Tag: Devotional

“You need to understand that every circumstance that is placed in your life is for your good. It is designed for your optimum spiritual growth, even though it does not look like it. I am training you. I am building you up so that you will be strong in the power of My might. Understand this. You will overcome. By knowing Jesus, you cannot fail. You are so much more informed than those who do not have Our relationship. You can tap into the well that never runs dry. You can come to Me for comfort and counsel that is never wrong. How many people can really say that? I am for you and never against you. I have your best interests at heart. Even notice how I am encouraging you now. I know your need.

"Today is not the time for chastisement. Today is the time for a warm gift from your ABBA. Enjoy it. I know that you need rest. You have endured much lately; I understand that. Embrace the time of rest for what it is. There will again be time for rigorous training. Take pleasure in My comfort to you. You will make it. I assure you of that.”

Hebrews 12:12-13 NLT  

12) “So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs.

13) Mark out a straight path for your feet. Then those who follow you, though they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but will become strong.”

 

Tony walked around the newly-completed house for one final inspection.  As he turned the corner on the north end of the building, he saw Mr. Baxter’s new Lexus pull up into the driveway.  An intense hatred for this man who had been his boss for twenty years swelled in his heart.

“Twenty years of my sweat bought that car,” he said to himself.

The last straw and the determining factor that caused him to submit his resignation was Mr. Baxter’s audacity in asking him to build this stupid house, probably for one of his rich friends.  “I want it built first-class,” Baxter said in his usual, condescending tone.  “It’s important to me that it be well-built, do you understand?” Tony grudgingly acknowledged the command, but seething hatred covered every moment throughout the project. Because of his already hectic schedule and his work overload, Tony was furious that he was asked to do this additional task. “Today is the day.  Today, I’m going to tell him that it’s all over. I can’t take this any longer.”

As he neared the car, Tony remembered all of the subtle ways he had used the construction project to vent his anger for the times over the years that he was expected to work long hours for nothing; or how, when he did get a raise in pay, it hardly met his increased living expenses.

“I can’t even buy my own house,” he thought.  “And even if I could, I wouldn’t have the time for it.”

Although this house looked beautiful, Tony made sure that the people for whom he had built it would someday look at Baxter with disdain, possibly even hatred, because of the trouble they were having with it.  The use of inferior products wherever they could be hidden and marginal contractors insured premature deterioration and aging.  Although everything looked in order, plaster cracks, leaks and a myriad of other problems would eventually be the plight of whoever lived there.  But he would be gone, and it would be Baxter’s problem.  That simple thought gave Tony the quiet satisfaction of personal revenge. He will have gotten back at this self-centered, pompous fool.

By the time Tony reached the car, Mr. Baxter had gotten out and was looking at one of the discount shrubs near the driveway.  It was already showing signs of wilting.

“Is everything completed to your satisfaction?” Mr. Baxter spoke, just as Tony was about to tell him of his decision to quit, now that the project was over.

“Yes, sir,” was Tony’s immediate, somewhat off-balance response.  Tony resisted his almost overpowering need to vent all of the built-up hatred he felt for this man, who was always in control, always dominating him.

“So, it’s finished first-class,” Mr. Baxter continued, before Tony could again say anything.

“Yes, sir, it is,” Tony assured him.  Knowing the truth about how shabbily the house was really built brought a smile to his face.  He loved finally getting back at this man.

“Well, then,” Mr. Baxter began, “it’s yours. Thank you for all of the loyal service you’ve given me over the years.”

Mr. Baxter smiled back and handed Tony the keys to the front door.

Even our worst trials are for our gain,

Jim Corbett

“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

“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

“Have you ever wondered where My anointing has gone? Have you noticed that the preaching in most churches falls two feet in front of the pastor’s mouth? Do you question why so-called “praise leaders” play well-orchestrated songs, but cannot lead anyone into My presence? Do you see the cold fellowships with their cold programs, incapable of touching their communities with power, love, and My presence? All of the above is because My real presence left you long ago and you haven’t even noticed. Each of you has wondered what is wrong in the church. Well, the basic problem is that I am no longer in most churches. I will not call Mine what I don’t own. I don’t own the hearts of most of My people.

"It’s written in My Word that you have been bought with a price; that’s true. The problem is that most of you, My people, still believe that you have not been purchased. You go about your days thinking that I am with you for most of what you do. That is not true. How can I be with you when you lie to one another? How can you think that I could honor hatred, unforgiveness, jealousy, and backbiting? Do you think that My presence would dwell with you when you are unwilling to get rid of favorite sins that you harbor and hold in My face? You sing so-called praises to Me and say that you are preaching My Word, but most of the time you are doing it by yourself because of the sin in your life. Get real!

 "For many years I have tolerated your rebellion, so that you will be able to discern the difference between functioning in My presence and doing things on your own and calling them “anointed.” You are, at present, observing your so-called freedoms without My presence. It is becoming distasteful to you. Those of you who are really Mine long for Me to once again put My hand on your lives. When all is ready, I will again bring My presence to those who ardently desire to become like My Son, Jesus – those who hate their flesh and will no longer tolerate any of it in their midst. I will again draw close. I will have a people. Choose this day whom you will really serve!”

