Category: From Our Fathers Heart

“Direction for your life comes from quiet times with Me. You cannot hear Me in the din of your activity. You will not find My will while doing other things. I want all of your attention. It shows Me that you consider Our time together important. Jesus certainly considered it important. He died so that We could spend time together.”

Luke 23:44-45 NIV

44) It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour,

45) for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.

 

Most of us forget that one of the most important reasons Jesus died was so that we could have access to His Father. Think of it. He considered that access so important that He gave His life for it.

Father God knows how important time with Him is. He allowed the death of His Son so that we can come and spend time with Him.

How important is time with our Father to us? How many minutes out of our important schedule do we allot for time with the Creator of all things? How far is our life out of line with the heart of God because we consider other things more important than being with our Father in heaven?

Make time with You my priority, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Where do you find safety? You read the headlines and accept the fear that they bring. You watch the news and release your comfort to its influence. You listen to the radio and choose to hide rather than face the season in which you live. Why do you not come to Me to see how you can be at peace, no matter what your circumstances might bring? I know why. You do not trust Me.

“In My Word and throughout history, many of My people have been harmed in many ways. Some were killed violently by violent people who hated Me. You do not call that being safe with Me. In fact, it seems to you as a grave danger to truly trust and sell out to Me, if that’s the result. You do not understand safety as I see it. Selfishness blinds your spiritual eyes. Over the centuries, service to Me has deteriorated from joyous proclamation of My good news for the sake of others, no matter what the cost, to fearful cowering and fervent petitions for personal gain.

“When will you realize that I alone am safety for those dead to themselves? When will you learn that I provide the Spirit of My Son in perilous times. Nothing could touch His heart of love and His zeal to protect you from real harm. Come to His kind of safe haven in Me. Nothing can touch what I own. Whatever part of you that is not totally Mine will reel and flounder when times are tough. I protect whatever is totally Mine. Nothing can touch what I protect.”

Prov. 21:30-31 AMP

30) There is no [human] wisdom or understanding or counsel [that can prevail] against the Lord.

31) The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance and victory are of the Lord.

Prov. 29:25 AMP

The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever leans on, trusts in, and puts his confidence in the Lord is safe and set on high.

Phil. 4:6-7 AMP

6) Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

7) And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

 

Some of the first century church - who had their possessions confiscated, who fled to the hills to live in squalor, who died in the arena - physically walked with Jesus. Quite possibly, they saw His loving, sun-touched face up close and personal on a daily basis before His death, a death that was a pattern for their own life and death.  He loved them and they showed their love to be an example of the power of His actions.

In the arena, as the mastiffs were attacking their children, as the lions devoured their own bodies, I am convinced that they saw His face, now glorified beyond belief, once more. His power was with them. They were fully protected from causing any shame to come to their very best Friend. His priorities had welded themselves deep within the fibers of their inner beings, gaining strength every moment as they approached the glory of God.

Life for the new believer had taken on a new form with new priorities. Quite possibly, some of those who took part in the crucifixion - the soldier who drove the nails in His hands, perhaps the one who pierced His side - exchanged their lives for a life of dedication to the one true God.

Equipped with His presence, they overcame all of the characteristics of their former puny existence and embraced the spiritual power to live above the hatred of the world. Their unqualified love is a testimony that resonates through the corridors of time, encouraging each of us to throw aside all of our crippling fears and look once again upon the face of Jesus, our true Master and Lord.

Needing to become much more familiar with Your face, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Do you believe in miracles? Do you know that you are one? It’s true! You have been brought to life two times now and will be given a third lifetime in the near future. That’s quite miraculous! From the first time that I breathed life into the first of your ancestors, the miracle of life has continued. You have just forgotten that it is so incredible because life takes place so often. Life is very special to Me because I not only birth it, I maintain every second of its existence in every person. I have done that for everyone who has ever lived. Each of you maintain life only because I will it.

“Think about your new spiritual birth. You actually become brand new creatures when you accept Jesus. I recreate you to live and function properly on earth, destroying the mutant life of sin that you inherited from the beginning of your time as a race. After I decide that your lifespan is over, I will breathe new life into you once again so that you can live with Me. Your spirits are ready, but your body will be made new. By the time you are complete, I will have endowed you with My life three separate times.

“I would say that that is enough proof for you to believe in miracles, wouldn’t you? Prepare your hearts to walk fully in the miracle of your new life. The times are coming when you will need to do so. Be assured that I will be faithful to walk with you.”

Acts 17:24-28 AMP

24) The God Who produced and formed the world and all things in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in handmade shrines.

25) Neither is He served by human hands, as though He lacked anything, for it is He Himself Who gives life and breath and all things to all [people].

26) And He made from one [common origin, one source, one blood] all nations of men to settle on the face of the earth, having definitely determined [their] allotted periods of time and the fixed boundaries of their habitation (their settlements, lands, and abodes),

27) So that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after Him and find Him, although He is not far from each one of us.

28) For in Him we live and move and have our being; as even some of your [own] poets have said, For we are also His offspring.

