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1/17/24 What’s Going On?

A while ago, my family and I had the opportunity of having the Lord seemingly remove just about everything from us for about two-and-a-half years - friendships, finances, ministry. Sometimes it felt as if  even His presence had left us.  What were we going to do with that?  We'd be the first to say that we spent a lot of the time simply surviving.  If I could go back, that would be something I would like to have changed.

What impression did we make on those around us?  It's hard to say because hardly anyone seemed to really want to talk about it.  It probably didn't make any sense to most, and those that decided they "knew" what God was doing with us walked away.  I don't think the world found our circumstances so strange, but the church did. (Isn't that interesting?)

Being relieved of most everything you're used to gives you the opportunity to ask yourself some valid questions.  What is my picture of God, and is it accurate?  What is suffering and how does God use it with those who are His?  The point I'm coming to is that we, as a body of believers, need to have an accurate picture of God and an accurate view on His working in our lives, especially if we're going to share them with others.  Being "blessed" continually is not an indicator that all is well, just as suffering is not necessarily an indicator that you're out of God's will.

The life of the believer here on earth is a totally submissive crucified life.  God knows what it will take to accomplish that in each of us.  Do we blow it along the way?   Yes.  God has taken that into account in His dealings with us.  Keep going.  God is in the business of putting an accurate picture of Himself in your life, not only for your sake, but for the sake of others.  And isn't that an answer to your prayers?

"Lord, please don't take me out of the refiner's fire until Your goals are accomplished."  That's hard to pray, but so rewarding!

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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1/16/24 Forgive, Love, and Remember

“What are you going to do when others come against you? How much are you going to hate when someone wants to harm you, take your possessions, or even take your life? Where in My Word does it say that there is a time for you to stop loving your enemies? I know that you have noticed drastic changes in your world that seem to have happened overnight. It is because a new season has been released by Me in the heavenlies and you are now feeling the beginning stages of its impact. Events will now unfold with increasing speed toward the coming of My Son.

"You must implement what I have been telling you for a long time. You must love as My Son loved, or you will hate those who come against you, causing you to bring discredit to Me. You must forgive everyone or you will not be able to flow in My power when I need you. You must join the war against your hardened heart or you will not be obedient when you are called upon. You will not see the logic in My directions; and because you have not learned to move with Me - no matter how foolish My command may seem to you - you will not be useable by Me. You will be hamstrung by your own logic.

"Soon, all that I have asked you to learn to this point will be needed. There is little time left. Remember My past lessons and do what it takes to fully embrace them. When they are needed for you to overcome the very imminent challenges ahead, it will be too late to try to learn to apply them to your life. Change now. Draw close now. Repent of your foolishness now. Soon it will be too late. If you have ears to hear, hear Me now!”

2 Tim 1:6-7 AMP

6) That is why I would remind you to stir up (rekindle the embers of, fan the flame of, and keep burning) the [gracious] gift of God, [the inner fire] that is in you by means of the laying on of my hands [with those of the elders at your ordination].

7) For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit} of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

 

Many years ago, I was given a posture in prayer that has impacted my life more than I could ever have understood at the time. A humble servant of God passed on what, at the time, seemed like a little tidbit that he had heard somewhere. Little did I realize that it came directly from the throne room of God to me.

I was struggling with praying for someone who had harmed me in a great way. I knew that it was important to turn the harm around and eliminate the destruction that holding a grudge would cause. I knew I had to pray for his best interests, but I also wanted to hold him accountable for his actions.

For months, it was impossible for me to have any peace. I couldn’t pray properly. I couldn’t minister. In fact, I was very difficult to live with. I knew that the Lord was doing something important in me, but I wasn’t sure that I wanted to be part of His plan. Deep down, I wanted revenge. I had been hurt, and I wanted somehow to get back.

One day this person, seeing my quandary, came to me and said he had the answer. He told me to pray only this single prayer for that individual. “Father, flood him with the same mercy that you have given me.”  Something so simple would soon change my life.

I began to pray that prayer out of simple obedience, almost mechanically, over and over and over. Soon, the Holy Spirit began to reveal the “rhema” of that prayer little by little. (Rhema is the God-anointed, empowered heart understanding that can only come from the Holy Spirit, as He ministers directly to your heart.)

Finally I understood the stronghold in which Satan had me. When I realized that I constantly needed the same mercy that I was required to give, everything began to change. Lesson upon lesson unfolded as I prayed that simple prayer. In fact, so many lessons came my way, that I am now empowered with a tool that is usable to destroy many strongholds. What I learned then, I have needed often and will soon need again.

Remind me of what You have done in me so far, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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1/16/24 Absentee Ballots

As a daddy, you have the privilege of loving your children right into the kingdom of heaven! You have the opportunity to forgive them for any time they’ve offended you, and be there for them when they fail and fall. You have the honor of sticking up for them when others decide to separate from them for whatever reason, and the joy of being their guide, counselor, father, and friend.

