Tag: Devotional

“You are living in dangerous times! You are living in seasons that have been prophesied in My Word as the end of times. Do not ignore the warnings that I present to you or deny the signs that are happening all around you. Do not hide from reality. In these closing hours, you must make every moment count and take every opportunity to show others Jesus. There may not be another time. You must change your priorities for every event or circumstance that is presented to you. Make every fellowship or gathering count.

"From this day, I need you to design your lives into groups of situations that have eternal purpose, rather than considering them random events. Your freedoms are eroding; your world is changing. Make the most of what is available to you for My kingdom, for My overall purposes. Your denial of the times in which you live will cause you to allow separations and divisions to remain with family and friendships in which I have placed you. Before this time, you have not counted it important enough to mend broken relationships or see new friends as I see them. You have always thought that there will be a “next time” to tell them about My love. Your world is too volatile to wait any longer. There may not be any “next times.” There may not be other times or better opportunities.

"These natural seasons that you are in should have new priorities and deeper meaning for you, My chosen ones. Do not let them slip by. Do not one day regret your lack of boldness or fall into the trap of denial for the sake of false peace. Approach every moment and each encounter with My purposes in mind. I will open hearts.  I will provide opportunities. Get your priorities straight and then wait for My Holy Spirit to give you the boldness needed to take proper advantage of every situation presented to you. Walk in My love now! There may not be many more open doors, so love enough to risk everything for important things.”

Rom 12:1-2 NIV

1) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—which is your spiritual worship.

2) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

 

A while back, the Lord showed me that every day really counts and that our lives are very important to Him. That may seem like old stuff to most of you, and maybe I’m thick-headed; but those realities were finally sinking in.

I now realize that every one of our days, friendships, family, and business opportunities are ordered by the Lord, not just random chance relationships. It has become clear that God has strategically placed us in the middle of His plans and surrounded us with people that we should now see as God-ordained appointments. It is also becoming very clear that we are fools if we do not embrace our position as ambassadors for Christ with all of our being.

A while back, I may have taken these morning mailings, written books and teaching materials, and even speaking sessions as simply ministry opportunities. As logical and reasonable as that may seem, I am ashamed at the time I have wasted and the godly opportunities that have passed by because of that ignorant attitude and how lightly I regarded my days. Because I didn’t grasp the impact of what my life meant to the Lord or understand the importance of my calling, I have squandered my Lord’s precious time.

In the quiet of the morning hours, the Lord is once again impressing on my heart the value of each and every moment in every one of our lives. He is emphatic that we cherish the holy alliances He has placed in our midst and realize the eternal impact of what we are or are not becoming.

At the same time, He is showing me that you, the recipients of these writings, are His chosen and appointed vessels, who are being trained as His bright lights in an ever-increasing darkness and raised up for such a time as this. You are held very close to His heart and valued beyond comprehension. Our association and the many associations in which we will all soon be placed as remnant believers are to be held with holy reverence. I am to regard each of you as I would regard Jesus. You are holy in His sight. Our relationships with each other and with others are holy to Him.

Needing to count each moment and every event as ordained,

Jim Corbett

“It is time to seek truth with all your might so that you walk in it. There is little time to allow perceived truth, personal perspective, and hindering traditions to sway you to hazardous places. Clean up your lives. Be set free from any hindrances that have been part of who you are because of the lies of the enemy, or the clutter that has allowed you to believe something that’s not true. Forgive everyone in your past relationships. Deny access to the familiar lies in your head about who you are, who you are not, or who you can or cannot be.

"Seek My Word. Allow it to tell you who I have called you to be. Take the time to allow My Word to change any part of your thinking that is out of order with eternal truth. I am present in it to proclaim what really is and is not. Search for Me. I can be found if you seek Me with all your heart. I will show you absolute truth. You can stake your life on what My Word says. In fact, you must.”

Amos 5:4b AMP 

…Seek Me [inquire for and of Me and require Me as you require food] and you shall live!

Mark 4: 24 AMP

And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you – and more [besides] will be given to you who hear.

Colossians 1:9-12 NIV

9) For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

10) And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

11) being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully

12) giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

 

Most of the world spends more time picking out their wardrobe than they do deeply investigating what happens after they close their eyes for the last time. In the same way, most of the church walks around in half-truths, perceived notions, and flat-out blind traditions. We cling to teachings with little or no biblical foundation, just because it feels right or ministers to some part of our carnal nature; and never give a thought as to whether or not God is pleased with our foolishness.

We need to get serious. This is serious business—this God business. Every one of us should have only God’s desires as the primary focus of our lives. Whatever it takes, we need to get to really know our God, and what His Word actually says. Then we need to live by it.

Teach me Your truth, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Make sure that you remain diligent while you are waiting for Me to move on your behalf. Your time of waiting is also a time of learning to be obedient in other areas of your life. Complete those things that I have told you to do. Clean up all of the relationships that have been neglected. Become a study of Jesus. Learn about My heart. Bring your house to order so that new assignments can be completed when I give them to you.

