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9/22/20 Survival Skills

In any combat situation, there are certain skills needed if one is to survive, especially one who is called to lead others. It is very important to hone the skills necessary to win the war that’s raging against marriage and family. They may not be the typical weapons of warfare, but they are mighty In Christ.

Usually when a man enters a physical battle, he relies on his strength, his cunning, his knowledge of combat tactics, and his choice of weapon to overcome the enemy. However, the battle that comes against those a husband and father cares for is generally spiritual in nature, and only spiritual equipping will win it.

As men of God, every one of our battles is really the Lord’s to fight. The weapons we need are different than the ones we’d use if we were going to wage the war ourselves. Our strength comes from an intimate relationship with God. Our wisdom to face any challenge is given to us by the Holy Spirit. Our strategies are found in the Word. Real power is given to us as we surrender to the power of the Lord and learn to feast at His table while He wins the battle for us.

Husbands and fathers, there is no question that each and every day an attempt will be made to destroy our marriage relationship or our heritage through our children. It may not be visible moment by moment, but be assured that the enemy never sleeps. He’s always looking for weakness on any front, so that he can make inroads for his purposes. It’s time to become equipped with the ability to determine and understand the wars you will encounter as they arise. Who is going to win them for you, and what is your part in the battle? In Christ, there is no battle too large or too small. If God is for you, who can be against you? You’re on the winning team. With His help, can He count on you?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

9/21/20 Praying for Others

“When I bring people into your life, it is for many reasons. One of the main reasons is so that you know how to pray for them. As you become more familiar with their lives, you will know what their spiritual needs are. If they can’t come to Me, you come on their behalf. If they can’t see truth, you pray that their eyes will be opened. If they have little strength to battle the enemies all around them, you do the warfare. If you are really following Me, then you will always give your best and always for the good of others. I gave Myself. Jesus gave Himself. Now you give yourself for others in need. It is the way of the cross.”

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.

Esther 4:13-14 AMP

13) Then Mordecai told them to return this answer to Esther. Do not flatter yourself that you shall escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews.

14) For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from elsewhere, but you and your father’s house shall perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion?

Gal. 4:19 NIV

My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you…

Hebrews 12:12-13 NLB

12) So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs.

13) Mark out a straight path for your feet. Then those who follow you, though they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but will become strong.

It is so easy to judge someone and then turn away. So often we feel that if we are told to separate ourselves from someone who cannot hear or will not see, then that is the end of it. Most of the time, we miss God and His intent for the limited association. We are told to pray for our enemies. How much more should we pray for our brothers and sisters who have been blinded or are weak in the faith?

If you are trustworthy, the Lord will bring the wounded, the broken, the liars, the control freaks, and the hypocrites of the faith across your path. He will send you His needy, the ones everyone else would throw away as soon as they are exposed. You may be told not to walk closely with them, but you must pray for them. You may be the last in a line of warriors sent on their behalf before He turns them over to their sin. Your diligence is needed. Your faithfulness is required if you say that you abide in Christ.

Let me see with Your eyes, Lord,

Jim Corbett

9/21/20 The Underbelly

One of the most vulnerable spots of any animal is the underbelly or underside of its body. In most cases, it consists of soft tissue with little armor for protection. Knowing that, most any foe can do life-threatening damage once the underbelly is exposed.

In the intimacy of a marriage, all faults, traits, fears, and vulnerabilities are exposed to husband and wife. In a very real sense, the underbelly or weakest areas of who they are become known to each other. Unwise stewardship of that knowledge can be deadly in the truest sense of the word.

As a husband, you have the privilege of knowing who your wife really is behind all the masks and protections put in place over the years. You get to see all her fears and weaknesses. On the other hand, she gets to see who you really are. If either of you makes that knowledge available to anyone else, even a best friend, you have violated the trust of your mate and closed down a very important part of your stewardship of each other.

If this trust is violated, walls of protection go up and true intimacy becomes impossible from that point forward. The offended mate hides his or her vulnerabilities for protection, and the offender loses the privilege of holding his or her mate before God in prayer for healing. Wise husbands and wives never allow anyone to see the underbelly of their mate. They seal their marriage; and unless it is mutually decided to seek outside help in certain instances, they seal their lips from any outside influence, so that the Lord alone is their healer as they present those needs to Him.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

9/19/20 Consider Your Ways

“Now is not the time to make eternal mistakes. Make sure that what you believe and who you are listening to align perfectly with My Word. If you have become complacent in your relationship with Me, do what it takes to draw close now. If you are not in My Word to have solid foundation for what you believe, drop everything and go there. If you have friends who say they know the Lord but are not serious about honoring Jesus, or care little about the sin in their lives, walk away from them. They are stumbling blocks and will hinder you from drawing close yourself.

"Whatever is consuming your time, whatever is hindering you from drawing close, whatever is stopping you from making Me your priority, remove it or nullify its influence on you. Time is too short to play spiritual games.”

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 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.

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.

Acts 15:36-40 AMP

36) And after some time Paul said to Barnabas, Come, let us go back and again visit and help and minister to the brethren in every town where we made known the message of the Lord, and see how they are getting along.

37) Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark [his near relative].

38) But Paul did not think it best to have along with them the one who had quit and deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work.

39) And there followed a sharp disagreement between them, so that they separated from each other, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.

40) But Paul selected Silas and set out, being commended by the brethren to the grace (the favor and mercy) of the Lord.

Walking with the Lord is serious stuff. In fact, our relationship with Jesus is the most important relationship we will ever have. Why, then, is it placed behind most everything that seems more urgent or fun?

I am noticing that the Lord has noticed our reversed priorities. This is a topic He addresses quite regularly. He is serious; I think that we had better get serious.

Change my heart, Lord,

Jim Corbett

9/19/20 In His Hands

Although Father God has given us a stewardship of our wife and children, He asks us to turn them over to Him for their safe keeping. He is ultimately responsible for their best interests. We are responsible to give them and their needs to Him.

Foolish stewards look to their own strength and wisdom to protect and guide their charges. They personally take on their responsibility, instead of placing everything in God’s hands. Wise stewards, knowing that they are, in themselves, incapable of taking care of the needs of their marriage and family, give everything over to God.

Think for a moment of that exchange. Attempting to navigate the perils of this life with our weak, limited capabilities, or giving those perils over to an almighty God, capable of providing everything we need. Which is true wisdom? It’s really a no brainer. Why then do we attempt the first option almost every day of our lives?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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