Prayer | TFRC | The Faith Resource Community

8/26/22 Foolishness

In my teens, I had this car. It was relatively unremarkable, but I used it to show my bravado and came close to hurting myself due to my stupidity every time I got behind the wheel. I loved to look under the hood at its three carbs with chrome pots. Over the life of the car, I replaced two engines, three transmissions, and two rear ends. I burned through three sets of tires and the favor of several neighbors within a matter of a couple years. I can only look back on that period of my life and shake my head in wonder at the idiocy displayed in those days.

I guess that was the beginning of my pattern of foolishness before the Lord got hold of my heart and showed me its real value. Looking back, there are so many things I would’ve done differently if only I’d known better. Country singer Roy Clark recorded a song called “Yesterday When I Was Young.” In it, he laments over his foolish approach to life. Boy, I can identify with that song!

In the song, however, the singer unfortunately has no answers and no forgiveness. I’m so grateful that I do in Jesus. My Lord erased my past with its hopeless future and designed a new bright plan for my life. His love has built a hedge around me to protect me from my own foolishness. His power is available to me whenever I begin to travel blindly through the gears of my life. I praise Him for it! So does my family!

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

8/25/22 The Simplicity of God’s Plan

“Little is known about My plans for you after your time in your world is over. All anyone knows is what I have told them in My Word. I have planned it that way. I require that faith is put into practice, and simple trust is needed to follow My Word. That is so everyone has a chance to come to Me. Even children can qualify.

"The only ones that will never be with Me are those who think that they know better than the simplicity of My plan. In their false wisdom, they are too proud to submit to My spiritual ways. In their arrogance, they scheme a better, more logical way.

"You keep coming as a wide-eyed child. You humble yourself to My way and My plans. You come in faith; that pleases Me.”

Matthew 19:14 NIV

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

Hebrews 11:1 AMP

Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].

Hebrews 11:6 NIV

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

So often I find myself thinking and reasoning myself into a spiritual corner, or even worse, into some form of unbelief. I sometimes forget that spiritual things are learned from the Holy Spirit to our spirits. As we wait on our Lord to reveal the truth of the Word, we begin to know truth. It is then that we must accept it by faith.

Let me learn from You as a little, wide-eyed child, Lord,

Jim Corbett

8/25/22 Silent Movie

When I was in my teens (and dirt was a new thing,) a local radio personality devoted one entire afternoon of programming time to sharing a silent movie with his audience. Think of that, a silent movie on the radio. As foolish as the idea sounds and is, this guy gave a narrative of certain scenes in the movie between songs. What is even more peculiar is he captured my attention throughout the three-hour show. I couldn’t wait for his next input, which - by the way - was very funny.

As I reflect back, there probably was no real silent movie being played. In reality, the man just took license and came up with a plan that captured the attention of his listeners by using a unique approach. What I was hearing had no bearing on reality.

Now that I know the Lord and observe how we, as men, respond to each day’s challenges, I see a definite parallel to that man’s program. The enemy of our marriages and families is making up stories filled with lies and make-believe, and handing them to us, our wives, and our children. He then tells us there is a reality to what he is saying, when God calls all of his plans imaginations. To God, they are not funny!

God has a plan laid out very clearly for us in His Word. There is no make-believe. There are no silent movies that someone else has to interpret, because He has given us His Holy Spirit. His plan has nothing hidden. We can count on it to help us overcome all the silent movies of the enemy.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

8/24/22 One Family

“It seems that I need to remind you that as you are in covenant with Me, you are also in covenant with each other. You are members of one family with Jesus as the head. You are joined with each other by His shed blood. That connection is stronger than your original birth.

"Why then do you not understand your commitment to each other? How can you claim that what you have is your own when you know of your brother’s or sister’s need? How can you not care for them as strongly as you care for yourself? Jesus gave His life for you. How can you war with each other when He lives in each of you? You exchanged your old selfish life for a new spiritual one. Now you are to become an advocate for Jesus as He is for you. You are also committed to become advocates for each other. You are breaking your word to Me when you don’t.

"Love others as I have loved you. It is one of My ways to show the world of My love. Repent of your ways and love each other with My kind of love.”

Matt. 5:3 NIV

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Heb. 12:2 NIV

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him, *endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

*Definition of endure: To remain firm under anguish or misfortune, without yielding, with the hope of others being lifted up.

Jesus - who was intensely wealthy in the spiritual realm - was poor in spirit, and functioned as our Advocate, rating His own safety and comfort insignificant for our sake. He functioned with an advocate heart in two ways – toward His Father and toward us. We are to do the same.

Jesus had a passion to empty Himself and live a life devoted to others. He would never lift Himself up or hold Himself in higher esteem than anyone else – even the lowliest leper. Even though He was God, He held everyone in His heart as more important than Himself; especially those who laughed at, tortured, and crucified Him. He could not be wounded by their sin; He could only see their desperate need…

In the true spirit of advocacy, Jesus also desires to see His Father put “first” and is constantly looking to have Him glorified. His delight is in having Father God as the object of esteem in the hearts of those He loves. All of His mortal life, and now all of His kingly life, undergird and point to the Father. There is no “one-sidedness,” however, as all of the Godhead - in unity of spirit, being one - point to each other’s wealth.

As the Author and Finisher of our faith, Jesus, who functions as our advocate, delights to see us accepted and perfected. He would gladly go to the cross again and again, if He had to, so that we could prosper and be complete in His Father’s love; and so that His Father would continually have the pleasure of our company. (Praise God that everything was finished once and for all at Calvary!)

With Jesus as our example, and with the Father’s love flowing through us, we are to walk as advocates for our Lord, each other as believers, and then on behalf of those who have need. Our adoption into the family of God, our sonship, gives each of us the heritage and ability to do so through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Teach me to love others as You love me, Lord,

Jim Corbett

8/24/22 Commitment to Lordship

From the book, The Father Factor, by Jim and Merry Corbett

The Lordship of Jesus Christ over everything is the single corridor God has provided to remove your spiritual impotence. It is the spiritual equivalent to the mechanical “How does it work?” of the natural realm. It is the only “action-reaction” provided by God to overcome useless, unacceptable works of the flesh.

If you need to do so, introduce yourself to Jesus all over again. Open your heart up to the Lord in prayer. Rediscover His overwhelming love for you. Pursue first love with Him once again and recapture the wonder of His mighty works. Ask Him to show you which areas you have surrendered to the absolute Lordship of Jesus Christ and those you haven’t. Write them down. Don’t push this aside with the usual “I’ve already given everything over to Him,” as you may have done for many years, all the while being deceived and remaining spiritually impotent. Don’t be fooled into believing that everything is under His Lordship when it probably isn’t. Your spiritual life depends on it!

Take the time to list everything you can think of in your world, your marriage, your children, your ministry, your career, your relationships, etc., that is or is not under His Lordship. Come clean. Cover everything and include it in the following prayer when you can mean it from the bottom of your heart, because the Lord is waiting eagerly to answer your prayer and transform you through the power of His Word and His Spirit – the Holy Spirit. It’s a win-win situation!

Lord,

I place everything in my life (read your list) under Your complete Lordship. I am tired of trying to complete in the flesh what was begun in the Spirit. Teach me to understand Your ways and then give me the power to continually walk in them. Thank You, Lord!

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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