As a father and husband, who directs your plans? 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 tells us that every thought that does not conform to the work that Jesus did is to be cast aside. Jesus also did nothing of Himself, but only what He and His Father agreed upon to do. How then do any of us believe that our own thoughts or ideas, based on need or circumstances and derived from our own imaginations, are good enough to direct our wives and families to safe, prosperous paths in life?
As a steward of those around you, there will come a time when you stand before Almighty God and give account of those He has entrusted to your care. You will be asked if you provided a safe and clear path for your wife and family to follow, a place where they had every opportunity to become all they could be in Christ. How’s that working for you?
Have you done or are you doing everything that you can for their best interests? Have you determined in your heart that their stewardship is more important than your job or the things that keep you comfortable? If you haven’t, now might be a good time to reassess whether or not the plans you follow are yours or the Lord’s.
Following His plans and ideas in all things leads to a prosperous life in His eyes. He sees that following your plans is nothing more than flowing in fruitless imaginations. We are told to cast them down as useless, because they have no basis for truth and deny God’s way for you. Whose plans do you choose?
Let’s talk more!
Jim Corbett
Author: Jim Corbett
Jim is an author, heart revival coach, teacher, and public speaker. His heart and mission is to bring people to an understanding of the times and seasons and lead them to be all they can be in Christ and know the thrill of Jesus as their Lord.
Merry is a co-author, editor, pianist, and worship leader. Her heart mission is to encourage believers in discovering the wonder and truth available in the opportunity presented to everyone because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Together with their daughter Jubilee Faith, they are the founders of The 101 Group. A back to basics spiritual investment company that equips the body of Christ to effectively serve the Lord through written and spoken word, personal publications, music, daily devotionals, concert venues, and MASH icu, a comprehensive program for men.
7/06/20 Before the Hardship Presents Itself
- by Jim Corbett
“Have you noticed how hard the hearts of the world have become? Have you noticed the absence of joy wherever you go? Have you sensed the uncertainty in the air? People are losing their bearings. Those who are not drawing close to Me are finding few places of rest.
"As your earth reels as if in the pangs of childbirth, safety can no longer be found in familiar strongholds. As those who choose to strike terror in the hearts of others become multiplied, hearts are beginning to fail from fear. As your world becomes disjointed, there will be many who become wide-eyed and fearful. Handholds will become slippery. Typical footing is becoming unstable. Jesus, however, remains constant. Jesus remains Lord.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
5) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6) in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Isaiah 2:22 AMP
Cease to trust in [weak, frail, and dying] man, whose breath is in his nostrils [for so short a time]; in what sense can he be counted as having intrinsic worth?
Isaiah 8:11-14a AMP
11) For the Lord spoke thus to me with His strong hand [upon me], and warned and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying,
12) Do not call conspiracy [or hard, or holy] all that this people will call conspiracy [or hard, or holy]; neither be in fear of what they fear, nor [make others afraid and] in dread.
13) The Lord of hosts – regard Him as holy and honor His holy name [by regarding Him as your only hope of safety], and let Him be your fear and let Him be your dread [lest you offend Him by your fear of man and distrust of Him].
14a) And He shall be a sanctuary [a sacred and indestructible asylum to those who reverently fear and trust in Him;
During extremely challenging times, things that were once held in high esteem become replaced by necessities. Once important appointments fall as dim memories. Things that a person thought he or she could never do without fade as foolish comforts. Sad to say, in most cases, personal survival supersedes any eternal work for the good of others; unless, of course, priorities have been established long before the hardship presents itself.
When peril comes, most of those who call themselves Christians will “hunker down” in an attempt to be safe; but they’ll be powerless to protect themselves. In a time when the Jesus they have said that they serve is needed most, they will not know how to call on Him or even know who He really is. Therefore, they will hide in fear, thinking that they will find a place of safety. Wherever they go, however, it will be a tomb for them spiritually speaking.
The only place of safety is to be solely and completely locked up in Jesus Christ, living His passionate life. In times of peril, His overcoming presence will not be with the cowering masses. He will be displayed in all of His radiant glory through those who take the time this very day, perhaps this very moment, to surrender fully to Him and His ways. He will be with those who use their every breath of life for His benefit and the benefit of those who need to see Jesus.
Prepare my heart now so that I will be of value to You when You call on me, Lord,
Jim Corbett
Your Life Matters
- by Jim Corbett
On a cross two thousand years ago, a bloodied body—looking more like hamburger than a human being—Jesus proclaimed out loud that your life matters. It matters so much that He gave Himself so you could live in absolute freedom with Him for all eternity.
