6/30/15

“Are you feeling the pressure of change taking place in your life? Do you fluctuate between being bold in your actions(flowing in your anointing) and fear(holding back, almost immobilized?) It is because I am calling you to move beyond your comfort zone. I am requiring more of you, adapting you to your changing world. I have told you that much is happening in the spiritual realm and your world is responding accordingly. Situations and seasons are accelerating. My promises are unfolding quickly. You must change with them or all will be out of order.

You see, you are very important to My work being done. You carry My Spirit. I give you an anointing, and I fill you with My presence to touch your world. Do not take lightly My encouragement to do what is necessary to become all that you can be in Me. Exchange your life for Mine now. Draw close. I love you and I desire for you to come into the fullness of your anointing. Much is to be done. I plan to use you.”

Eph. 6:12-13 NIV

¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

¹³Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Rev. 22:17 AMP

The [Holy] Spirit and the bride (the church, the true Christians) say, Come! And let him who is listening say, Come! And let everyone come who is thirsty [who is painfully conscious of his need of those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported and strengthened]: and whoever [earnestly] desires to do it, let him come, take, appropriate, and drink of the water of Life without cost.

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I reflect back on the concerns and worries that I encountered even ten years ago. They seem like grade school felt when I was in college. The world is not the same. In fact, people who are really pressing in with the Lord have been saying that something has happened in the spiritual realm. There is a darker presence all around us.

If that is the reality, then it would seem that the tools we were using before the darkness increased would be inadequate for these present days. Please understand, I am not saying that God’s tools are inadequate at all. I am saying that ten minutes of prayer each day, unfocused praise and worship, disregarded hidden sin, cold unfruitful lives, and all else that allowed us to remain complacent will not suffice in this rapidly changing world.

The Lord is now requiring us to step up to the task and really become who we have been saying all along that we are. No more semi-spiritual church games, if we want to fulfill our purpose in life.

I reflect back to the 9/11 plane that was taken down to the ground by the passengers. From what I understand, some of the pivotal players on that plane were Christians. In a heartbeat moment, their lives were required of them. Whatever they had to call upon to overtake the hijackers was either what they had on tap from their relationship with the Lord prior to that instant or it was given to them during the trial.

I’m convinced that the time we’re in now is the beginning of one of the finest hours for members of the church who will see and hear and respond to what the Lord is saying. I believe that those who press in and respond to the Lord will play a vital part in the strategic plans that He is unfolding at this very moment.

Wanting to hear clearly and respond properly,

Jim Corbett

6/29/15

“If you are Mine in Jesus, the person you were before He became your Lord no longer exists as far as I am concerned. That person is as non-existent as your previous sins. Why do you carry the dead carcass with its past history with you? Your new life is a new beginning. You can discard your old spirit and live in the Spirit of Jesus. Leave its wounds, fears, sins, and failures behind. Take on your new life in Christ. Allow Him to live in and through you. That old person is dead. It is no longer you. Stop living as if the work of Jesus is not complete.”

2 Cor. 5:17 AMP

Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ, (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!

Ephesians 3:16-17 AMP

¹⁶May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].

¹⁷May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love…

Phil. 4:13 AMP

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].

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Our sufficiency is not in ourselves if we are abiding in Christ. Any power we have to overcome is the power that is ours through the work of the cross and the new birth. When we became born again, our old inner man died, and the new person we are in Christ became alive and lives this day in each of us.

So many of us choose to carry around the old dead carcass and its memories alongside our new life. We try to remain in and retain that old familiar being, rather than taking on the being of Jesus that dwells in us. He never sinned, so our past sins no longer exist; and that is just the beginning. In Him, we are free. We have the privilege of starting new, not carrying all of our old tapes, fears, wounds, and useless actions with us, unless we choose to do so. How foolish we are if that is where we choose to live, instead of living in and through Christ where we belong!

Teach me Your truth, Lord,

Jim Corbett

6/27/15

“Do you see the mounting tide of anger in your world? Do you see nation against nation becoming predominant? Do you see that soon, very soon, everyone will be calling for a redeemer to solve daily issues? You know better. You have the answer. He is Jesus. Tell as many as you can before it’s too late.”

