
God will lead to certain disappointment. Therefore, our only hope is to
put our trust in the Lord God as we watch and wait for Him. We know He will hear us and always be with us. With Him, we will never be disappointed.

Heavenly Father, help us to be aware of where we put our trust. Keep us on the right path of total trust in you and not in mankind. In Jesus' name.

Read Micah 7:7

"But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Saviour,
my God will hear me." (NIV)

"Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my
salvation: my God will hear me." (KJV)
    
©2010