Tag: From Our Father’s Heart

“If Jesus would return today, where would you stand? Do you think that you would go with Him, or would you be left behind? Let me ask you some questions? Is the priority of every moment of your life to submit to Him in every way, so that He comes back for an unblemished bride, without spot or wrinkle? Is looking for His return the most important thing in your life? Are you preparing for Him so that He is pleased, or so that you can go?

"Unfortunately, many in My church are filling their days by padding their comfort areas, instead of preparing for His return. You need to make sure that whatever you have in your hand is worth the price that you have placed on it. It may be far more expensive than you could possibly have guessed.”

Matthew 25:1-13 NIV

(1) “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

(2) Five of them were foolish and five were wise.

(3) The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.

(4) The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.

(5) The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

(6) “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

(7) “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.

(8) The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

(9) “ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you.  Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

(10) “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet.  And the door was shut.

(11) “Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’

(12) “But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’

(13) “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”

 

Many of us have become so involved in the things of this earth that we have forgotten what is of true value. I know of people who are very afraid of losing what they have, meaning material possessions. That is a fear that is very well-founded and guaranteed to come true. To place our confidence in anything that is not considered eternally valuable by the Lord is pure foolishness.

Anyone who is the least bit aware of the promised events that will take place in the season called the end times need only look around. Many changes in our lives could happen swiftly, leaving little or no time to prepare for them. I believe it would be wise to readjust our priorities if they are not in line with our Lord’s priorities.

Teach me what is of value to You, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Some of you have grown weary in My calling on your life. Some of you are still searching to find what that calling is. Soon, all of you will be needed to function in your gifts so that My work will be completed around you. To those of you who do not know specifically what your calling is, you need to rest in the fact that I know where you are at present; but understand that I have a specific mission for you. Search My heart. While you are waiting for specifics, function in love. Do not contrive some form of service in an attempt to please Me. Do not follow the fools who tell you to practice becoming someone I have not called you to be. Love Me; love people. Serve others at prayerful interludes. Above all, be at peace and seek My will. If you do these things, you will begin to flow in My anointing for you. It will come naturally, rather than contrived for My benefit or the benefit of others.

"Those of you to whom I have given a specific calling, do what it takes to develop that calling. Begin now if you are not already functioning in it. You do not want to waste another moment procrastinating or waiting for more signs from Me. I have shown you who you are. Function in what you love to do for the benefit of others, even if it doesn’t fit the mold that others attempt to place you in. That is more than likely My plan for your life. Make sure that what you do is in line with My Word and move forward. I will meet you to confirm your direction. If you are already moving with Me, seek Me to see if I intend to modify or amplify your mission in any way. I will continually be there for you as you walk with Me through the trials that are meant to refine you and expose your heart for service.

"Shake off any weariness. It is not of Me. Allow Me to show you how to let Me carry the weight of your anointing. Trust in Me with all your heart, and I will walk with you to complete your life’s work. I love you. Let’s have fun together as We love each other and those around us!”

Isa 30:20-21 AMP 

20) And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your Teacher will not hide Himself any more, but your eyes will constantly behold your Teacher.

21) And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left.

John 20:21 NIV

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

2 Ti 1:6 NIV

For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

 

So often, the urgent smothers the important in our lives. What most of us tend to forget is that one day all the urgencies of today will fall away. That is not the time to discover that you’ve missed God’s calling on your life because you didn’t spend the time with Him to find out what He considered important for your life.

In trying to discover God’s calling on our lives, many function in busy work instead of God’s work. We stir up a lot of dust and have a modicum of success; but never really know if we are where He wants us to be. We may be involved in good things, but are they part of our specific calling?

On the other hand, some of us have determined in our own minds what our mission is and we’re waiting for the Lord to get in line with our wishes. That is never going to happen. More than likely, He has been dealing with our pride all along. Once that is recognized, He will be able to move us where we are intended to be.

Serving God is simply flowing in what we love to do if we have cultivated a life of waiting on God and His Word. As we spend time with Him, for His sake, He places desires in our hearts and then He fulfills them naturally and peacefully through us. There is no mystery to God’s anointing. It is present when we are in His will.

Be assured, God has a plan for your life. All of it is based on His love flowing through you to others. As you love as He loves, and care as He cares, you will thrive in your calling. Ministry will be happening.

Wanting only what my Father wants for my life,

Jim Corbett

“Do you know that you will never run out of forgiveness? I knew how many times you would fail, and I still invited you to spend eternity with Me. There comes a time, however, to set aside foolish things and pursue deeper wealth with Me. Now is that time. I desire much deeper times together. Set aside everything that would stop you from coming when I call. I want you to be ready for what is ahead.”

