Tag: salvation

Are you fighting for your marriage? Are you standing in the gap for your children as they war with the world and its ways? You should be!

I am privileged to have a wonderful daughter who’s definitely aware of what’s going on around her. She has a heart for the lost and hurting, and notices the desires and mindsets of people, especially those her age. Often she comes to me deeply concerned for her generation. She’s seeing the result of the indoctrination some of them have received over the years, and how they are now exchanging the truth for a lie. Many are lost and terribly confused regarding direction for their lives.

I’m also honored to have been given a calling to work with men and their marriage relationships. It amazes me how much warfare you and I, as husbands and fathers, encounter as we daily endeavor to simply keep our families together, let alone work with them so they can come to enthusiastically serve the Lord.

Make no mistake; we are at war. It may not be visible at times; but be assured that the enemy is waiting at every turn, attempting to control each decision we make and marshaling his forces to win in every challenge we face. He is out to destroy our marriages and make our children numb to the things of God. Fight from your knees!

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

In today’s world, there are many opportunities to see the deception many people function in. People fight for things that are firmly against God’s Word with rabid zeal, unable to see the impact their ideas have - especially in eternity. As a husband and father, you must know God and His Word, or you will be deceived and become a blind guide for your family.

The most fascinating - and at the same time most horrendous - thing about deception is its insidiousness.  I apologize for sending a two dollar word your way, but it makes the point so well.  The word "insidious" has several definitions - awaiting a chance to entrap; harmful but enticing; having a gradual and cumulative effect; and developing so gradually as to be well established before becoming apparent.

Satan is no fool.  Without God on our side, we are no match for him.  Deception is a major weapon in his hands and all you need to do is look around you to see how well it's working -  and that's in regard to what you can see.  Don't be fooled; you are not invulnerable.  I believe one of the enemy's tactics is to throw a blatant deception your way, which you catch; and then sneak an imperceptible (extremely slight, gradual or subtle) one through the back door.

It is only the grace of God and His keeping power that saves us from deception.  Yes, we must know our God and His Word intimately, but we must also have childlike faith that He will reveal the deception to us - sometimes before and sometimes after the fact, depending on what He wants to teach us.  It's our only hope.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

A while ago, my family and I had the opportunity of having the Lord seemingly remove just about everything from us for about two-and-a-half years - friendships, finances, ministry. Sometimes it felt as if  even His presence had left us.  What were we going to do with that?  We'd be the first to say that we spent a lot of the time simply surviving.  If I could go back, that would be something I would like to have changed.

What impression did we make on those around us?  It's hard to say because hardly anyone seemed to really want to talk about it.  It probably didn't make any sense to most, and those that decided they "knew" what God was doing with us walked away.  I don't think the world found our circumstances so strange, but the church did. (Isn't that interesting?)

Being relieved of most everything you're used to gives you the opportunity to ask yourself some valid questions.  What is my picture of God, and is it accurate?  What is suffering and how does God use it with those who are His?  The point I'm coming to is that we, as a body of believers, need to have an accurate picture of God and an accurate view on His working in our lives, especially if we're going to share them with others.  Being "blessed" continually is not an indicator that all is well, just as suffering is not necessarily an indicator that you're out of God's will.

The life of the believer here on earth is a totally submissive crucified life.  God knows what it will take to accomplish that in each of us.  Do we blow it along the way?   Yes.  God has taken that into account in His dealings with us.  Keep going.  God is in the business of putting an accurate picture of Himself in your life, not only for your sake, but for the sake of others.  And isn't that an answer to your prayers?

"Lord, please don't take me out of the refiner's fire until Your goals are accomplished."  That's hard to pray, but so rewarding!

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

As a daddy, you have the privilege of loving your children right into the kingdom of heaven! You have the opportunity to forgive them for any time they’ve offended you, and be there for them when they fail and fall. You have the honor of sticking up for them when others decide to separate from them for whatever reason, and the joy of being their guide, counselor, father, and friend.

In today’s society, there are few opportunities to have really close lifetime friends. Other than Jesus, who promises to stick closer to us than a brother? Most of today’s youth rarely find that kind of companionship. You can be that person they can count on to love them no matter what, even if they don’t want it or ask for it.

No one can stop you from loving them. No one can stop you from praying for them. No one can hinder you from holding them in your spirit before the Lord until they can walk in the way God has planned for them to walk.  You, as a father, have the privilege of watching them grow and blessing them at every turn.

So let’s get on with it! Put aside anything that may separate you from your children. Stop being a watchdog and become a devoted father/advocate. Love them even if you can’t tell them. Hold them before the Lord even if you can’t hold them in person because of the past. Become the father God intends you to be. God loves them; so should you!  What happens next is up to Him.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

Fathers, if you continually find yourself putting more restrictions on your children and applying stronger consequences to help them comply with what you feel is best, you’re doing something wrong. You can build higher and higher fences all you want as they continue to grow, but one day they’ll find a way over the fence into total rebellion.

Somehow, your children have been taught compliance under your stewardship. They get in line to avoid the consequences you set in place, but their hearts are wandering or maybe empty. Perhaps it’s time for you to get on your face before God and repent of your ways. Are you also walking in compliance before God, doing things to avoid consequences, rather than doing them because you love Him and want to please Him with your obedience? Is this somehow being communicated to your children and they’re just following your lead?

Fear not. As you spend time with God and your love for Him grows deeper, you will learn to walk in Christ-like obedience. Then you will be able to love and nurture your children into walking in genuine obedience through the love of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God will accomplish in them what the laws you’ve established can never do.

If it seems too late and your children are walking in full-fledged rebellion against you and God, your only recourse is to pray and intercede until they find freedom in Christ. They’re in rebellion in part because your priorities and/or methods have been out of order. Do you care enough to do what is necessary to help them? They need you!

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett