Tag: From Our Father’s Heart

“I have given you a specific life to live. It is important to Me that you live it to the fullest. There are certain people only you will be able to touch. There are specific instances when you are to be a testimony to others. Every detail of your life is important to Me. Every instance that you encounter is part of who you are becoming. They all add up to who you really are in Me.

"At each point in your growth, I move people to you so that they can observe more of Jesus. Your experiences and growth help them to become who I want them to be. Consider every instance, every encounter, and every circumstance you face to be worthwhile. They are building blocks to your completion. Your life is for you to live as you choose. I choose for it to be developed into the character of Jesus. I ask you to do the same.”

Genesis 1:27-28a AMP

27) So God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him: male and female He created them.

28a) And God blessed them and said to them, Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it [using all its vast resources in the service of God and man] -

Psalm 51:10 AMP

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

John 4:34 NIV

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”

Acts 21:13 AMP

Then Paul replied, What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart like this? For I hold myself in readiness not only to be arrested and bound and imprisoned at Jerusalem, but also [even] to die for the name of the Lord Jesus.

 

We all need to look past our own little ideas about why we were born, and - just as importantly - why others were born. God really does not make mistakes. If we could see the orchestration of all of mankind, we would realize that everyone in every place on earth has a life given to him or her by the Lord. That life counts very much in His plan. Each one is specifically designed to accomplish a specific life task.

As followers of Christ, our lives have eternal consequences for the many other lives who have an encounter with us. We carry truth within us.

Show me how to live my life properly, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Do not become weary in what I have called you to do. Don’t give up because things seem to be going wrong. All is in order except your priorities. I am bringing everything into its proper place. You will have what is needed to finish your task. You will see why there seem to be delays when I unfold the reasons for them to you.

"While you are waiting, let’s talk. Let’s spend some quality time together. Time with you is always more important to Me than anything you are doing, even My very important projects. Jesus gave His life so that We could be together. Make Our fellowship your priority. It was His. It is also Mine.”

Matthew 26:53-54 NIV

53) “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?

54) But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

Mark 15:37-38 AMP  

37) Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed out His life.

38) And the curtain [of the Holy of Holies] of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

 

When things aren’t going according to my schedule, I sometimes feel that there must be an emergency meeting of the Trinity going on to discuss the urgency of my situation. Obviously, that is never true!

It is in those times that my Father reveals to me lessons about trust, Lordship, faith, and patience. He brings me back to the truth that He is the Lord over my life and I am not. He has everything under control, so I should stop attempting to control the days He has called me to live for Him. I also realize that I have not made my time with Him my priority. In His eyes, that will never do.

Forgive me, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Obedience to My desires brings My presence in what I call you to do. Delighting to be obedient brings My heart. I value the difference between compliance out of duty and an excitement to see My will go forth. One accomplishes much; the other is why Jesus spent His life.

"It’s time for you to reexamine why you do what you are doing. My goal is that We walk together with the same heart. What is your purpose for waking and working? Why do you call upon Me in prayer? Turn aside from the elementary teachings of your youth. Long for My heart. Spend enough time with Me to know it. Crave to own it!”

Psalm 51:10 AMP

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

Isaiah 43:21 NIV

-the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.

Amos 3:3 KJV 

Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Matt. 25:1-12 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.’”

 

God is always after our hearts. So many of us walk in compliance, thinking that we are pleasing God. The Sadducees and the Pharisees became arrogant because of their self-righteousness. They fulfilled the law but lost the heart of God. In the same way, most of us do the right things, but miss God’s heart while doing them. It’s time to grow up for the good of our God and the reputation of Jesus.

I want to love Your ways, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Are you willing to give up all you ever hoped for in life for the sake of My call on your life? What about your dreams or your reputation? Are they dead to you? The Lordship of Jesus over your life means that you no longer have rights to control any portion of your being. You have been bought with the great price of the blood of Jesus.

"As someone who calls himself a Christian under His Lordship, you can either be a bondservant or a slave. It is all determined by the position of your heart. A slave mentality is compliant to the Lordship of Jesus but fighting His desires all the way. That individual’s personal desires and motives are not under the work of the cross. A bondservant delights in His wishes and willingly gives away everything for His will.

"Which are you? Which do you believe is My will for you? Which is the heart of the waiting bride?”

Matt. 7:21-23 NIV

21) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

22) Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’

23) Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

Matthew 16:24-25 AMP

24) Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].

25) For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting].

 Galatians 2:20 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; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

 

Very simply stated: Jesus lived an exuberant, passionate life because He loved deeply and knew the truth. Everything that He did had love as its foundation, its continual motivation, and its ultimate goal. Nothing, not even death, could move Him from expressing that love to and for those around Him.

Because He was One with and knew His Father intimately, He understood the truth about the fate of mankind as a result of the fall. Because He lived with His Father in all of eternity past, He knew what separation from His Father for all eternity future really meant for those He loved and created. He felt His Father’s heartbreak because some would perish.

Jesus was brought into a world so perilous that children were killed at the whimsical edict of an evil king, crucifixions were as commonplace as morning walks, and people were held in slavery to ignorant teachers and foolish guides, yet He was absolutely fearless. His passionate love, His intimacy with His Father, and His zeal for imparting truth made Him “Teflon” in a world seething with infectious evil and eternal danger. His presence in any society was a gift of love from His Father God. We are in training to be the same kind of gift to those around us wherever our Father sends us.

Jesus could be fearless because He loved perfectly. He cared only for others and desired nothing for Himself. Even though He had all power, He was under full submission to the will of His Father. In His heart, He had given away everything, so He had no fear of someone robbing Him, even of His life. He held Himself in lower esteem than everyone, even the lowly leper, so no one could destroy His reputation. Jesus’ love was so pure that He was absolutely free from any peril that the world would attempt to place on Him.

I choose to love Your will, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Focus! Go back to when you were first in love with Me. Remember the things that were important to you at that time. Remember also what was not important because you loved so deeply and cared only about those things I cared about. I could guide you with My eyes. I could tell you My heart and you would move as if We were One. You need to go back there, so that I can use you in that way again. It is important to Me, but it is also very important for you.

"If you do not turn, We will grow farther apart. You will not be able to know what is important to Me any longer and I cannot embrace the things that you deem important. That is not a good situation for you. Turn now. Repent! Time is short!”

James 4:8-10 AMP

8) Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery].

9) [As you draw near to God] be deeply penitent and grieve, even weep [over your disloyalty]. Let your laughter be turned to grief and your mirth to dejection and heartfelt shame [for your sins].

10) Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant].”

Rev. 2:2-5 NIV

2) “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance.  I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.

3) You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name and have not grown weary.

4) Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.

5) Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first.”

 

A significant life is the life of Jesus. Jesus moved only in love, only in His Father’s wishes. As He walked among those He had created, He saw their needs and moved with compassion on their behalf. He gave His all, even for those who hated Him - especially for those who hated Him. Their need became His mission. His love became their salvation.

Take me back to first love, Lord,

Jim Corbett