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10/17/22 Are You a Spiritual Wimp?

As a husband and father, are you teaching your family to be spiritual wimps? If you are, you probably believe that if everything is going your way you are in the will of God. Conversely, if you are under pressure of any kind - especially if the pressure is tremendous or if you don't seem to have what you need to remain in your comfort zone - you feel that you have somehow missed God, or He has missed you.

In general, United States Christians work from their comfort zones. With a few exceptions, they give away only what they no longer need. They pour into God's work only after they have done what is necessary to fill their personal containers.

To take a day off from work simply to be with God is almost unheard of. To actually trust God for everything is looked upon as foolish and even lazy. Prayer is considered less productive than whatever can be accomplished on their own. Only when they run out of their own abilities do they pray, and then only to remove them from their hurt. Whether these examples are extreme or not, any one of them is not a blueprint for others to follow.

If you are a spiritual wimp, you are going to be surprised as the world heads for the conclusions that the Lord has planned from the beginning. You will experience many before unheard of challenges. You will be further surprised when God does not respond to your needs in the way you expect. If you have created a god that serves you and your needs, you will find out that your false god does not exist.

Those who have trusted in their own abilities - what they have earned, what securities they have established for their safety - will not know what to do. When all the normal handles of security have disappeared and there are no familiar places to hang on to, only those who have made intimacy with God their priority will understand His purposes during difficult times - which do not necessarily include their safety or their seeming best interest.

Men, God is sovereign. God's plan is eternal and has eternal consequences. Although greatly loved, we are to be His servants and implementers of His plans, no matter what it costs us, just as Jesus did. All challenges that come our way are designed to make us function like Jesus did, overcoming the world in each of us. As husbands and fathers, we are to listen to our Father from our place of intimacy on His lap, and then do whatever we are called to do for the good of His plan, all to His glory.

Extreme challenges make us weak and out of answers. Trusting in God to overcome those challenges brings us in line with our Father's plan for mankind. Jesus trusted Him for every need as our example. For every challenge, every soul, every situation, He did the unquestioned will of His Father no matter what it cost Him. We are to do the same in front of our families.

Let's talk more!

Jim Corbett

10/15/22 Prospering in Perilous Times

“Honor My Name! Honor the Name of My Son Jesus. Honor My Holy Spirit. Become an advocate for Who We are and what Jesus has done. Dedicate all your waking moments to furthering My plans and you will have found the secret to a joyous life. The world looks for answers as to why they have been born. You have found it in Jesus. He is the answer!”

John 4:34 NIV

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.”

1 John 2:6 AMP

Whoever says he abides in Him ought [as a personal debt] to walk and conduct himself in the same way in which He walked and conducted Himself.

Merry and I are convinced that perilous times are on the horizon. Biblical times and seasons that parallel the kinds of seasons that are labeled as the “Biblical end times” are unfolding right before our eyes. Soon, the world and most of the unresponsive church will be walking around in a fearful stupor because of the unprecedented anguish that will start to consume them. Only those who heed the call of God that is being heralded now will be prepared for what is ahead.

To live victoriously during these next years, you must renew your relationship with Jesus. You must shake off all of the traditions, dogma, and habits that hinder you from living the full, exuberant life of Jesus in your ordained sphere of influence. Do not be afraid to be different from those who also call themselves Christians. If they are not moving closer to Jesus with a passion as their only reason for breathing, find new friends who are.

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, 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.

As the Holy Spirit changes you, you will be acquiring the tools you need to not only overcome perilous times, but to prosper during them through the power of the Holy Spirit. You will move in anointed power to represent the Lord.

I choose to honor You, Lord,

Jim Corbett

10/15/22 Godly Decision Making Between Spouses

As a man reclaims his office of husband and father, there are godly principles that he and his wife should use to determine the will of God for their family. They are to approach all decision making in family circumstances with the attitude of what is best for God, each other, and the children. Each decision will then produce safety and harmony within the family and fertile soil in which the parents and children can prosper and become everything they are designed to be. If the children are of reasonable age and reasonable in their walk in Christ, they should be provided an opportunity to present their opinions that will be considered by the parents.

As a husband and wife come together for the best interests of each other and the children, they pray, consider all the options, and make a determination. Should they have an impasse and are unable to agree, even after much prayer and submission to each other, the husband should go to prayer and make the decision he feels has been given to him - one that is best for his wife and his children, not for himself.

While seeking to find that decision, his posture must be the same kind of sacrifice that Jesus made. He is to lay down his rights, opinions, and personal gain to be able to hear clearly. Knowing this, the wife submits herself to prayer and then submits to the decision that is presented. Any decisions that involve the children are then presented to them by both parents, who are in agreement. What an incredibly joyous way to glorify God! Try it!

Let's talk more!

