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11/08/24 The Bad Guys

As men, we are taught to hold on to our own safety and make sure no one takes our stuff. Some time ago, the Lord startled me while I was in one of those quiet-almost-sleepy-could-really-be-dozing kind of prayer times. His voice was quiet and full of love. He said, "I want you to know that I love your most aggressive enemies as much as I love you. There is no one on the face of this earth that I wish would perish. I want you to pray for all those who hate Me. In fact, I want you to pray for anyone who will hate My children. Pray that they will be able to share My love."

Then things got personally serious. "I want you to pray for those who will kill you. I don't mean that someone is going to do that, necessarily; but I want you to have the heart that would care about their salvation more than you care about your own life." By now, I was awake. Pray for someone who hated me enough to kill me! Love others - even the bad guys?

The Lord then reminded me of His actions on the cross. He had words of forgiveness for those who were spitting on Him and an attitude of great love for those who drove the nails in His hands. He told me to do the same with anyone who came against me. It was enough to remind me this life is not centered around my well-being. What a novel thought!

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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11/07/24 Why Don’t We Go?

“Intimacy with Me is where your new life is fulfilled. Your inner being thrives in My presence. It is where you learn My heart and the heart of Jesus. It is where you receive grace and mercy. You will receive power to overcome all the challenges you face. You become changed when We are together. Come to Me. I will give you rest. I will give you My time. I will give you what is needed for your life and for My plan. Make intimacy with Me your priority. Jesus won that place for you with Me. You are invited and welcome; why would you not come?”

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.

 

For some unknown reason, most of us avoid the most incredible privilege known to mankind. We have been invited into the presence of the Creator of all things. We have been asked to come into His presence because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Other generations were not even allowed to look upon Him. We are invited to spend intimate time with Him.

But we don’t go! We do all kinds of activities for Him. We come to Him with our laundry lists. We tell others about Him; but we deny the work of Jesus, nullify the torn veil, and minimize the astounding privilege that has been earned for us. How foolish!

I no longer want to be a fool, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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11/07/24 Easier to Do

As men, it’s easier to try to do something about all the brush fires we ignite with our spiritual ignorance than it is to become everything we’re called to be in Christ. Making something happen is far easier than waiting on God to direct our steps and completely oversee our lives, which allows us to avoid the many pitfalls the enemy has planned against our families.

Doing stuff to make things better in our own strength means we’ve unknowingly decided to make ourselves vulnerable to the traps set by the enemy against our families. It means we’ve reduced the outcome of our lives to the limitations of our own carnal thinking and insufficient power. It means we’ve offered the enemy an opportunity to attempt to override the plans God has for us and our families.  It means we’re in the world and of the world; and, therefore, incapable of winning any spiritual war waged against us. It means we’ve taken the well-traveled, easier road and chosen to walk in spiritual weakness.

On the other hand, becoming a true man of God and a mighty warrior means we’ve overcome and discarded the ways of the world. We’ve ceased to function in the realm of the enemy and have planted our flag in the kingdom of God by submitting to its guidelines in our lives. It means we’ve crucified the flesh, having gladly died to its demands and becoming fully submitted to the Lordship of Jesus over every area of our lives and the lives of our families. It means we’ve accepted God’s invitation into His throne room, which He can make our war room where nothing harmful prevails over us or those we love. Would you like to live there?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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11/06/24 What God Has Promised

“Do not allow your heart to be swayed by the things that are large and looming, those things that deny My plans and My purposes for your world. Do not allow your mind to be captured by the lies that seem larger and more powerful than My Word. You know what is true. You know that you live in a world full of fools who deny Who I am. There are those who have agendas that are designed to distract you from My task for you. They will cause you to look at circumstances and forget what I have promised. They will attempt to lure you to walk in arenas that have little or no eternal value. Give them no notice. Those places are not for you.

“I have called you to rise above the lies of the world and live in the power of My Word. I have provided others who hear the same call that you do. Walk with them. Be advocates for one another. Together you will walk through the fires of darkness, fulfilling the light of My Word in those who need to see clearly. Together you will be My true church. Now is not the time to pull back because things are changing around you. Now is the time to draw near to Me.  Now is the time to implement what you have been learning on My lap, in My presence. Listen only to what I say and have always said. Listen to My Word. Listen and act upon only what you know to be true. That is where I am.”

Exodus 17:12 AMP

But Moses’ hands were heavy and grew weary. So [the other men] took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side and one on the other side; so his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

 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.”

Acts 4:29-35 NIV

29) “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.

30) Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31) After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

32) All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.

33) With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.

34) There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales

35) and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

 

Reacting to circumstances is never what God intends for His people. Those who accomplish mighty things for Him have learned that difficulties will always be present. They see challenges as opportunities to drive them into an intimacy with their loving Father. From His lap, the view of things becomes very clear. They take on an eternal perspective where God is completely in charge. As we respond to circumstances from God’s perspective, there is an eternal impact, not one that is reactionary and possibly motivated by fear or anger or whatever else the enemy chooses to stir in us.

The world needs to see true followers of Christ. They need to see how He responds. They need to desire the more wonderful ways of His life. That can only be accomplished as each of us comes to know Him by spending time with Him. If He is our study and priority, His nature in us will then prevail over anything and everything that comes our way. His light will then shine brightly through us and be noticed by those who choose to see.

Never allow my heart to change just because the world is changing, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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11/06/24 Action or Reaction?

Are you a man of action, or do you find yourself reacting to challenges that could have been avoided if you had engaged sooner? Preemptive prayer is an action that helps to create a smooth path for families to travel.

As I look around, I see so many marriages that appear to be on the verge of failing, or at best, things have dimmed over the years. I see children who’ve been overcome by the world, unaware of the bondage they’re in.  I also see husbands and fathers who’ve either given up long ago or are hopelessly looking for ways to get their families out of the mess they’re in. All they can do is react to the next emergency their family faces. They live the life of a blind guide, putting out fire after fire, while attempting to maintain some semblance of a Christian family.

I also notice the families of a praying husband and father. Sure, they have challenges; but what’s not seen is all of the enemy’s plans that have been destroyed long before they could take effect. What’s not seen is the aggressive posture the man of God has taken on behalf of those he stewards. What’s not seen is the “hands off my family” notice that’s been given to the enemy. What’s not seen is the supernatural hedge built around the family of the mighty man of prayerful action on their behalf. That man is you!

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett  

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