Tag: Devotional

“Few of you understand the depth of commitment I have made with you. I have covenanted with you and sealed that covenant with the blood of Jesus. There is no more unbreakable agreement ever made. That means that I have placed Myself and My integrity on the line, so that you can be safe. You need to study what you entered into when Jesus became your Lord. You would be amazed how much My commitment to you is at work every moment of every day.”

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.

Luke 23:44-45 NIV

44) It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour,

45) for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.

John 3:16 NIV 

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 6:57 AMP

Just as the living Father sent Me and I live by (through, because of) the Father, even so whoever continues to feed on Me [whoever takes Me for his food and is nourished by Me] shall [in his turn] live through and because of Me.

 

The astounding mercy of God was made evident upon the arrival of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His power was made evident when Jesus was raised from the dead. His covenant with us was sealed forever at the cross.

You and I function daily under the power of the most incredible agreement, made especially for us. Jesus is the mediator of a covenant so wonderful that we will bask in the results of its far-reaching impact for eternity.

Thank You, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Why don’t you practice stepping out of your comfort zone? Determine in your heart to forgive anyone and everyone immediately. Set no limits on your giving to those who have need of any kind. Go “the extra mile” for someone who will never be able to pay you back. Make a big sacrifice secretly. Do something that has no benefit to you in any way. You get the idea. Take some time to implement the life of Jesus so quietly that it resounds throughout the heavenlies for eternity. Practice living His life to others when only you and I know you are doing it.”

Matthew 5:13 AMP

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste (its strength, its quality) how can its saltness be restored? It is not good for anything any longer but to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men.”

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, 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?

2 Cor. 9:7-8 NIV

7) Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

8) And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

 

Sometimes we are so busy following the letter of the covenant that we have been given that we forget the heart of everything that has been done for us. Unlimited, overwhelming, unending, selfless love is at the center of all the freedom life we have been given in Christ. Not the “stand in your face, look what I’m doing” kind of love, but the “I lay my life down continually because I was loved first” kind of love. Everything else is a bondage of some sort.

Teach me, Father,

Jim Corbett

“There is an epidemic that is growing within My church. It is an epidemic of serving the flesh and the ways of the world. At a time when I need crucified warriors who are willing to lay down their lives for the sake of those who don’t know Me, some of you are finding ways to maintain control of your own lives. When I need you to weep for the lost, you are asking Me to pad your comfort zones. Can you not see that the world as you once knew it is quickly passing away? How will you be able to stand in the midst of predicted events when you give no notice to training for them?

"You must make some proper decisions before I use someone else to do what was planned for you to do. You must cease from listening and never really hearing what I have been saying before it’s too late for you. You will not be equipped for what is ahead if you do not turn now. Repent of your ways. Pick up your cross and carry it where I tell you to go. Learn of the ways of Jesus and apply them to your life now! People need you. I want you to be My mouthpiece, but you will not be able to tell others what you have discarded as unimportant. Jesus must now become your only reason for breathing or I will have to set you aside for the work that is ahead.”

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.”

Joshua 24:15 NIV

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

2 Chr. 7:14 NIV 

“…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Jeremiah 12:5 AMP

[But the Lord rebukes Jeremiah’s impatience, saying] If you have raced with men on foot and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses? And if [you take flight] in a land of peace where you feel secure, then what will you do [when you tread the tangled maze of jungle haunted by lions] in the swelling and flooding of the Jordan?

 

I wonder when the Lord says “enough.” I am convinced that He never stops loving us; but I am also convinced that when we do not respond to His call, He eventually uses someone else to do the work that He had planned for us to do. We too often forget that He is Sovereign God.

Please have mercy on me while I learn to respond properly, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Although things appear to be relatively calm in your world and the horrors that are going on in other places seem not to affect you, do not fall asleep. Much is going on in the spiritual world. The enemy of My cross is organizing as never before. They are making plans to destroy all that I stand for and all that Jesus has done. In their blindness, they even believe that they are working for Me.

"Little do they know that I have been raising up a standard against their plans. That standard is you. You will be a bold witness for My cause. You will live as Jesus lived and possibly die as Jesus died. Are you preparing for that day? Will you have enough of My life to be able to represent Jesus properly when that time comes? I have called you to prepare for some time now. I am now calling you in earnest. Prepare! Difficult times are on the horizon. You must be ready.”

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.”

Isaiah 59:19 AMP

…When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him and put him to flight…

Hosea 13:6 NIV

“When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.”

 

Most of us have become satisfied with the way things are, thinking they may never change. Throughout history God has warned and warned His people to prepare for a future event. Suddenly the event comes and only those who have heeded His warnings prosper and glorify God while it is unfolding.

“The Infant Heart”

The infant heart beats only for itself. All of the things that God does center around their needs in some way. The salvation process was for them alone. It was put in effect by God specifically for them, to make them safe after they die.

The Bible is simply a book of promises that they can call upon to relieve their hurts in time of need. God is perceived as this wonderful benefactor, who is waiting for their next need to occur, so that He can help them through it; and prayer is solely a channel by which they can make their needs known...

Very much like infants in diapers who are not capable of understanding that the world around them is not about them, these spiritual infants cry when they have need, demand when these needs are not met; and are only truly satisfied when they are comfortable in all areas, without giving the slightest thought to the importance of anything going on around them.

Grow me up, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“So many of you are walking in fear, but you are in fear of those things that matter little in the light of eternity. You fear the loss of your possessions, your freedoms, and your rights. These fears and others like them consume your time and your energy. They place your focus on the temporal, not the eternal. The enemy of your soul loves to keep you occupied with such things. When you do so, you have little time to focus on those things that really matter, such as Our relationship, Our time together considering your mission, and Our desire for those who need to hear about Jesus.

"Once you understand that all fears disappear when you know Me and My power, you will never focus on things that are passing away again. We can concentrate on important matters. Devour My Word. Listen to My heart. Walk in My love for you. Spend time with Me. Fear is a very foolish waste of time. It is for those who do not really know Me and My Word.”

Ps.56:1-4 AMP

1) BE MERCIFUL and gracious to me, O God, for man would trample me or devour me; all the day long the adversary oppresses me.

2) They that lie in wait for me would swallow me up or trample me all day long, for they are many who fight against me, O Most High!

3) What time I am afraid, I will have confidence in and put my trust and reliance in You.

4) By [the help of] God I will praise His word; on God I lean, rely, and confidently put my trust; I will not fear. What can man, who is flesh, do to me?

Proverbs 18:10 NIV 

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Phil. 4:8-9 NIV

8) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.

9) Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

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 andmount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

 

I remember when I was a kid that the big kid down the block wanted to hurt me... what was his name? I remember when that project at work had this incredible deadline… that was how long ago? I remember how I worried about this one situation…what was that about anyway?

Our Father God holds every moment of every day in His mighty hands. He calls us out from under the weight of our needs and brings us into the realm of His glory. He reigns over everything. He has also invited us to come to Him and promises to cover all our needs. He also has some mighty exciting plans to share with us and our part in them. Maybe it’s time to refocus our attentions on those things that are important and stop fearing things that pass away only to become dim memories.

I’m sorry, Lord,

Jim Corbett