Pray that fathers become all they can be in Christ and live their lives as He would live for them
Pray that we learn to pour Christ's love into those who have been harmed by the world and its ways
Pray that we remember our calling and avoid getting too caught up in the mechanics of our mission
“I have begun in earnest to refine My church and define My remnant. To the church, I am exposing hardened hearts and the hidden motives that you have harbored for a long time. I am doing this so that you can repent. It is a final call for you to enter into the move of My Spirit in these closing hours of time. If you do not repent of your sins of self-consumption and your self-serving attitudes, you will be left out of the wonder of what I am about to do in this world.
"To the remnant believer - those of you who have surrendered everything to Me long ago - a deeper work in you is still ahead. I understand the pressures that you are under. Be at peace, however. I have hemmed you in these recent days. I am the One who has dried up all of your reserves, so that I might prove Myself strong to you.
"Press into My refining, defining fire. You are being taught patience and trust. It is My hand doing this deep work in your life. Those who now scorn you and your humble lifestyle with lofty, judgmental hearts will soon crave what you have earned through these challenges. You will soon flow in My anointing with My presence. You will be restored to early church, Christ-like heart and function. Be willing to pay the price you are now paying. It will be worth it. I love you!”
Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV
11) “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
12) Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
13) You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Joshua 7:13 AMP
Up, sanctify (set apart for a holy purpose) the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: There are accursed things in the midst of you, O Israel. You can not stand before your enemies until you take away from among you the things devoted [to destruction].
Amos 5:4b AMP
…Seek Me [inquire for and of Me and require Me as you require food] and you shall live!
Matt. 5:11-12 NIV
11) “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
12) Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
Rev. 3:19 AMP
Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude].
These are critical days and crucial moments in time. God is answering the prayers of those who have seen firsthand the prophesied deterioration and falling away of those who are called by His Name. His answer to this coldness is to restore first-love qualities in those He will be able to use in these closing times.
There is no question that the world is changing. There are new needs that cannot be accomplished with an old anointing. Fresh manna is required to nourish those who are working on behalf of the Lord. That manna only comes from Him and will not be given to those who will consume it upon themselves.
Examine your hearts. Are your concerns centered on your comfort and safety? Is the fear of the loss of what you have consuming your days? If so, repent of your selfishness and self- serving attitude before you are set aside and cannot flow in what the Lord is about to do in these last days.
If you are craving more of Jesus, if your only desire is to honor Him with your life, press in to the trial at hand. You are being refined into gold. You are being made worthy of carrying His Word to a dying world with a heavy anointing and His strong presence.
Help me press in, Lord,
Jim Corbett
“Are you ready? Are you ready to expand your tent pegs? Soon your world will change. You will be required to modify your lifestyle to accommodate those challenges that will face you. For some of you, life will never be the same. External changes will not necessarily be the catalyst for your change; I will. I am about to fulfill My promises to those of you who have been crying out for holiness. I am about to equip those of you who have been faithful to My call to draw close. You will thrive during the coming difficult times. My presence will be with you. Prepare to receive My fullness.
Prepare to become leaders to a leaderless people. As I set aside those who have not heeded My calls and have continued doing “business as usual,” you will need to step in and respond to the multitude of questions and needs. You will need to have ready answers. You will need to represent Jesus by your fearless approach to the times and seasons.
Remember where your source of life is. It will still come from your devotion to Our relationship and spending time with Me. When the relative quietness of your world is shattered by the many requirements of your time, remember to set aside even more time with Me. Time with Me will be your resource. To be distracted from Our fellowship will dim your witness and minimize your effectiveness. Prepare now. Come to Me now. Come to Me more often then.”
Romans 15:1-7 AMP
1) We who are strong [in our convictions and of robust faith] ought to bear with the failings and the frailties and the tender scruples of the weak; [we ought to help carry the doubts and qualms of others] and not to please ourselves.
2) Let each one of us make it a practice to please (make happy) his neighbor for his good and for his true welfare, to edify him [to strengthen him and build him up spiritually].
3) For Christ did not please Himself [gave no thought to His own interests]; but, as it is written, The reproaches and abuses of those who reproached and abused you fell on Me.
4) For whatever was thus written in former days was written for our instruction, that by [our steadfast and patient] endurance and the encouragement [drawn] from the Scriptures we might hold fast to and cherish hope.
5) Now may the God Who gives the power of patient endurance (steadfastness) and Who supplies encouragement, grant you to live in such mutual harmony and such full sympathy with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus,
6) That together you may [unanimously] with united hearts and one voice, praise and glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).
7) Welcome and receive [to your hearts] one another, then, even as Christ has welcomed and received you, for the glory of God.
Mark 6:30-32 NIV
30) The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.
31) Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
32) So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.
Few of us really comprehend the value of being with our Lord. We squeeze in time with Him between our work and our daily commitments. How foolish. He should be our priority, not our minimum daily requirement.
I remember using a pressure sprayer to clean the patios, sidewalks, and driveway of a place in which we lived awhile back. (Actually I cleaned almost everything that didn’t move.) It was amazing to see the incredible difference it made. Simple hose water became a powerful force when sent through the machine. It was actually so much fun, I found myself doing more than I intended to do.
The system reminded me of our life with the Lord. We are very much like the normal hose, giving refreshment to those who need it, flowing moderately and as required.
I see continuous fellowship with our Lord as the power sprayer. Hooked up to Him, everything changes. Not only do we have the possibility of affecting others in the same way as before; but when His mighty force propels our flow, our impact is vastly different and much more powerful. We can do things far beyond anything we ever thought possible.
Keep me hooked up, Lord,
Jim Corbett