Isaiah 8:11-14 AMP

¹¹For the Lord spoke thus to me with His strong hand [upon me], and warned and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying,

¹²Do not call conspiracy [or hard, or holy] all that this people will call conspiracy [or hard, or holy]; neither be in fear of what they fear, nor [make others afraid and] in dread.

¹³The Lord of hosts – regard Him as holy and honor His holy name [by regarding Him as your only hope of safety], and let Him be your fear and let Him be your dread [lest you offend Him by your fear of man and distrust of Him].

¹⁴And He shall be a sanctuary [a sacred and indestructible asylum to those who reverently fear and trust in Him]; but He shall be a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

2 Cor. 5:20-21 NIV

²⁰We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

²¹God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

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For a long time, we have been hearing that we are living in the end times. Most people scoff at the notion that we really are living in the times foretold by the Bible. Most Christians act as if everything is going to stay the same as it always was, when we above all should know better.

God is calling this generation of believers to observe the times and seasons and make a quality decision to become all that we can be, so that as many can come to Christ as will listen. That is going to take some pretty radical changes in our thinking about what is important and what is not. It is also going to take some nerve to act on what we know to be true. How are you doing with that? What are you doing about it?

Show me truth and help me to act on it, Lord,

Jim Corbett

6/26/15

“Is there anyone you need to repent to or ask their forgiveness? It is important that your relationships are in order, if you are looking to have intimacy with Me. How can you come to Me if you disobey My command to forgive those who have offended you, or choose not to make things right with those you have offended? How do you expect Our relationship to be complete with sin between Us? Put things in order between you and everyone you can, as soon as you can. Then come to Me. I will share My life with you. I will wait!”

Acts 24:15-16 NIV

¹⁵…and I have the same hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.

¹⁶So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

Matthew 5:23-24 NIV

²³“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,

²⁴leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”

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Most of us in the church hope that the Lord doesn’t really mean what He says in these verses. Surely He is not that concerned about our relationships with others if we say we are following Jesus. Is He? He is?

Get my heart right, Lord,

Jim Corbett

6/25/15

“Have you noticed that people in the world are becoming more vicious toward one another? That is no accident. The veil of restraint is being lifted more swiftly during these end times to begin to reveal clearly the true hearts of those who are in rebellion against Me. I am turning them over to their depraved nature. Notice how they are beginning to truly enjoy hating one another. Even their games involve killing and destruction. Murder has become sport. The property and life of others has no meaning. They are progressively moving past even normal civil restraints and on to blatant disregard for all authority, vacant of love. It is society breaking down and moving toward its eventual destruction.

You, My people, however, must put into effect what I have been teaching you. You must love one another deeply. You must pass normal caring and proceed to be advocates one for another. I am now asking you to throw off all the restraints of selfishness and independence toward your brothers and sisters in My covenant family. I am now requiring you to actually seek to provide for the needs of others. Set aside your own interests and pursue the best interests of others before your own just as Jesus did. That kind of love is what will bring those who have ears to hear to Him during the coming times. It will be what sets you apart from the world.

As you move closer to Jesus and begin to act toward others as He would, while the world moves farther from His kind of love, your light will become increasingly brighter. The difference between the ways of the world and My ways will become very evident. You will proclaim My love of them by your love toward them and toward one another.”

Romans 15:1-7 NIV

¹We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

²Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

³For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”

⁴For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

⁵May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,

⁶so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁷Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

Titus 3:3 AMP

For we also were once thoughtless and senseless, obstinate and disobedient, deluded and misled; [we too were once] slaves to all sorts of cravings and pleasures, wasting our days in malice and jealousy and envy, hateful (hated, detestable) and hating one another.

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The dictionary translation of “advocate” is: “one who defends or maintains a cause for another.” The place where we see advocacy as it applies to our mission is to be “advocates one for another, maintaining a cause for another and then to the world.” The Bible dictionary defines “Advocate” as counselor, comforter, supporter, backer, and helper.

When the true body of Christ begins to function in their everyday lives as they are intended to function, there will be little need for preaching to the world. Our lives and our actions will be the testimony of Jesus to them. They will see who He is by who we are. How will that ever happen if we don’t start by loving one another?

