I WANT IT! CAN I HAVE IT?

 

 

Matthew 7:7

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." ESV

This scripture has been so misunderstood and misused. Many take it as the way to get what they want and say the Bible tells them they will get it. Not so! The Bible tells us, also, that when we pray, we have not because we ask with wrong motives. This call to ask and receive from God does not work like a vending machine. Put in your money, select your desired product, and push the button. To ask God has nothing to do with wanting a favor or positive response to a personal request. In asking, we seek a closer walk and communion with Him. By knocking, we are showing God how serious we are in persevering until we are in right relationship to Him. It is then we will have right motives when we pray and our prayers will be answered.

Heavenly Father, we pray for the earnest desire to draw nearer to You and to become more like You. Help us to be open so that we will do our part in seeking You. May we pray with right motives so that we will open the door and You will come in. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus, Amen.

         

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

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

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WATCH YOUR MOUTH

 

 

Proverbs 21:23

"Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble." ESV

Sometimes our desire to speak what's on our minds is stronger than the control we have on our mouths. It is a matter of the heart. Jesus said it is what comes out of a man' mouth that defiles him. Our responsibility is to be so full of Christ that we will not let our mouths take control. Control takes discipline. Discipline takes effort. Effort takes motivation. Motivation comes from our desire to be like Christ.

Heavenly Father, how we stand in need of forgiveness for allowing our desire to speak to override the control of what we say. Fill us with the Holy Spirit so that we will be motivated to make the effort to be disciplined. Help us to watch our mouths. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.

         

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

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

No Copyright Infringement Intended

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A WORD TO THE WISE

 

 

Ecclesiastes 1:18

"For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow." ESV

The more wise we become, the more we can see the sinfulness of the human heart and the devastation it has on God's creation. It is a truly sad revelation that wisdom brings us. Understanding what is happening in the world around us and seeing it through God's eyes causes us to grieve along with Him.

Heavenly Father, we pray for wisdom so that our eyes will be open to Truth. It is by Your wisdom that we see with spiritual eyes, and by the Holy Spirit that we are guided by that Truth. We pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.

         

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

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

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LIFE IS NOT FAIR

 

 

Isaiah 30:18

"Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him." ESV

We have all felt and said that life is not fair. Bad things happen to very good people, God's own children. It's so hard to understand how our God of love would let such things happen. If we will take our hearts and minds back to the cross of Christ, we will understand that God takes care of all things in His own time and His own ways. He waits for the perfect time to show His glorious power. Then His perfect justice and fairness is revealed. No, the world is not fair. But our God is.

Heavenly Father, we thank You and praise You that You are love and You are just. Help us to use our faith to remember that this world is not just and things happen we don't understand. But You will bring justice to all that happens here. We pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.

         

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

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

No Copyright Infringement Intended

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WE'RE LIVING IN ENEMY TERRITORY

 

 

1 John 5:19

"We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one." ESV

Being humans, we still ask God why terrible things are happening to us and to other good people in this world. We seem to forget that we are only travelling through this world. We are not not citizens of this world, nor are we even of this world. We are, however, confined here, in enemy territory, so that we can be lights in a dark world. Whatever tragedy happens to us here is a wound from the enemy. He would love nothing more than for us to question our God and to forget we are in enemy territory. What happens here is temporary. We are just passing through. Some of us will enter the gate of eternity maimed, ragged, and torn. But once we enter the portal of heaven, we will be made perfect, like Him.

Heavenly Father, help us to remember that we are not of this world, but that we are passing through here now. Help us to be aware that we are in the enemy's territory and in danger of attack from every side. Give us strength and courage to keep going until we see Your loving face. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus, Amen.

         

©2008-2013

Daily Grace

Bobbi Craigmyle, Psy.D., BCPCC

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

No Copyright Infringement Intended

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WARNING! THE SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST IS HERE!

 

 

1 John 4:3

"And every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already." ESV

In present times, tolerance has become the ruling law of the world. As Christians, we are in danger of being weakened in our faith by lovingly accepting everyone else's way of believing so that we do not offend them. Our law of Love keeps us from putting down another person. But, we are to test what we see and hear, thereby rejecting beliefs and philosophies that do not acknowledge Jesus as the Christ. Living for Christ, we will speak and live the truth of the Gospel to everyone, everywhere. At the same time, antichrist will be out there quickly spreading deceit, masking the Truth.

Heavenly Father, we stand in need of the power of the Holy Spirit to be discerning to the lies of the antichrist. Help us to accept the boldness to speak and live the truth of Jesus Christ no matter where we are or who we are around. 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

WHO TURNED OUT THE LIGHT?

 

 

1 John 2:9

"Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness." ESV

If someone is in the dark long enough, his eyes begin to adjust to the darkness and he is able to see enough to identify things. Unfortunately, the same holds true in the Spiritual realm. Those who are deceived will say they are walking in the light because they can see just a little. But the true state of their heart is revealed when they open their mouths and speak words of scorn, being fed up with, repulsed, done with, having no use for, and detesting another person. Worse yet, they are still deceived into thinking they are in the Light.

Heavenly Father, what an awesome God You are. We recognize we are but dust and easily deceived. Search our hearts and reveal any hatred that hides as a stow-away in us. By Your grace, let us acknowledge it, confess it, and repent so that we will not be in darkness, but walk in Your light. 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