 

I believe that we have taken the wonder of our lives for granted. We have become so accustomed to God’s hand hovering over us that we forget how miraculous our life really is.

There is a side-show miracle mentality that prevails in today’s church. We have clamored for a visible presence of God to boost our faith, instead of seeking His face to really know Him. Consequently, the omnipotent God is brought down to the level of man, as humble-sounding words that claim to give credit to Him from self-promoters defy the prideful hearts that accept accolades and heap God’s money upon themselves. That is not the kind of mismanagement of our heritage that I believe is on the horizon for the true church of Christ.

In the Word, we read about walls falling, chains dropping to the ground, leprosy being healed, people being raised from the dead and so on and so on. The wondrous workings of our God are really part of our heritage. They are still happening, and I am convinced that they will increase as time grows shorter before the coming of our Lord.

However, I believe a most unique and miraculous time is ahead. Instead of Christians loudly displaying the wares of Jesus for their own gain, God will have a people who will exemplify the powerful life and quiet character of Jesus Christ. The world will understand that the spirit of God is again in their midst. I am convinced that miracles will again abound, this time through the lives of surrendered vessels, those who are now hearing the call to holiness.

Not only will there be physical manifestations similar to the works of Jesus but astounding spiritual wealth will be commonplace as multitudes walk in humble obedience to their Lord. Empty of self, surrendered fully to the Lord, and functioning in the new birth through Christ, the honest church of Jesus will be a people preparing only for heaven, and looking only for His return. We will finally be seen as the incredible miracle that we really are, as God brings His holiness to us and makes us visibly ready to receive the life of our Lord for the third time.

Needing to clearly understand so that I can fully surrender,

Jim Corbett

“Whenever you move out from your comfort zone, I am always there to meet you. You must know that when you move from that place, you are functioning as I have planned for you to function. It is when you have need of Me. When you remain in familiar, comfortable places, most of what you do is in your own strength, wisdom, and power. In essence, you are independent of Me. That is opposed to everything that I have taught you and why I have formed you. You are designed to trust Me for your every breath, word, and action. Step into the fullness of needing Me desperately. Never be afraid to trust Me for your next anything. I will be there. I will show you what to do and make a way for it to be done.”

John 5:19-20 NIV

19) Jesus gave them this answer: I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.

20) For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does

Ephesians 1:17-19a NIV

17) I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

18) I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints

19a) and his incomparably great power for us who believe…

 

There is nothing as amazing as our Father God creating situations and modifying circumstances right before your eyes when you need Him most. So many times He uses natural means to provide. He may bring the right person, possibly waking him or her in the middle of the night in answer to the need of one of His trusted soldiers. Often food shows up, money comes, words that minister pour forth supernaturally, and so on.

Every so often, however, He simply provides in His supernatural way. These times are something that can never be taken from you, and more than likely occur when we have stepped from our comfort zones.

I remember one of the times I was waiting on Him for food. There was little to be had anywhere in the cupboards and several very Christ-like guests came unexpectedly. One of the few provisions was the last flakes of a box of instant mashed potatoes. We made what there was, knowing there was not enough for everyone to have their fill; but each could have a very small taste.

We asked our Father to bless the small amount and began to pass the bowl around. To our amazement, each person took some and placed it on their plate, but the amount in the bowl did not decrease. We even passed the bowl around again and again and had some left over when we were finished. Honest!

I remember us trying futilely to see how He multiplied the potatoes. We couldn’t. What an amazing God who meets us in our need. Sometimes He even has fun with us, just to encourage us to step out the next time.

Remind me of the wonder of Your love more often, Father,

Jim Corbett

“If you love My Son, I call you perfect. You have gone from being separated from Me to Me calling you My friend and My child. I have longed for these days since the very beginning. I have planned for them, so that I will have My people to share the wonders of My heart. Never think that you are the same as those who are still outside of My choices for them. Never see yourself as unacceptable in My eyes just because you don’t act perfectly. I am simply not through refining your motives and purifying your heart. It will happen. I will complete My promised work in you.

“For now, look past who you are now and understand that I welcome you in My arms every time that you come to Me. Jesus has done that for you. To Me, you are perfect.”

Romans 8:17 NIV

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ…

2 Cor. 3:18 AMP

And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.

2 Cor. 5:17 AMP

Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ, (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!

Hebrews 10:14 NIV

…because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

 

Throughout our very ordinary days, you and I are shown how imperfect our lives are and how little we resemble the life of Jesus. From God’s perspective, however, we are seen as perfect because of our acceptance of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Because we have submitted to His Lordship over our lives, an astounding thing has happened. We have been spiritually changed. We are no longer outside the family of God. We are now called His children, His greatly loved children.

The next time you are blinded to what Jesus has done for you and in you, remember how your Father in heaven sees you. He sees you as perfect and on your way to living perfectly by the power of the cross and the continued work of the Holy Spirit.

Thanking You just doesn’t seem like enough, Lord,

Jim Corbett