It has been interesting to observe the ability for the world to appear to be able to love one another better than the body of Christ does. 9-11 was a very visible example of that.

After September 11, 2001, many people gave far past the needs of their own lives and lived for the needs of others. Christ’s love was indistinguishable from the world’s love. In fact, the world often seemed to love more sacrificially. There were isolated examples of the Christian church stepping into its intended role; but for the most part, we failed miserably to show the nature of Jesus by our continuing sacrifice.

As things grow darker and hatred spreads deeper into all elements of society, our actions will be the only message that penetrates hardened hearts. Empty words will not suffice. Only as we love deeper than they ever could, will they see Jesus. That is the way it was in decadent Rome. The dying Christians - in the arena, on the roadside crosses, and in caves - gave testimony of Jesus by how they sacrificed themselves for Jesus. They loved those who killed them just as He did.

We who call ourselves Christians have difficulty loving each other. God requires us to love the world even unto death - a far cry from our abilities at present. As we take small steps toward each other, He will build in us the heart to love even those who hate us - something the world has no ability to do. That is where we are called to go so that we point to Jesus. Right now we point only to ourselves. The cartoon character, Pogo, once said something like this: “We have seen the enemy and he is us.”

Help us, Lord!

Jim Corbett

6/24/15

“There will come a day when you cease to offend Me with your sin. The things that have for so long beset you will no longer belong to you. I will have changed you. I will have placed the desires of Jesus in you. You will want only My will for your life. You will be free from the spoils of the world. It is a completed work for those who continue to submit to Me. It is a promise from My Word. Keep turning from your sin by the power of My Holy Spirit. Keep coming to Me when you need My mercy. Keep opening your heart to My grace in your time of need. I will be there for you. My kindness will eventually cause you to desire to no longer offend Me.”

Psalm 103:10-12 NIV

¹⁰…he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

¹¹For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;

¹²as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Ezekiel 36:26-27 NIV

²⁶I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.

²⁷And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

Romans 2:4 NIV

Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?

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The above verse in Romans always brought me to express my wonder of the ways of God. You would think that the power or the majesty or the fear of or the knowledge of God would be the reasons we eventually come to the point of no longer offending God with our sin. But kindness!

One day I went to God for the umpteenth time with my sin and finally understood the concept of His kindness bringing about a change in me when I reflected on the fact that because of what Jesus had done for me at the cross, I could go to Him as many more times as I needed. Over and over I offended Him. Over and over He forgave me. What incredible kindness! What astounding mercy! I am convinced that one day His Word will perform a forever healing in me, bringing me to forever repentance.

Thank You for Your kindness, Lord,

Jim Corbett

6/23/15

“As you, My children, find your way to the bridal heart of Jesus, His life will be revealed in you in greater measure. You are to hold others closer, love deeper, and care more. Your service to those in need is to ring with praise unto Me. The need for things of this world will decrease, and your desire for heavenly wealth will increase as you mature in Him. Your only purpose should be His purposes. Your true wealth should be that which He holds dear. Some people around you should be starting to adore Him, because they see His marvelous life in you. Others will be exposed for who they really are. Your life should mirror His more and more each day. How are you doing?”

Eph 4:12-13 AMP

¹²His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church),

¹³[That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.

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Life often gets in the way of what is real and purposeful by God’s standards. Everyday needs and activities muddy our perspective of how we are to live, if we say that we follow Jesus. Our pride goads us to remain alive and important in our own eyes. When Jesus is our only goal, the cross is our only direction and the Father’s will is our only purpose, those around us, whose hearts are open, should be forgetting who we used to be and craving more of who we are becoming.

Focus my life, Lord,

Jim Corbett

6/22/15

“The longer you stay with Me, the more you will realize that My ways are not your ways. You will understand that success, as I see it, is not the way that the world and most of the church sees it. Those of you who are called to a deeper walk, one of intimacy, will not be understood at all by those around you. Your lives will often appear foolish and full of what look like bad decisions, as I lead you from challenge to challenge to refine you. People who have not heard what you have heard for your life will not understand, and will continually attempt to bring you to their idea of the way you should live. In their ignorance, you will be chastised, ridiculed, judged, and cast out.