Jim Corbett

10/14/22 They Will Need What You Have

“When you walk in unbroken fellowship with Me, you will be loathed by those who choose to remain in their sin. People will come against you for no reason. They will belittle you, fabricate lies about you, and berate you every chance they get. You will be known as the ones who are different than everyone else. They will hate your repentant life, calling you weak and foolish. Many will go far out of their way to accuse you of wrongdoing, even when they have no evidence.

"Others will invent devious ways to undermine your mission. You will be the topic of much gossip, the brunt of many jokes, and the prime suspect of many false rumors. People will not be able to wait to accuse you of something, anything, so that they have reason to separate themselves from you and continue in their sin. Your very presence will convict them, so they will hate you and not want to be near you. You will have few friends because a limited number of people will desire to talk about Me all the time.

"It delights Me that I am the only topic that you feel is worth talking and thinking about each and every minute of your day. Be at peace, even though you feel alone. I am your friend. I will be your neighbor. I will be the one who defends you. You continue to make Me your everything. I will continue to form My Spirit in you.

"The time will come when those who do not listen to you now will listen closely to what you have to say. They will long for the confident presence that you bring to their fearful world. They will need what you have. They will no longer laugh; in fact, they will seek you for answers. For now, do not be concerned. Pray for their immaturity. Pray for their souls. I am with you.”

1 Peter 4:14 NIV

If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

Few people really understand all aspects of the anointing of God, especially in these days. The work of God is often so watered down by manipulators and carnival barkers that there is much confusion about what it means to be anointed.

In the days of old, when the gnarly–fingered, smelly prophet emerged from his cave with a fresh word from the altar of God, most people hated him. If he stayed in their midst for any length of time, they were convicted of their sin as much by his lifestyle as they were by the words that he said. His caring for or owning nothing of the world convicted them of their blatant worldly desires. His desire to only spend time with God showed how shallow their relationship with God really was, and how far they were from even wanting a deeper relationship.

Jesus walked in an anointing so powerful that the leaders of the day had to kill Him, so that they could continue on with their lifestyle. The fullness of His anointing allowed the plumb line of the Word of God to expose the hearts of everyone with whom He came in contact. The hurting openly expressed their pain. The confused asked questions formerly stifled by tradition. The angry fumed out loud. The repentant dropped and humbled themselves. All of this probably could have been accomplished from a distance, but God decided that mankind needed to be faced up-close and personal. Jesus was God brought to earth. Having all the character of God within Him, He stood on the dusty land and allowed His anointing to expose every heart and accomplish every needed task. Having met Him, people could no longer cloak who they really were. They were forced to make a decision, expose a sin, or express a cry for help, simply because he was in their midst.

If you have sold out to God, the fragrance of the Lord is always with you. If your favorite place is at the feet of Jesus, plan on most everyone attempting to dim the glory of the Lord from your countenance at every turn. If you have determined to sell out to the Lord, no matter what the cost, you can be assured that your life will be the focus of those who choose to remain in their sin. You will not be liked, except by those who are hungry for the Lord themselves.

Be at peace, however, the Lord will be your best friend. No amount of acceptance by the world, the cold, dead church, the self-appointed prophets, or the self-proclaimed judges of your life could ever replace one single moment of the presence of the Lord.

You are the one who is following in the footsteps of those who have gone before you under the power of the Lord. You are the one who has heard the heart of your Father in heaven. You are the one who is pleasing in His sight. You be blessed; you will soon be a blessing to many who will need what you have received from your Lord because you have often run out of your own strength and have desperately needed Him. They will need what you have been given, when they run out of their own strength and religious activity.

Wanting only to please my Lord,

Jim Corbett

10/14/22 Building Your Family Fortress

Have you ever thought of your family as a fortress? God does! He has designed you as a husband and father to be a covering from all of the treachery offered by the world to devour your wife and children. A man, who is properly submitted to God, is equipped to lead those he is steward of to places of safety in all they do, and make the home an environment that nurtures, supports, and equips them to venture into the world again. The atmosphere he creates is an impenetrable fortress - a place of spiritual direction, safety, warmth, and love - for his family.

As a covering, part of your journey is to discover and repair any breaches in your family fortress, either those created by you or the attacks of the world. Once you realize that the enemy is relentless in the pursuit of your family - wanting them to conform to his ways, wanting your fortress to be compromised in any way possible - you will see your job description in a different light. You will understand how important it is to create a fortress for them, and look to God for help, wisdom, and strength. It's your job.

What is so exciting is that He is waiting for you to turn everything over to Him for His guidance. As you are the covering for your family, He is the covering for you. He delights in making sure that you have all you need to fortify your family against any attack they may experience, as you seek and submit to Him and His power. He is not only worthy of your submission, He is an unbeatable covenant partner, allied with you against any attempt by the enemy to breach what He has put together.

Let's talk more!

Jim Corbett

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