Ps. 86:5 AMP

For you , O Lord, are good, and ready to forgive [our trespasses, sending them away, letting them go completely and forever]; and You are abundant in mercy and loving-kindness to all those who call upon You.

Romans 2:4 NIV 

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?

 

God is calling for His people to set aside the things of the world and grow up. The Holy Spirit is heralding the call of bridal heart preparation. Only God can make the changes that are needed in us, but we need to make a choice to respond to the call - or we can go about our business and miss what the Lord is doing all around us.

Give me the power to choose, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“If you continue to cry out “why” when you are in peril or going through rough times, you will miss what I am doing in your midst. You will also miss My mercy in action. If you truly understand that every event, every situation, every season at all times has a purpose, you will find peace as you are going through even the roughest of times. Generations that have little pressure in their lives manufacture another gospel, one other than the true Gospel. Instead of remaining in a position of humble service and complete obedience, they demand of Me and create Me in their own image. They require Me to perform My Word for their benefit instead of submitting to My Word for the benefit of My overall plan.

"Difficult times purify the rebellious, selfish heart. They then are a benchmark for future generations to observe and come to repentance for their own rebellion. Embrace and see through any times that challenge you. See My mercy in action as you cry out to Me for My presence and strength. I am keeping you close to Me. I am giving you perspective. I am guarding your heart from a rebellious path to destruction. A heart that desires independence of Me in any way is on the road to spiritual death. Needing Me desperately has a way of changing that.”

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?”

John 18:11 AMP 

Therefore Jesus said to Peter, Put the sword [back] into the sheath! The cup which My Father has given Me, shall I not drink it?

 

At times, when I am overcome by the loud noises and boastful attitudes of people in the church who have gained much, consume it upon themselves, and request more, I attempt to find a way to bring things back into God’s perspective. I remember one time when I was feeling sorry for myself. I wanted more than I have, and desired to push God faster and maneuver my situation in my own strength, so that the many needs of my life and our ministry might be met. I wanted to be removed from the pressure that I was under and was asking God to help me find a way to be delivered from the desperate times I felt I was in.

Instead of patting me on the back and stroking my whimpering heart, my gracious Lord led me to a book about the saints of God who were imprisoned for their faith during the Cuban revolution that brought Castro to power. Reading about the giants of faith - the humble missionaries in their imprisoned hellholes, who served others and lived the life of Jesus before demonic tormentors - has put the Gospel back in perspective and made me fall on my face in repentance for my evil, demanding heart.

In the most unbelievably horrible conditions, few of them asked “why.” Most of them cared only for their Lord to be glorified, and that those who were lost – so lost that they would inflict the kind of pain on another human that the prisoners experienced - would see Jesus in them and be saved.

It seems, at times, that I have learned little and forgotten much about the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. Without knowing it, I have been distracted by what appears to be God’s hand of provision yet denies the true wealth of desperately needing Jesus for every moment of life.

I am sorry, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Your relationship with Me will bring both life and death to you. Not only are you a new being, but I will continually pour Myself into you to conform you to the likeness of Jesus. That is true life! Our relationship will also bring death to your worldly ways. Your portion is to prepare for both. Observe when refiner’s fires or difficult circumstances are accomplishing a death to your flesh and strengthening your resolve to serve Jesus. Observe also when serene circumstances are used to build up your spirit, bringing life to your inner man by the power of the Holy Spirit. My life and death process will continue until Jesus comes for you. Don’t attempt to squirm out of difficult times any more than you would deny the restful, peaceful times. Both are accomplishing a great work in you.”

2 Cor. 1:8-10 NIV

8) We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.

9) Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.

10) He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us…

2 Cor. 3:18 AMP

And 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.

2 Cor. 5:17 AMP

Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ, (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!

Ja. 1:2-5 NIV

2) Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

3) because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

4) Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

5) If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

 

As I look back on my walk (actually stumble) with the Lord, I see that the difficult times were the most productive times. They were the times that taught me how to need Jesus. They brought my pride low enough to call out His Name.

Those hard times also taught me about the faithfulness of our Father. As I reflect back, I see the wondrous pattern of a loving God taking care of His dumb kid, who over and over fell in the same mud puddle or tumbled out of the same tree. The life and death process of the Lord has done and will continue to do its work in me until I see Jesus. I am so glad for that promise.

Thank You for Your trials, Lord,

Jim Corbett