Sometimes you will be alone with only My promises. I plan it that way. I am birthing My Spirit in you. You are being taught obedience. You are being taught how to love when no one loves back. You are being taught how to give everything away, so that you have room for only My life in you. While others are busy attempting to appear spiritual by doing many good works, you wait in My presence for orders to do only those works that hold My presence. Walk only where I tell you to walk. Move when I tell you to move. Never fall for the lie that you are alone. I have many who are being taught of My ways. I have many who have heard the same call to holiness.

While I am doing My work in you, serve others. Love deeper. Empty yourself of all malice and judgment. You must never take a posture of anger or hostility. Never defend yourself or your actions, when you have sought My Word and wise counsel. Never come against anyone who judges you. Bring an aroma of the gentle Spirit of Jesus with you wherever you go. Live a soft life. I will be your defender. I will be your friend. I will be your reward. My way is eternal. My way is the way to true riches.”

1 Cor. 4:9-13 NIV

⁹For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of the procession, like men condemned to die in the arena. We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men.

¹⁰We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!

¹¹To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.

¹²We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it;

¹³when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

2 Cor. 2:14-16a NIV

¹⁴But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.

¹⁵For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

^16aTo the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.

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Many years ago, when I was in the Air National Guard, a division of the Air Force, I had the opportunity to fly to Germany on a training mission with others from Wisconsin. We went over on one of our refueling planes, so it was necessary to have parachutes handy, “just in case.”

One member of our group was a person who loved being right, always boasting about who he was, how much he had accomplished; and why he was better than any of us. Listening to no one, he always had all the answers. Biblically, he would be called a “fool.”

To make a long story short, because he thought he knew everything, he did not pay attention while the instructions about the parachute were being given. In fact, as soon as we were in the air, he pulled the wrong handle, and the contents of the bag fell in a glistening white pile on the floor of the plane. Instantly, this man - knowing now that if anything should happen to the plane, he would be in deep trouble - changed from being an arrogant, prideful, “having all the answers” person into a fearful, humbled man, who now went from person to person to see if he could attach his harness to theirs should we run into trouble.

I believe that many people, who call themselves Christians, have not been listening to instructions. Relying on their own strength, power, and wisdom, they have not understood the importance of devoting themselves to those things that the Lord deems important.

Things such as total surrender, absolute obedience, and humble faith in the Lord’s provision seem foolish to them while their ways succeed, because they haven’t been tested in the fire of affliction. In difficult times, these ways - the ways of the world that have been brought into the church - will not work. Just as the empty parachute case emptied the bravado of the man in the plane, overwhelming pressures will cause those, who are untrained in the wonder of desperately needing God every day of their lives for everything, to run to those who have only listened to the instructions of the Lord as their life source.

Needing to need only Jesus,

Jim Corbett

6/20/15

“Long ago I called you by your name to spend eternity with Me. I know who you have been. I know who you are and are not at this very moment. I know who you will become as you surrender more and more to Jesus and His work in you. You are part of My eternal plan. You are part of My heart. I will never leave you! I love you! You are Mine and I cherish you!”

Psalm 111:2 NIV

Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them.

Isaiah 30:21 NIV

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying “This is the way; walk in it.”

Isaiah 43:21 NIV

“the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.”

Matthew 10:29-31 NIV

²⁹“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.

³⁰And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

³¹So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Hebrews 13:5b AMP

…for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]

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Help me to understand the depth of Your love for me, so that I might walk in freedom. Help me to understand the depth of Your love for others, so that I might love them as You love them. Help me to love You completely, so that I might bring glory to Your Name.

I choose to love You with all my heart, Lord,

Jim Corbett

6/19/15

“Be careful! The enemy is a master of entrapment. He is giving commands to ensnare you, in order to destroy your witness for Me. You must walk in the Spirit that I have given you. Give no place for your flesh in your dealings with the world, or you could find yourself destroying the testimony that I have given you. A spirit of intolerance has been loosed on your land. That spirit, combined with hatred and anger, hold dangerous potential situations and volatile confrontations for you, if you succumb to their siren song rather than walking in the peace of My Spirit. You will find yourself in way over your head before you know it. Your time will no longer be your own.