"Few understand the importance of waiting on Me. I am not only completing patience, diligence, and obedience in you; I am orchestrating many things concerning your life. As soon as everything is in order, you need to be ready to move. There will be work to be done. Prepare while you can. When I call you, I will expect immediate responses. A work of completed patience will bring new faith in Me. Soon you will walk in it.”

Psalm 51:10 AMP

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering and steadfast spirit within me.

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 to their souls…

Isa. 30:18 NIV

Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

Acts 12:6 NIV

The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.

 

The picture of Peter shackled to two soldiers and possibly snoring up a storm while waiting for the Lord to move on his behalf is probably one of the most descriptive heart positions of trusting in God ever written. It is a delightful picture of absolute trust in a faithful Father God. It can also, however, portray the wrong picture of what waiting for the Lord to move on our behalf is really all about. Yes, waiting on God most certainly accomplishes quiet, peaceful, steadfast patience in those who are waiting; but much more is also accomplished.

Waiting on God is never a time of sleeping the days away. In fact, it is the opposite of inactivity. Although the primary activity is always seeking the Lord diligently and repenting of revealed sins, especially those of faithlessness and control, many “clean-up” tasks are accomplished during these times.

Waiting is a time of both heart and physical preparation. It is a time of bringing proper order back to your spiritual and physical house. To wait on God is a settling in with the Lord, cleaning your ears so that you can once again hear Him properly, cleaning your house so that you can move when He tells you to move; and sharpening your tools so that you have what is needed for the important tasks ahead. Waiting for the Father to impart what is on His heart for your life imparts His life in the process.

Show me how to wait, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Death and life! You own them both with your life in Jesus. You are called to bring the life you have been given to others. Your words should only be My Words. Your actions should only be His actions. He only gives life!”

Exodus 33:13-16 NIV 

13) “If I have found favor in your eyes, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

14) The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

15) Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.

16) How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

Matt.16:19  AMP

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth, must be whatever is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven.

Romans 10:9-10  NIV 

9) That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10) For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

 

So many people have followed the teaching of speaking positive things so that positive things will happen to them. I believe that the Lord wants us to speak His words, which are absolute truth, rather than the words that come from our fears, misunderstandings, or foolish doctrines.

God is in the absolute truth business. There is nothing that He has ever said that cannot be trusted. He is in the life-giving business. The life we have been given in Jesus is a life that is available to anyone who desires it. When we talk of Him, we bring the opportunity for life to others. When we serve others through Him, others see the difference between the darkness of the world and the brilliance and the wonder of Him. We do have life to give when we give to others in His Name and His power— through His Word and by our words and actions.

Have me give only life to others, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Jesus! The only Name that is higher than every other name. Any attempt to say that Name in some circles will soon cause great harm to come to you. Soon those, who honor the high esteem that the Name of Jesus carries in the heavenlies, will be cursed, hated, and killed because of its separating power. Although the Name is synonymous with limitless love, it will bring forth the deepest hatred of those who will not bow to it. No other name can separate absolute truth from false religion. By the Name of the Most High Jesus, nations will be brought low, children will be lifted up, and false kingdoms will be destroyed.

"Jesus! The only Name that is higher than every other name. Identifying and embracing it with all your heart will bring you untold wisdom and eternal prosperity. Those who throw it in the dirt will experience darkness of the most horrible kind.

"Jesus! The only Name that is higher than every other name. The one Name that will soon bring a conclusion to My eternal plans. It is your plumb line for all eternity. It is the benchmark for your very life.

"Jesus! The only Name that is higher than every other name. Whether whispered in quiet submission or shouted at the top of your voice, it will move all heaven and earth on your behalf because of its Owner and what He has done. Although He is the One honored for all eternity, He has given you His Name for your sole expression of life. Carry it properly. Cherish it with all your heart. You will soon be amazed at its wondrous power. Although the Name of Jesus will be the catalyst for your persecution, it will be your only place of safety.

"Jesus!! The only Name that is higher than every other name.”

Hebrews 1:1-3a AMP 

1) IN MANY separate revelations [each of which set forth a portion of the Truth] and in different ways God spoke of old to [our] forefathers in and by the prophets,

2) [But] in the last of these days He has spoken to us in [the person of a] Son, Whom He appointed Heir and lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time [He made, produced, built, operated, and arranged them in order].

3a) He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power…

 

The bottom line for everything that is unfolding before us is the Name of Jesus and what it stands for. This could mean that those of us who are calling ourselves by His Name may be put to a life and death test in the future. If we honor our commitment to our Lord, we may very well have the honor of living, and possibly dying, in the same way as His first followers did. If we deny Him in any way, the consequences of our foolishness are too horrible to dwell upon.

For a long time, the Lord has been calling those who are His to draw close to Him so that we will be able to stand properly in these coming times. This eternally serious choice is ours to make at this very moment. I am convinced that soon we will have opportunity to deliver to the world the life that we have received from being in His presence, or we will stand open-mouthed and empty-handed with the world, as we attempt to comprehend what has happened in our midst.

Wanting to respond fully to the call to draw near,

Jim Corbett