Tag: Devotional

“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

“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

“Do you remember what your life was before you gave it to Me? Do you realize how far you’ve come? You may think that not much has happened, or that you’re not progressing far enough; but I see things differently. I see you as righteous. That is something for which you have no benchmark. I see you as being on your way to holiness. Your mind has little comprehension of what holiness is. I see you as becoming more prepared to thrive in the heavenlies each day, as your worldly ways diminish within you.

"You are a new creature. Your old life is no longer part of the world in which you are functioning. As you learn more of the spiritual world’s truths, you will cast aside the lies of the physical worlds that formerly controlled you. You are becoming freer each and every day that passes. Do not become discouraged at how little progress seems to be taking place. I see progress that you don’t. Keep coming to Me. I will change what needs to be changed. Your life is in My hands. I am very capable of doing what is necessary. Just keep coming. I am waiting.”

2 Cor. 3:18 AMP

And with all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another, [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.

Heb. 10:14 NIV

“because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.”

Gal. 2:20a AMP

I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]: it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me…

 

We might as well make up our minds that we don’t see what God sees. Because of the cross, we have become new creatures, prepared for a new eternal world. We are also becoming more familiar with that world every day as we keep drawing close to our Father God. We don’t get how it’s happening, but that doesn’t really matter. Our Lord does understand how it works and we can trust Him and His Word to accomplish it in us.

Thank You, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Are you defending the truth of My Word by the way you love others as Jesus did? Is the work of the cross alive and well because you live it in front of others? How often do people laugh at Me because your form of religion is laughable and powerless? Grow up! Live as Jesus lives. That is why you have been given life and then life again. Use your life to show others Who will always live. His Name is Jesus!”

Luke 6:45-46 AMP

45) The upright (honorable, intrinsically good) man out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart produces what is upright (honorable and intrinsically good), and the evil man out of the evil storehouse brings forth that which is depraved (wicked and intrinsically evil); for out of the abundance (overflow) of the heart his mouth speaks.

46) Why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not [practice] what I tell you?

Luke 12:48b AMP

For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required; and of him to whom men entrust much, they will require and demand all the more.

 

In the deepest, surest sense of reality, the Master of all things, Jesus Christ, is coming very soon for those who are truly His.  Upon the command and approval of His Father that all things are complete, Jesus will send forth the Holy Spirit to herald His imminent appearance. (We are convinced in our hearts that the heralding has been present for several years and is increasing in intensity each day. The Holy Spirit has directed those who have ears to hear to prepare in earnest.)

While the foolish perceive the time of waiting in this present day as a time to learn only of the ease and comforts they have inherited because of the wealth and love of their Lord, those with a bridal heart – you, the waiting ones – are choosing to study and learn only of Him for His delight when He comes for you. You are studying and applying heart lessons, so that He will be pleased and glorified.

As the unconcerned boast of their position in Christ by attempting to change their surroundings with their authority, the devoted hearts see their need to be changed from within that they might truly please their Lord. As the foolish rest in the promised wealth that is theirs, the true bridal heart reexamines her wedding garment over and over to make sure all is in order to honor and glorify her approaching Bridegroom. Her heart has considered the cost of His approval and has covenanted to do whatever it takes to please Him.

Teach me to live as You live, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Wait. Wait on Me. Wait for My plans for you to develop. I set them in motion because I care for you. You, however, go about your business, often giving little concern to what I have in mind for you. When will you wake up? When will you understand that the way to My kind of life is through an understanding of My heart? As you go about your own business in your own strength, without concern for My approval, you are moving out from under the Lordship of Jesus and His ways. That is not a good thing. It is not good for you, and it hurts My heart. You need to change your ways. You need to consider your life and find out how much of it is out of order, because you have cared little if I am where you have gone. You need to repent to Me, and then change your ways.”

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?”

Psalm 37:4 NIV

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Jeremiah 2:13 NIV

“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”

Haggai 1:7-10 AMP 

7) Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways (your previous and present conduct) and how you have fared.

8) Go up to the hill country and bring lumber and rebuild [My] house, and I will take pleasure in it and I will be glorified, says the Lord [by accepting it as done for My glory and by displaying My glory in it].

9) You looked for much [harvest], and behold, it came to little; and even when you brought that home, I blew it away. Why? says the Lord of hosts. Because of My house, which lies waste while you yourselves run each man to his own house [eager to build and adorn it].

10) Therefore the heavens above you [for your sake] withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its produce.

 

We forget how harmful it is for us to go back to our old ways after we have come to the Lord. It is rebellion plain and simple. God is after the heart that desires to serve Him and Him alone, not the one that wants its own way.

Forgive me, Lord,

Jim Corbett