When you are confronted, turn away. When Your reputation is challenged, allow Me to be your defense. When your rights are violated, be careful to consult Me and very wise counsel before you respond, or you may find yourself falling into the trap set for you. Love when you are hated. Forgive those who don’t know what they are doing. Pray for those who are serving other masters. Be wise in all of your actions.”

Matthew 5:7 NIV

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

Luke 23:34 NIV

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Gal. 5:24-25 AMP

²⁴And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires.

²⁵If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]

Eph. 6:13 AMP

Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].

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Some time ago, the Lord made me very aware of the darkness that is beginning to cover this land. Part of it is an intolerant, warring spirit. This spirit is ready to fight at the slightest provocation. I’m not talking about a protection against evil mentality, such as a parent would exhibit guarding his child. Satan has loosed his spirit into those who have chosen not to serve the Lord. It is a spirit of murder and will manifest itself to the degree that the host allows.

We live in a dangerous world that is changing for the worse by the moment. Although this is foretold, we believers need to understand the Lord’s antidote for its hazards. Every protective mechanism available to us is found in the character of Christ.

The command to walk and conduct ourselves as He walked and conducted Himself is perceived as only a suggestion when there is peace and safety all around. When potential harm lurks within most encounters and everyday situations, responding to them as Jesus would becomes our only place of safety.

Study the Word, specifically those passages that reveal the Lord’s responses while He was with us. Study the Sermon on the Mount. Study Paul’s directions on how to act when confronted. The time for reckless actions and arrogant demands because we are “in the right” is soon coming to an end. I am convinced that the Lord is going to teach us through hardship what we would not learn voluntarily about living as Jesus lived in our world. Guard your heart from anger at any cost. Choose your words, actions, and responses prayerfully.

Teach me to respond as You do, Lord,

Jim Corbett

6/18/15

“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

¹³Then 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.

¹⁴For 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

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

¹³Mark 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.

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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

6/17/15

“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

⁷Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways (your previous and present conduct) and how you have fared.

⁸Go 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].

⁹You 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].

¹⁰Therefore 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

³⁶And 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.

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

³⁸But 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.

³⁹And 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.

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

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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

6/16/15

“Who is calling My people to holiness? Who is heralding the need to drop all pretenses of religion and bring the bench mark of Jesus back as truth? There is a plumb line from which I have never moved, even though some with loud voices may say that I have. When compromise is used to bring people to Me and teach Who I am not, a weak form of religion replaces a quest for holiness and a heart craving only My presence.

Some of you need to reassess what My Word says about who you are supposed to be when you call yourself a follower of Jesus. Truth is truth, no matter how many times an attempt is made to dilute it. Find My truths again. Step out from the mire of those who have watered down My Word. Shake off the mediocrity that has invaded your life. Become passionate for Me once again.”

Isaiah 43:21 NIV

“…the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.”

Isaiah 46:9-10 AMP

⁹[Earnestly] remember the former things, [which I did] of old; for I am God, and there is no one else; I am God, and there is none like Me.

¹⁰Declaring the end and the result from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand and I will do all My pleasure and purpose.

Jeremiah 2:13 NIV

“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”

John 3:30 AMP

He must increase, but I must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so.]

---

Have you noticed that in some cases, loud voices and manipulative tactics seem to be accepted as an anointing? People seem to flock to demonstrative speakers, sometimes at the risk of accepting another gospel, one that is self-serving rather than Christ-serving

Everything that I read in the Word indicates that we, as followers of Jesus Christ, are called to lay our lives down in service to the Lord. We are no longer our own. We have been bought with the precious blood of Jesus and are to live His life of holiness before a world that is minute by minute heading for destruction.

What kind of gospel are you proclaiming by your life? Is it the Gospel that Jesus proclaimed because you have studied His Word and His life, and will accept no other way; or is it a gospel that someone else has given you and you have only emotional feelings and someone else’s ideas on which you base your belief?

Teach me Your truth, Lord,

Jim Corbett

6/15/15

“Do you really know how often you walk in fear rather than in freedom? You simply don’t believe what I say. You don’t even believe My Word. If you did, peace would reign in your heart. There would be no doubt of My intentions for you. You, however, seem to desire to believe the lies of the enemy of your soul and the prince of this world, rather than the One Who made you. Would you consider that you might be believing a lie? Could it be possible that you have been wrong all this time, and need to redirect your life to become one of total acceptance of My Word in every area of your life?