Exodus 33:3-5 NIV

3) “Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.”

4) When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments.

5) For the Lord had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.’ ”

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?”

 

Boy! Are we foolish!

Have you ever really observed a con man in action? All of his days are spent attempting to show himself as something that he is not. He connives, schemes, and plots all his steps just so that he has the appearance of good, when in reality there is nothing but evil behind everything he does. Once he is found out, his past actions become crystal clear, and he is exposed for who he really is.

I see that as a parallel to most of today’s church. We attempt to grunt our way into an appearance of holiness. We manipulate each other with righteous-sounding words and false anointings, thinking that we are fooling God. Our actions are actually mocking Him. He is a holy God; but still we flaunt our “make–believe religion” in His face, thinking He will tolerate it because He has been merciful for so long. We don’t understand His ways. He has given us enough rope to hang ourselves.

In our foolishness and church games, we believe that we are a witness to the world. It’s fascinating that we are the only ones who can’t see our folly. The world has seen it long ago, and it has minimized our impact on them accordingly. They don’t hear because we can’t tell them. We have no power to represent a holy life before them, because we do not crave to be holy ourselves. God has honored our wishes and left us to our foolishness for a while.

However, He will have a holy people. I am convinced that “game times” are almost over. God is making our own lives distasteful to us and is drawing us to Himself to again see who He really is. That will bring us to unqualified repentance.  Everything starts there.

I believe that He is raising up a people to represent and honor Him properly. It starts with repentance and leads to holiness, as we spend time with Him with honest hearts. We are becoming aware of our false religion, and those who are really His are falling on their faces to honor Him and once again realize their need of Him. Soon we will do nothing without Him. Then, the world will take notice. Jesus will once again be in their midst.

Needing to fall on the floor and never get up,

Jim Corbett

“If I were to call you home this moment, would your life have been worthwhile? Would it have been of value to My kingdom on earth? Will it bring crowns for Jesus because you have been a player in My harvest? Will those around you have seen Jesus so beautifully in you that they couldn’t resist giving their lives to His Lordship? If not, what are you living for? More importantly, who are you living for? If these questions bring answers that do not please you, how do you think I feel about them?

"Stop repenting of things. Repent of your life. Come to Me now. Need and accept My power to change who you are and what you do with My days. Find My perspective for your days. Do something about them before it’s too late. I am waiting with mercy and forgiveness. I love you, but I also love others who need you. Stop wasting your time on foolish endeavors. Change your ways, so that I can trust you and send the needy to you.”

Esther 4:13-14 AMP 

13) Then Mordecai told them to return this answer to Esther. Do not flatter yourself that you shall escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews.

14) For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from elsewhere, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion?

Psalm 25:12-14 NIV

12) Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.

13) He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land.

14) The Lord confides in those who fear Him; He makes His covenant known to them.

Isaiah 30:21 NIV 

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying “This is the way; walk in it.”

Luke 9:23-25 AMP 

23) And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].

24) For whoever would preserve his life and save it will lose and destroy it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he will preserve and save it [from the penalty of eternal death].

25) For what does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and ruins or forfeits (loses) himself?

 

We have been given one life to live and we have been born to live it for God’s purposes. If we are not ready to do that, He will make us ready if we go to Him. Most of us get in the habit of going to God with all our little sins that distract us and forget about our lives that are far from serving Him. It is good to repent of those things that are wrong, unless they get in the way of us understanding that our whole life has taken on a wrong perspective and is out of order.

When we begin to seek God for His purposes to be fulfilled in our lives, we begin to see things more clearly. He begins to bring forth a much bigger picture than our small, self-focused perspective. His mercy goads us to live for Him and gives us the ability to do so as much as we can. All the while He keeps changing us to be more like Jesus.

Almost two thousand years after His resurrection, Jesus is still joyously reproducing every fiber of His being in anyone who embraces Him as Lord and chooses to sell out to His kind of life. That is the Father’s chosen way of bringing lost people to Himself.

The life of Jesus is imparted to us through the Holy Spirit and we are supposed to simply carry Him to others by allowing Jesus to live His life through us. It is a wonderfully ordained concept of one living God’s way in front of another, who does the same in the midst of others, and so on.

How can it be then that we, as exact reproductions of the Lord because of His Holy Spirit living within each of us, can live daily among the inhabitants of this land and go unnoticed as resembling Him?

Today, most of us tell the story about a man named Jesus and expect people to embrace it unto salvation. Because of our lackluster Christianity, we talk of miracles of the past to show the power of God, name the heroes of the faith as the only testimony of God’s kind of life being lived through people; and rely on “preachers” to evangelize those to whom we should be showing Jesus. It never dawns on us that we are the message as well as the messenger. That’s too big a price to pay for most “Christians.”

Thank You for Your mercy in allowing me time to change, Lord,

Jim Corbett