If anyone ever attempts to tell you that you are of no consequence, just send them to Jesus. He will say it again and again for all of eternity, You are of unquestionable value. Your life matters!
7/04/20 Serving Others with Brothers We Trust
- by Jim Corbett
One of the most outstanding aspects of David’s life is the caliber of men God gave him. Knowing the battles he was about to encounter, God gave David mighty men of valor, well-trained in their respective roles and trustworthy unto death. As you read the accounts of their feats, there is no question about their prowess. As David’s life unfolds, what also becomes strikingly clear is that these mighty men were devoted to him and he was devoted to them. Combined with the presence of the Lord that was upon them, this arrangement was unbeatable. It was a three-way covenant relationship.
Today, that kind of brotherhood seems non-existent, except in motorcycle or street gangs. It is glaringly absent in the church. In a time when having your back covered could make the difference between the life or death of you and your family, I challenge any of you to find that kind of camaraderie - someone you know who’s there for you, even unto death. If you can find him, (other than Jesus Himself, of course,) you are truly blessed.
In the Word, Jesus uses the term “brother” or “brethren” as a premier example of a close bond. These terms were used at a time when family and covenant bond really meant something, unlike today’s fractured world. I am convinced that God is raising up holy alliances of men, joined in the brotherhood of Christ and designed to accomplish mighty feats for the Lord just as in David’s time. These men - washed in the blood of Jesus, refined by the fires of adversity, broken under the weight of extreme challenges, and rebuilt by the Holy Spirit until they are trustworthy before God and trustworthy toward others - are on the threshold of joining with one another to accomplish God-given tasks.
Together they will tear down spiritual strongholds and overcome insurmountable challenges through the power of the Holy Spirit. Available only to God and committed to one another, they will walk together above the spirit of the world as an unbeatable force of holy, mighty men on a mission for our Lord.
Are you submitting to God’s training to be a brother of consequence? If you are not, you will be set on the sidelines as others participate in some of the most exciting adventures the Lord has ever had available in the darkest of times, times when He needs those He can trust.
Let’s talk more!
Jim Corbett
7/04/20 Lovely Mirrors of Jesus
- by Jim Corbett
“Few of My children really remember who they are when they are in need. If they did, they would never be in fear, never turn to the world’s systems; and never use their own resources to overcome challenges that come their way. I am, however, raising you up as an honorable representation of My Word. I am refining and perfecting you to look nothing like those around you and care nothing for the empty and shallow promises the world has to offer.
"You, My lovely mirrors of Jesus, will have borne the brunt of scorn and ridicule, received the scars of chastisement and rejection; and labored under the weight of judgment from your peers before you come home to Me. You will have learned to find solace only from Me as you toil in the gardens of those who either refuse to or are unable to toil for themselves. You will be familiar with the pains of the wounded, the fears of the children, and the savage treatment of the martyr because of your heart of integrity that weeps for the needy.
"Walking the road of life alone except for My presence, your most familiar direction will be towards Me as you carry afflictions on behalf of those too weak and frail to carry them for themselves. You may not be pretty by the world’s standards but in My eyes you are a wonder to behold. I call you beautiful. I call you glorious. I call you Mine.”
John 26:33 AMP
I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]
2 Cor. 2:14-16a AMP
14) But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ’s victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere.
15) For we are the sweet fragrances of Christ [which exhales] unto God, [discernible alike] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing:
16a) To the latter it is an aroma [wafted] from death to death [a fatal odor, the smell of doom]; to the former it is an aroma from life to life [a vital fragrance, living and fresh].
Gal. 4:19a NIV
My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you…
In every generation throughout history, there has always been a small core group that followed hard after God. Most of their names are unrecognizable by the world. Few of them have done anything of note to be remembered in history books or the chronicles of nations.
The patterns of their lives run in a different direction than the well-worn path toward success, heading 90 degrees from notoriety and 180 degrees from sin. In some circles, they are called foolish, ridiculous, and stupid, having no earthly good. In God’s circles, they are called holy, and esteemed as a prepared bride.
You and I would do well to study the life patterns of those people who have patterned themselves after Jesus. We would do well to find the kind of moxie that it takes to set aside all of our longings for comfort and wake up to the fact that Jesus doesn’t reside there. He never has and He never will. He will never be found with the weak but pretty church, the heralded entrepreneur, or the highly praised world system. He will be found working with the hopeless and needy, the broken failure, the desperate, and those with no real answers for their lives, telling them of a better way.
Jesus is our example of living. His life has been birthed in each of us who have called out to Him. His heart is our guiding light to success as God sees success. What will never be found in the world will easily be found in the quiet embrace of His love.
Help me follow only You, Lord,
Jim Corbett