Maybe it is time for you to change your allegiance from listening to the habits and voices that contend for your thoughts to taking My Word as your only source of truth. I would really like that. It would delight My heart to see you walk in the power and authority that I intend for you. Much more could be accomplished if so much time wasn’t diverted by you needing Me to confirm My love over and over before you will move on My behalf and for the good of others. By the time you have been reassured of what you should have known long ago, most real opportunities have passed. I was not able to call upon you. I went to someone else.

You need to settle My love for you and the absolute reliability of My Word in your heart once and for all. Come, let’s walk together. I will show you absolute truth. I will defeat your enemies. I will confirm My Word in your heart. Together We will bring souls to freedom. I am always with you. Begin to really believe that, settle it deep within your inner being; and your life will be in a position for Me to use you in ways far beyond your wildest dreams.”

Ephesians 3:16 NIV

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being...

2 Timothy 3:16-17 AMP

¹⁶Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action),

¹⁷So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

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.

Hebrews 12:12-13 NLB

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

¹³Mark 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.

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It really is time to get on with the business of moving in the direction in which God is moving. Indications all around us signify that our world is changing at a high rate of speed, heading toward the coming of Christ. Any moment, things as we know them could change as promised, unfolding the end-time plans of God even more clearly. The freedoms and liberties that we so enjoy may soon be a thing of the past. For the sake of the Lord, and for the welfare of those who are too weak to make it during promised great hardship, we - who call ourselves Christians - need to be ready.

As I was doing this study, I suddenly realized that I had the liberty to reference six different Bible translations to find the best version to complement the Father’s Heart. I could have gone to several more if necessary.

God has given us Christians in this country such access to Himself and to His Word, that there really is no reason for us to be weak in our belief of Him. He has allowed us free interaction with each other for developing additional strength. He has prospered us immensely. Most of us have enough for ourselves, and many of us have more than enough to share with others. His bounty is very evident. Still, we don’t hear His heart. We don’t accept His love fully. We don’t prioritize our lives to conform to His will. We say we do, and in comparison to others who are doing absolutely nothing to defend the Name of the Lord, we appear as if we are living only for Him: but we aren’t. We really don’t believe His Word. If we did, wouldn’t we be living our lives much differently?

Needing to see, hear, and trust. Time is short.

Jim Corbett

6/13/15

“I need you to be a true advocate for Me. What I’m asking is far from a complacent acceptance of Who I am and what Jesus has done. I want you to really defend Me when others mock Who I am. Stand up for Jesus when He is brought low in conversations, or His Name is maligned. Stop being so passive about your love for Me. Stop fearing what others would say if you defended My honor and the honor of Jesus. The world has attempted to quiet My people, so that their lies can be heard. It is working! Your complacency speaks volumes against the power of the cross and nullifies your words of love for Me. Your silence is deafening in the spiritual realm.”

Matt. 5:11-12 NIV

¹¹“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

¹²Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Matthew 16:24-25 AMP

²⁴Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].

²⁵For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting].

Matthew 26:31 NIV

Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will fall away on account of me, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.”

I Pe. 3:14-16 AMP

¹⁴But even in case you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, [you are] blessed (happy, to be envied). Do not dread or be afraid of their threats, nor be disturbed [by their opposition].

¹⁵But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.

¹⁶[And see to it that] your conscience is entirely clear (unimpaired), so that, when you are falsely accused as evildoers, those who threaten you abusively and revile your right behavior in Christ may come to be ashamed [of slandering your good lives].

---

Throughout history there have been many followers of Jesus who died rather than renounce their love for Him. There have also been weak, half-hearted believers who renounced Him when they were called upon to testify of their faith.

There is a very subtle form of denial of our faith present in today’s society. It is a practice of saying nothing.

Saying nothing, because it is politically correct, is denial. Saying nothing, when Jesus is made fun of or joked about, is denial. Saying nothing, when a proper word in season in defense of the Lord and His work is in order, is evidence of our weak faith and lack of real love for Whom we say we serve.

