Tag: Devotional

“Would you do what I ask you to do just because I desire it? Would you do it if it made no worldly sense? What if you gained nothing from it? You see, whether or not it makes worldly sense or whether or not you gain anything from what I ask of you should never be factored into the response you give. Will you do what I ask of you just because you love Me and choose to be obedient to My wishes? Sometimes I have far greater motives than you can see when I ask something of you. Your obedience is much more important than the outcome of anything you do. You need to begin to enjoy walking in obedience to My desires. Your obedience delights My heart. Let that be enough. Have fun just walking where I tell you to walk and doing things just because I ask you to do them. I'll take care of the results My way, in My time, for My glory. I love you.”

I Sam. 15:22 NIV 

But Samuel replied: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”

Isa. 55:8-9 NIV 

8) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.

9) “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

John 14:23-24 NIV 

23) Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

24) He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.”

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.

 

What incredible freedom it is to have a firm commitment to do the will of God and to trust Him! Once that commitment is solid, it relieves us from all worry. We know what to do because we have sought His will and then we just do it. It's that simple!

Confusion sets in and becomes overwhelming when ideas, fears, and concepts from the world and its ways take our attention away from what we know to be true. When we are inundated with and flow in the results-oriented attitude of the world, we can't see the hand of God at work even when it is very visible.  God's results rarely look the same as the results the world usually provides.

God's ways are very straight-forward. If we do what He asks us to do, He will take care of the rest. We don't have to worry. We don't have to fear if our prayers will be answered. We can peacefully rest in the promise that He is our God, and He will do what is best for us and for His plan to go forth. Everything will be taken care of His way - in His time.

Thank You for Your promises, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“As you become obedient to Me, there will be no end to the legacy that you will leave for others. Do not try to reason out My call to you. If you do, you will try to outguess Me and make fatal mistakes. My provision for you has never been for you to consume blessings upon yourself. Remember My Son? His work continues to this day because He gave everything away, keeping nothing for Himself, including His life. Give your gifts freely, and they will be amplified by My heavenly provisions to become eternal gifts with eternal value.”

 Ephesians 1:17-19 AMP

17) [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him,

18) By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones),

19) And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength…

Ephesians 5:1-2 AMP

1) THEREFORE BE imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father].

2) And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.

 

For the longest time, I don’t believe that I ever thought that my life and the things that I did were building a legacy, an eternal one at that. I mean, I knew that everything I did throughout my life impacted other people’s lives in my small circle in some way. I knew that future generations were formed and life patterns were affected by my actions toward those with whom I came in contact, but an eternal legacy to many for hundreds of years from now, should the Lord tarry?  That word “legacy” somehow impacted me as never before.

By definition, a legacy usually means money or tangible wealth handed down to another generation through a will. It is a transfer of wealth from one generation to the loved ones of another. As a Christian, it didn’t occur to me that multiple future generations could become spiritually impoverished or wealthy because of what I allow or do not allow God to do with my life.

How many succeeding generations have been impacted by how Paul allowed God to direct his life? What about Finney, Moody, Wesley, or actually anybody who truly followed after God, whose name we have never heard of? Through the life that they lived, how many families have been able to pass on an eternal legacy to others - and they, in turn, to others? I wonder if they ever thought of the wealth that they gave to others because of their obedience to the will of God. Probably not. They were more than likely too busy caring and submitting to their Lord to ever really stop and think about it.

Conversely, how much untold harm has been caused by all the foolish people who chose not to follow God in Spirit and in truth? What kind of mire has been caused by the disobedience or the rebellion of people who only cared for themselves and their puny existence?

It seems that the Lord is saying that I should evaluate my life - my every interaction with others - and realize how important it is to God from that perspective. He is reminding me that there is an eternal generation whose relationship with God may be affected by whether or not I am obedient to God and allow Him to work through me. Perhaps He is saying the same to you.

Needing His power to truly understand how important my actions and choices are to others—and to the God Who loves them,

Jim Corbett

“Often I watch you as you go about your business and marvel. You delight Me. I am struck by the way that you get up when you fall. I cherish the times that I see you venture into the unknown, trusting Me to guide and protect you. It pleases My heart when you tell others of My love. I boast about you as you turn in My direction rather than the ways that you used to go. Most of all, I delight in Our times together. You are very precious to Me. I think that you are wonderfully made. When you share your life with Me, My heart bursts with a desire to give Myself to you fully, so that you would have everything you need to prosper. I love to listen to you. I love to fulfill your needs. I think that it is precious when you come and sit with Me. I wish that you would come more often and stay longer.

"Did you know that when you leave, some of Me goes with you? It’s true. I give some of Myself to you each time We are together. You take it with you so that you can function a little more like Jesus. Even though you have been wonderfully made, you are every day taking on a little more of who Jesus is. Thank you for praising Me. Bless you for representing Me. You are very valuable. I love you.”

2 Cor. 6:18 NIV

I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.