In today’s society, there are few opportunities to have really close lifetime friends. Other than Jesus, who promises to stick closer to us than a brother? Most of today’s youth rarely find that kind of companionship. You can be that person they can count on to love them no matter what, even if they don’t want it or ask for it.

No one can stop you from loving them. No one can stop you from praying for them. No one can hinder you from holding them in your spirit before the Lord until they can walk in the way God has planned for them to walk.  You, as a father, have the privilege of watching them grow and blessing them at every turn.

So let’s get on with it! Put aside anything that may separate you from your children. Stop being a watchdog and become a devoted father/advocate. Love them even if you can’t tell them. Hold them before the Lord even if you can’t hold them in person because of the past. Become the father God intends you to be. God loves them; so should you!  What happens next is up to Him.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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1/15/24 Windows of Opportunity

“Storm clouds are on the horizon. What are you going to do to prepare? Are you going to stock up for yourself, so that you can have enough when others have nothing? My church has done that too often in the past. I prosper them and they pad their own rest areas. You may not do that if you wish to have peace during the times ahead. I will not honor your selfishness. I will not honor the attitude of “hunkering down” when there is so much to do. The times ahead are windows of opportunity. They are important seasons to tell others of My love. They are harvest times. Many souls will be thirsty for My living water.

"Be assured of this one thing; take it to your heart. If you attempt to provide for yourself during these times instead of preparing to provide for others, I will not protect what you have stored up in your many barns. I will, in fact, send the worm and the plague to devour what you are attempting to hoard and hide from those who need it to share My Word. You will not be part of what I am doing and will spend your time in fear of loss, because you haven’t learned the perfect love of My Son. He gave everything away, even His life. Don’t tell Me that you are following Him if you act the opposite of how He told you to act.Study His life now. Prepare to provide for those who need to hear what I have to say in the times ahead. The lonely will need My comfort. You comfort them as Jesus would. Those who fear will need to see the kind of strength that trusts Me and Me alone for safety. That kind of strength took Jesus to the cross. I have been calling My church to prepare for some time now. Few are responding. My patience is running out. Soon I will take from those who have and give to those who will be true stewards of My property.”

Revelation 3:15-19 NIV

15) “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot, I wish you were either one or the other!

16) So, because you are lukewarm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth.

17) You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.

18) I counsel you to buy gold from me refined in the fire, so you can become rich, and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

19) Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent.”

 

A while back, I had this dream. Because of what has been told to me in the above paragraph, I am sure of what the dream means. I pity anyone who is holding back the Lord’s provisions for the sake of his or her own gain.

There was a very large valley surrounded by majestic mountains. On one end there was a small area to enter the valley. The mountain tops were very fertile, and each had many streams that were supposed to irrigate the valley, but all of them were dammed up by the people living on top of the mountain. The water was so abundant that it was backed up and seeping through cracks and over the top of the dams. People up there were very fat and working feverishly to make more room for the water on top of the mountain. They were eating sandwiches, one after another, while they were working.

The valley was a very dry field of long grass. Many people were flowing in and out of the valley. They came in with empty glasses and left with small amounts of water in them. While they were in the valley, the valley workers spent time catching the drips from the overflow from the dam, and calling to the mountain people, asking if they would release some of the water. The mountain people wouldn’t release any more than a very small amount even though they had much more than they needed to survive. They were feverishly working to build more room for the water.

The dream then shifted to a sweet, peaceful rain. It rained only in the valley. The rain continued for many months until the valley was plush with vegetation, the tall grass now brilliant blooming flowers.

Many thirsty people came to the valley with giant buckets, large containers, and vessels of all sizes. Each left with their containers overflowing. I sensed that they were taking them to other dry valleys.

Because it did not rain in the mountains, the mountain people had to use up their rivers and streams until they were completely dry. The dream ended with the mountain people lying on scorched land, too weak to call for help and too proud to roll down the mountain into the valley.

Lord, break my heart for this mission field,

Jim Corbett

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1/15/24 Higher Fences

Fathers, if you continually find yourself putting more restrictions on your children and applying stronger consequences to help them comply with what you feel is best, you’re doing something wrong. You can build higher and higher fences all you want as they continue to grow, but one day they’ll find a way over the fence into total rebellion.

Somehow, your children have been taught compliance under your stewardship. They get in line to avoid the consequences you set in place, but their hearts are wandering or maybe empty. Perhaps it’s time for you to get on your face before God and repent of your ways. Are you also walking in compliance before God, doing things to avoid consequences, rather than doing them because you love Him and want to please Him with your obedience? Is this somehow being communicated to your children and they’re just following your lead?

Fear not. As you spend time with God and your love for Him grows deeper, you will learn to walk in Christ-like obedience. Then you will be able to love and nurture your children into walking in genuine obedience through the love of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God will accomplish in them what the laws you’ve established can never do.

If it seems too late and your children are walking in full-fledged rebellion against you and God, your only recourse is to pray and intercede until they find freedom in Christ. They’re in rebellion in part because your priorities and/or methods have been out of order. Do you care enough to do what is necessary to help them? They need you!

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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