Teach me to properly honor You, Lord,

Jim Corbett

6/12/15

“Your life is vitally important and very significant in My eyes. However, it is too important in your own eyes. You need to let go of things. You need to give away more than you keep. You need to care more for others than you do for yourself. Decrease and allow Jesus to increase in you. Become less and allow Me to make you more significant.”

Matthew 10:29-31 NIV

²⁹“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.

³⁰And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

³¹So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Matthew 19:21 NIV

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.”

Luke 12:48b AMP

For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required; and of him to whom men entrust much, they will require and demand all the more.

Luke 9:23-25 AMP

²³And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].

²⁴For whoever would preserve his life and save it will lose and destroy it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he will preserve and save it [from the penalty of eternal death].

²⁵For what does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and ruins or forfeits (loses) himself?

---

Recognizing their acceptance with God, their heritage, their rights, and their privileges (which come via the work on the cross,) but esteeming others more significantly than themselves or their own needs, people walking with the heart of an advocate are wonderfully free. Jealousy, loss of reputation, perceptions of others, fear, and pride have no hold on them.

They are the leaders who serve, the advocates of their accusers, the servants of those who wrong them; and the comforters of those who are against them. Because they are confident and comfortable in their position with God, there is no negative response when falsely accused, no need to be right when wronged; and no desire to be lifted up in any way.

As John the Baptist desired to decrease so that Jesus could increase, those living for the good of others ardently choose that others increase in their walk with the Lord. They are motivated to do something, anything, so that it might happen.

Any desire to see “more of Jesus” in someone else is the spirit of advocacy in action as it thrives and pours itself out to address the need. It is the catalyst to any form of outreach – the desire that the lost or hurting be brought back into fellowship with the Father, for His sake as well as for the sake of the individual. The rally cry, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” transcends the corridors of time, and exists as if fresh from the lips of Jesus in the hearts of those who are poor in spirit, thriving in the spirit of advocacy.

Teach me to become less, Lord,

Jim Corbett

6/11/15

“As I raise you up in the truth, you must learn to love those who have not heard what you have heard. Arrogance on your part stifles any work that I might have you do. I will not reside where pride is at work. I will not be able to work through you in full measure if love is not the motive in all that you do. Observe the life of Jesus and pattern your life after His reasons for doing everything He did. He walked in love. His great love for My wishes and for your well-being motivated His every move. I desire you to do the same. Turn your cold hearts around. Begin to love others and move in My love for their best interests. I will then be with you in power.”

John 15:12-13 NIV

¹²“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

¹³Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”

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Until we understand that everything that Father God has done in both the Old and New Testaments was motivated by His great love, we will never see the might of His hand in our work for Him. To do even the very best of things and have no love as their driving force produces empty works at best and foolish religion at its very worst.

The modern presentation of the Gospel for the most part is absent of the wonder of the heart of God. We have the facts. We know the words. We may even have zeal; but without love in our hearts, everything falls far short of the purpose that God intended for our actions.

Help me to love, Lord,

Jim Corbett

6/10/15

“I’m looking for aggressive warriors who are willing to win at My kind of warfare. I am at war against your flesh. You can win through submission to My will. When I show you your sin, repentance brings forgiveness. As I explain the truth of My Word, We overcome the lies of the enemy of your soul. Fear is removed as you see who I am. Spending time with Me is the most powerful kind of warfare. There is no way to counter these weapons and the many others that I have provided for you. Stop choosing the ways of the world. Choose My ways. I always win.”

Psalm 127:1 AMP

Except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman wakes but in vain.

Isaiah 2:22 AMP

Cease to trust in [weak, frail, and dying] man, whose breath is in his nostrils [for so short a time]; in what sense can he be counted as having intrinsic worth?

Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV

⁸“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.

⁹“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

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I have found no better explanation of true spiritual warfare than this example from my friend, Pastor Ron Auch.

“Many intercessors and leaders in spiritual warfare seem to think we have to some way, somehow, “deliver” a city from spiritual oppression or past evil curses in order to have the way paved for the presence of God to come into that city. However, the goal of spiritual conflict is not to usher in the presence of God by that means. Spiritual warfare is not the way to bring in the presence of God, but quite the opposite.

