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3/13/24 Knowing vs. Serving

From The Overcoming Life by Jim and Merry Corbett

Oftentimes we choose to serve God rather than get to know Him because it is easier to focus on and control what we do than it is to focus on becoming who God desires us to be. The Lord’s main concern centers on us reflecting the character of Christ, and the only way that occurs is by spending time in His presence. Interestingly enough, it’s also the only way to truly serve Him, because how do we really know what He desires us to do if we do not wait in His presence to find out?

Remember, even Satan would be pleased to have you busy with good things if it stops you from becoming intimately acquainted with the Lord and walking in the real power that comes through surrender and obedience.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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3/12/24 Free and Smiling

“Adjust your timetables to fall in line with Mine and you will be free. Your struggles, your worries, and your concerns do not have a place in the life I have chosen for you. Think on this. I am God – the One True God. I have all power, power far beyond your most intense imagination. You are My child through your acceptance of My Son, Jesus, and what He has done for you. Because of that, My life would freely flow to you if you would choose to accept it. That would mean that nothing could harm the eternal you. You could be free from all strife and worry simply by trusting that I care enough to take care of you.

"Your life is not free only because you hinder Me. Satan is defeated. There is no hold over your life to stop you from receiving My presence. Why do you choose to believe the lies of the world that bind and condemn you instead of My Word that eternally works in you to set you free? I love you. Choose to receive Me and My Word and you will be free.”

John 8:36 AMP

So if the Son liberates you [makes you free men], then you are really and unquestionably free.

 I Thess. 2:13 AMP 

And we also [especially] thank God continually for this, that when you received the message of God [which you heard] from us, you welcomed it not as the word of [mere] men, but as it truly is, the Word of God, which is effectually at work in you who believe [exercising its superhuman power in those who adhere to and trust in and rely on it].

 

The idea of the Creator of the Universe imparting anything to us is enough for me to walk around smiling for a long time. When I begin to really accept the idea that He has covenanted to impart whatever is needed in my direction whenever He sees the need to do so, it sets me free.

I often wonder how I would appear to those around me if I really grasped who I am in Christ, how much I am loved, and the amount of power flowing my way to accomplish the will of the Lord in my life. For starters, I’m sure people would wonder why I’m grinning all the time.

Everyone would have to admire – or at least wonder about - a spirit that is always full of joy, immovable in its identity no matter what trials ensue, and overflowing with love toward everyone – all the time. I would imagine that such understanding would allow everyone to flow in such freedom that nothing would be able to rob them of who they really are in Christ - ever.

Let’s do something! Let’s take this day to focus on even one aspect of who we really are in Christ. Let’s ask the Lord to remind us of even a single promise that He has said is ours from His Word. When our minds begin to stray from that promise, let’s pull that promise back into focus and receive it again as ours - which it really is. As we do this, when we receive it - I mean really receive it as ours - let’s smile.

Let’s take another promise tomorrow, and the next day, and the next. Maybe we can all begin to have true “glory strength” flowing from us to others as the Word changes us.

Wanting to smile, and smile, and smile,

Jim Corbett

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3/12/24 Choices

From the book, The Father Factor, by Jim and Merry Corbett

Chris stared at the needle tracks in his arm, a constant reminder of the choices he had made to bring himself to this point in his life. Once a successful businessman on his way to the top with a loving wife and family, he could only lament over the turns his life had taken because of his addictions. How could he have fallen so far? How could his needs mean more to him than those he once loved and who once loved him?

He had to make a choice, or he was going to die as one more hapless vagrant in some garbage-strewn alley. He had to choose either life or death. He knew it and he knew how difficult the road back would be. Picking up the filthy needle, he inserted it in his arm once again. As the drug flowed through his body, he resolved that maybe he would choose to love his wife more than his habit tomorrow. Maybe he could help his kids tomorrow. Maybe … Chris rolled into a smelly corner near a large dumpster and passed out.

Across town, Jerry turned the corner and drove into the parking lot of his club. Late for his meeting, he had shaken off the pleading look in his son’s eyes that said, “Please, Daddy, stay here with Mommy and me.” Business once again called. It was going to be one more late night, one more closed deal that allowed him to live the way he wanted. “Success has its price,” he thought to himself. Anyway, to change direction in life now would be almost impossible. He was way too far down the corporate road to give his family the amount of personal time with him they seemed to need.

Maybe one day his wife and family would realize that he was doing this all for them. It was a time in life to set them up, so they wouldn’t have to grow up in poverty as he did. They needed to realize that. He was sure that God knew that.

“Why don’t I have peace in my heart, Lord? Why can’t I shake off the look that Tommy gave me? Why do I feel so bad when I’m doing so much for them?”

As he locked his car and headed for the club entrance, Jerry resolved to spend more time at home tomorrow. Tomorrow he would give some special time to his wife, Susan. Tomorrow, he would really focus on her insistent need to be with him and make some changes that he knew were necessary to be the husband and father she and Tommy wanted. Oh wait, tomorrow was that conference in Detroit …

Whatever vehicle Satan uses to hinder the work of God, whether dismal failure, monumental success, or anything in between, the results are always the same - an insignificant life standing before Father God one day. His entrapment is so diabolical that the road back is impossible to embrace without God’s involvement and intervention.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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3/11/24 Challenges to Prepare and Strengthen

“Are you prepared for the coming of My Son? For that matter, are you prepared for the changes that must continue to take place in your world as a prelude to His return? Much is about to transpire that will challenge your comfort zones. I am also causing challenges to come your way to prepare and strengthen you. You will need to solidify your commitments to Me and My Word, if you desire to overcome what is about to transpire and be of use to Me. Now is not the time for self-focused agendas. Now is not the time for complacency. You must draw close to Me. Become familiar with My voice. Understand My heart. Desire My ways. I desire to use you as a voice of reason when the world listens only to lies.”

2 Chr. 16:9 NIV

“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him...”

Isaiah 48:3 NIV 

“I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.”

 

For many years there has been a call to the followers of Jesus to prepare for very difficult times in this land. Instead of embracing the heart of God and His wishes that we prepare ourselves, most of us have grown tired of hearing it and push it aside. Most Christians tune out any kind of communication that would make them concerned or worried about their personal safety and challenge their lifestyle. It is very much like the proverbial ostrich putting his head in the sand.

Truth will not go away. God’s plans will prevail. As followers of Jesus, we have only one choice if we say we are His. We must move in the direction of His heart and learn His way of living in these times. It is our only wise course of action. It is the only way to honor Him.

I choose to honor You, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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3/11/24 Godly Men

From the book, The Father Factor, by Jim and Merry Corbett

Father God’s goal for your life is that you become all you can be in Christ Jesus. So if your goal is to head toward becoming a pathetic, frail, atrophied, self-serving loser in this world, while claiming to be a follower of the ways of His glorious, all-powerful Son, don’t look for Him to help you get there. There is no more important mission on His heart than the mission that Jesus has for you. There is no more powerful way for Jesus to be glorified than to have valiant spiritual warriors, who are unwilling to compromise, unwilling to turn away until the battle for souls has been won and the last enemy of the cross experiences the eternal consequences of his choices.

The Lord is cheering you on and doing everything in His power so that you can come to a full realization of who He created you to be both now and in eternity. His great desire is that you walk in the fullness of the overcoming, victorious life in Christ that is available to you.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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