Tag: Jesus

“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

“Do you know that I desire to be with you every moment of every day? I choose to walk with you, attending to your every decision, challenge, and success. I desire to be intimately involved with the minutest incidents of your life so that you will prosper. When you fully understand that Our relationship is not part-time for Me, you will begin to understand the intimacy that I desire with you. You will also understand your heritage. What could possibly harm you, confuse you, or bring fear to you if you have accepted the fact that I choose to be with you in your every encounter throughout your life? You have a choice to make.

"Allow My Word to show you that My presence is with you as long as you are moving in My will and My direction. Allow My Word to also show you the alternative existence if you choose to go your own way, even for a short time, very much like you have been doing most of the time. It’s time to make wise choices.”

Psalm 106:12-15 AMP

12) Then [Israel] believed His words [trusting in, relying on them]; they sang His praise.

13) But they hastily forgot His works; they did not [earnestly] wait for His plans [to develop] regarding them.

14) But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness and tempted and tried to restrain God [with their insistent desires] in the desert.

15) And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their souls…

Psalm 127:1 AMP 

Except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman wakes but in vain.

Heb.13:6 AMP 

So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?

 

When I ponder Psalm 106 above, I get a picture of most of us following after God. It talks about a people who praise God, believe His words, and rely on Him; but they do not wait for His plans regarding them to develop. Basically, they go about their own plans and pray that God will honor what they do.

The verse that really strikes caution in my heart is verse 15: “And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their souls…”  I wonder how many of us have leanness in our souls because of our insistence in getting our own requests fulfilled instead of desiring God’s prosperity. (I don’t mean money.)

The impression I get when I think of someone who always wants his own way, continually seeking God selfishly, is a person who is unaware of anything but his own needs - clueless about what is really important and void of anything that resembles the life and character of Jesus. What an incredible price to pay for not honoring God but going our own way - shaking off His desire for intimacy with us and settling for some pottage!

Help me, Lord,

Jim Corbett