Tag: Prayer

“Guard your heart from any distraction that takes you to a place other than what I have planned for you. In these end times, there will be many sirens wooing you to follow them. They will attempt to draw your heart to good things and wonderful-sounding missions that have little to do with My design for your life. Do not follow them for their end is less than My plan for you. Anything that allows you to remain where you are at present is not My plan. Anything that does not bring you to more time with Me - more intimate, deeper moments and the quiet direction of My heart - is a plan to steal your crowns.

"I am calling My people to intimacy. I am calling My true believers to move in directions that are foreign to the carnal believer. I am soon going to ask you to break out of the typical spiritual box in which you are required to remain to be accepted by those who have shut out My voice. You will not be able to move with Me if your priority is not to be with Me. You will only be able to hear what your flesh feels if Our time together does not break your fears and carnal thoughts. When I direct the steps of My intimate friends, logic and comfort are not My priority; safety is not My goal. I will place My warriors in situations to accomplish My will.

"To the one who has not spent enough time with Me to understand My heart, these movements and actions will appear foolish at times. Make sure that you ponder the things I call you to ponder. Make sure that you hear your directions from My mouth, not from the mouths of the many voices sent to distract you. Come to Me so that you are sure of your commands, then move with confidence that My presence is with you. I am waiting.”

Matt. 4:4 NIV

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

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.

Gal. 5:16-17 AMP 

16) But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).

17) For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do.

II Tim. 4:3-4 AMP 

3) For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold,

4) And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.

 

A bloody death on a cross made no sense to the highly-respected religious leaders of that time. Speaking in dialects foreign to their upbringing was foolishness to those who did not understand. Giving away all that they possessed, so that others would not have need, was scorned by many with greedy hearts. Acting in a way that meant a sure prison sentence was frowned upon by the logical mind of the leaders of Christian communities of that time. Continually writing letters of teaching, encouragement, correction, and rebuke - especially from a prison cell - seemed of little value when there were so many wonderful, well-established teachers right in the midst of your readers.

Only those who are unashamedly in love with Jesus see merit in some of the directives that God gives to those He can trust. Only those who have little fondness to be accepted by others will have the strength to move with God on missions that He alone understands. All others will flounder in the mire of tradition, logic, and status quo when radical love of the Father is required, and unquestioned obedience is necessary.

Father God is training those who have ears to hear. He is communicating His plans to those who desire to spend time on His lap and move from there, only to hasten to return after being obedient to a command. It is the opposite of a works-oriented religion. It is the antithesis of the power-seeking, safety-conscious church mentality.

In a world where the line between right and wrong moves with the whims of those in power, where the difference between knowing truth and following a good-sounding lie is becoming almost impossible to discern, and where the normal footings of logic and reason are discarded, the Lord provides the only wisdom that can be trusted. His “foolish” directives smack in the face of modern “reason” the same as they have throughout the centuries.

Only those craving to know their true purpose in life – those who call upon the Lord and Him alone for wisdom and wait in His presence until they hear His desires - will move above the clatter of the world. They may look out-of-step with everyone else, even the “wise” in the church; but they will be in perfect cadence with the One who is worth following.

Wanting only You to direct my steps, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“I call you as My vessel of service. Once you respond, I anoint your hands to do My work. I bring My presence. I bring all that I am to what you do, so that your efforts last for eternity. You need to stop worrying if what I call you to do is important. If I call, if I anoint, if I bring My presence, it is important!”

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...”

Eph. 2:10 AMP 

For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

Heb. 13:20-21 AMP

20) Now may the God of peace [Who is the Author and the Giver of peace], Who brought again from among the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood [that sealed, ratified] the everlasting agreement (covenant, testament),

21) Strengthen (complete, perfect) and make you what you ought to be and equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will; [while He Himself] works in you and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ (the Messiah); to Whom be the glory forever and ever (to the ages of the ages). Amen (so be it).

 

So many times, we are expecting the lightning flashes and thunder bolts to occur when we do something for God. A long time ago someone shared something that has stayed with me in the many years we have been in ministry. He said that “ministry is a whole bunch of ordinary days.” How true that has become over the years. However, because our Lord is so gracious and loves us so much, He often shows up to encourage us in some way when the very ordinary days become long and tiresome, when we feel as if nothing is happening and we are useless.

One lesson that might be very important for all of us to learn is the fact that it is not our job to see results. Our job is to simply be obedient. If God calls us to something, He will see that the results add to His plan. He will accomplish His will through us. All we really need to do is respond to His call.

Teach me to hear You and then move with You, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Have you ever studied a piece of equipment that was designed to perform a specific task? You will notice several different characteristics about that piece, the most significant one being that there are very limited uses outside of its intended purpose. That is the way I formed you when you gave your life to Jesus. You really fit nowhere other than where I call you to be. You really excel at little, other than the task that I give you to do. You can take great comfort in that. The world and most of the church will attempt to conform you to their mold. Most of the time, it’s to hinder or nullify your effectiveness. You need to seek wise counsel, but never allow anyone other than Me to direct your steps.

"I have formed you in the womb. You have a specific task that I have designed for you to accomplish. No one else can do your calling better than you. If you have not understood what your calling is, seek Me with all of your heart. You must make this search your priority. It will be the foundation for all that you do. If you have received your task and realize that you have little ability to accomplish it in your own strength, that is My design. You will need Me for every step that you take.

"My heart will prevail because of your need of Me. In the coming times, it will be very important that you are where I intend you to be. It will be the only safe place for you. If you have not sought My heart for your direction, if you haven’t understood who you are in Me, you will never know for sure where that place might be. More importantly, you will not have fulfilled My desire for your life. That would be tragic.”

John 4:34 NIV  

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

Eph. 3:7-9 NIV

7) I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.

8) Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

9) and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

 

For twenty years, I had sought to find real direction for my life. I had been in fulltime ministry most of that time, which included traveling, preaching, running a radio station, holding Bible studies, running singles groups, and writing books. My mission statement had been, “To proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ through any and all means available.” Somehow, though, there was a need in me to know my specific calling, not just me doing good stuff to please the Lord.

When the Lord showed me that I was doing exactly what was intended for me from the beginning of time, I felt like I was home. It was one of those moments that is difficult to explain, touching me in a manner that only the Lord can do.

I found a résumé of my life – something many never seek Him for long enough to be sure of their calling. He showed me that my mission statement was right on.

I now find that I fit nowhere else. I can do nothing other than this. It is what I eat, sleep, drink, and talk about all the time. When I am not writing or speaking about Jesus, I am out of my calling. Many people and situations have attempted to make me do something else. Sometimes during dark times, I fleetingly think of finding a typical job to ease the pressures of our faith outreach; but I know that I can’t change my calling - no matter how difficult it gets - any more than I can fly. I have been designed by the Lord to do nothing else. So, here I am - a custom-made, uniquely formed, totally dependent, fluffy, punch-drunk lover of Jesus - happy only when I am proclaiming His virtues and His Father’s heart.

The shoe may look silly sometimes, but it’s mine and it fits,

Jim Corbett