I John 3:1-2 NIV 

1) How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

2) Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

 

Most of us walk in fear of our loving Father in heaven. There is no question that He is the awesome, almighty God; but to not embrace Him as a loving Father, our Abba, would deny the work of the cross.

Originally, we were formed in His image, designed to have fellowship with our Lord. Sin separated us from that true fellowship; but the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus completely restored it.

Maybe it’s time for each of us to revisit what has been done for us by Jesus. Maybe we should go to our Father and ask Him to tell us what He really thinks of us. Maybe when we do, we might find the proper place that has been established for us; one of a very much-loved child. Too good to be true? No! So good because it is true.

Excited every time I get to jump on my Abba’s lap,

Jim Corbett

“Do you know what My anointing is? It is when I take your small offering and empower it through My Holy Spirit. My presence and My power do all of the work to make an optimum impact in all that I call you to do. Understand that you have little to offer Me other than your full surrender to My power. Your skills are limited. I know that. It’s how I planned it. Mine are boundless, eternal, and accompanied by sovereign insights. Allow Me to amplify your offering of love into the eternal realm. Allow Me to do everything My way through you. You will marvel at how free you will be to enjoy what I call you to do, as you see how much is accomplished when you wait for Me to do it My way.”

Esther 6:1-3 AMP  

1) On that night the king could not sleep; and he ordered that the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, be brought, and they were read before the king.

2) And it was found written there how Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s attendants who guarded the door, who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.

3) And the king said, What honor or distinction has been given Mordecai for this? Then the king’s servants who ministered to him said, Nothing has been done for him.

Psalm 106:12-15a AMP

12) Then [Israel] believed His words [trusting in, relying on them]; they sang His praise.

13) But they hastily forgot His works; they did not [earnestly] wait for His plans [to develop] regarding them,

14) But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness and tempted and tried to restrain God [with their insistent desires] in the desert.

15a) And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their souls…

 

The verses above minister mightily to me. The verses in Esther tell of a time when a king, unbeknownst to him, was awakened so that he could be used to further the mission of the Lord. God was working behind the scenes in His power. Mordecai was probably fretting and sleeplessly wondering how he was ever going to accomplish what was necessary, when all the while God was in the process of doing what Mordecai could never have done. God gave him favor in the heart of the king.

The verses in Psalm 106 smack of a people who insisted on their own way, not caring past their own needs. God answered their hard-hearted whining, giving them what they wanted; but also limited them to only what their carnal requests could produce. They missed the abundance God had for them, because they chose not to wait for God’s ways to unfold.

Let me not miss Your plans and Your ways, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“There is a very real reason for My allowing you to go through difficult times. There are also times that I discipline you. You are in My school of refinement and training. It is called bridal preparation. Those of you who are wise volunteer for My hand of discipline to be heavy upon you from the beginning of your walk with Me. Those who are foolish have little desire to pay the price of true fellowship and intimacy. They have chosen to consume what is not theirs and hold on to what they no longer own. They are so busy providing for themselves that they have missed one of the real purposes for Our relationship.

"Jesus is returning for those who have the same heart as His. I am developing that heart in those who press in and request it. I am allowing those who do not desire absolute submission to go their way. In the times ahead, those who have chosen the route of limited submission will be brought to full submission through very difficult times. You will be at peace. They will learn what you have known all along.”

I Sam. 16:7b AMP 

For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.

Proverbs 29:21 AMP 

He who pampers his servant from childhood will have him expecting the rights of a son afterward.

Phil. 3:14-15 AMP

14) I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

15) So let those [of us] who are spiritually mature and full-grown have this mind and hold these convictions; and if in any respect you have a different attitude of mind, God will make that clear to you also.

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].

 

I believe that there are going to be some very surprised people when the standard that is required by God is revealed. Just a simple perusal of the churches of Revelation indicates that He is exposing attitudes that don’t live up to His ideals. There is a price for spiritual complacency within the body of Christ.

Most of the popular church today examines the pages of the Bible to find the provisions for good health, the right to great wealth, and the guarantee of safety for eternity. That is a mindset that is diametrically opposed to the mind of Christ. It is the posture of a self-serving, self-oriented carnal mind, not the mind of Christ.

Jesus set a standard when He left unimaginable wealth, position, and power to walk on this earth as an impoverished servant to all, anxious to die for those who hated Him. His standard is the bench mark for all who come after Him as they press forward. It is the high calling of Jesus Christ, which we all talk about, but few really seek.

When the call to join Jesus in the marriage supper is heralded, it is hard to imagine that it would include those who have never wanted to be there except to feast and fill themselves.  I see the standard that Jesus set scoffed at and replaced so often by another kind of Gospel; and I am fearful for those who promote it. There are too many places in the Word that goad all of us to “be as He is.” I believe that He will come for those who are looking and preparing their hearts for His return as their only purpose in this life, functioning as He did while they wait.

Turn my heart, Lord,

Jim Corbett