It is not the battle that ushers in the presence; but rather, it’s the presence that originates the battle. The presence of God is the starting point. Because of the presence of God, there will be war since the inhabitants of darkness cannot stand His presence. All of our strategies, banners, chants, and shouting “per se” will do no harm to the devil. In fact, we can be sure that the devil will help us do our “spiritual warfare” as long as we are replacing the presence of God with our own battle turmoil. I believe along with some others that the devil has been teaching the church how to do spiritual warfare! The Israelites marched around, shouted, sang, worshipped, broke pots, suddenly pulled out torches in the middle of the night, and fought battles in usual and unusual manners; but it was not the strategy or the activity that gave them victory. It was the presence of God who went before them. Without the presence, they would have been the most foolish army in history.”

Wanting to win Your way, Lord,

Jim Corbett

6/09/15

“Do not be lulled into a false sense of security. Erosions to your freedoms are taking place at this very moment and will continue until all things are fulfilled. You must not allow the peace and safety that is apparent to sway your zeal to draw close to Me. Work while there is light; the darkness must come so that prophecy is fulfilled. If that frightens you, you must understand that I will give you all that is needed for you to overcome any situation, when it is needed. You are in training. Your present situation is making you strong and wise to My ways.

Abide in Me now. Receive this day’s manna. Learn the lessons that I present to you today. Become absolutely obedient. Renounce fear for the lie that it is. If you understand that I prepare you for the future by challenging you now, you will prosper when everyone else is hamstrung by what they see. Learn of Me and My keeping power while there is light. I am with you.”

Exodus 33:13-16 NIV

¹³“If I have found favor in your eyes, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people.”

¹⁴The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

¹⁵Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.

¹⁶How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

Isaiah 48:3 NIV

“I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.”

Acts 4:29-31 NIV

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

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

³¹After 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.

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Most of us fluctuate with the times and seasons and react to their influence. When things are peaceful in our lives or our nation, we rest, forgetting that the plans of God are rolling to fulfillment at every moment of every day. In God’s economy, the accomplishment of His Word - in the world and in our lives - is always in progress. There may be intermittent times of quieted pressure, but we must not be fooled into thinking that His plans are being delayed because of them.

Every minute of every day, you and I are part of the unfolding plan of our Father. We are either in training or implementing that training. Our lives have a purpose - His purpose. Since our purchase at the cross and our submission to the Lordship of Jesus, every event in our daily walk is for the fulfillment of that single end. As we live and breathe and have our being in Jesus, His life in us is preparing us for whatever the Father planned long ago. We can be assured that we will have what is needed for whatever is in store, if we embrace His heart and submit to Him as the priority of our days.

May I be steadfast, Lord,

Jim Corbett

6/08/15

“If you follow hard after Me, you will be perceived as a fool by those who cannot understand. At times, you will look as if you have no answers. Other times, you will look as if you have lost a war, or even lost everything. Many of My loving children have been laughed at, scorned, imprisoned, tortured, and even killed. They have willingly placed themselves in the league of fools as far as the world is concerned.

As far as I am concerned, however, they have placed themselves near and dear to My heart. Jesus looked as if He had failed. His friends looked as if they had lost. Countless marvelous hearts since then have been placed in the league of fools with them by actual fools. You come near to My heart. Follow the ways of Jesus. Have no concern over what others think of you. What I think of you is what really matters.”

Matt. 5:11-12 NIV

¹¹“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

¹²Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Matthew 11:12 NIV

“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.

Matthew 16:24-25 AMP

²⁴Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].

²⁵For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting].”

2 Cor. 12:15 AMP

But I will most gladly spend [myself] and be utterly spent for your souls...

Gal. 4:19 NIV

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

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Sensitivity toward the heart of God is the inward desire of the compassionate heart. This heart cannot be satisfied until God’s heart is satisfied upon the completion of all things. It drives a person to whatever end will satisfy Father God’s heart and allow others to see Him. Those with a compassionate spirit unconditionally surrender all control of their lives to the Lordship of Jesus and joyfully embrace a life of self-denial.

I choose to be close to Your heart, Lord,

Jim Corbett

6/06/15

“You need to walk in the forgiveness that has been provided for you at the cross. If you have repented of your sins, turned from all that you once were, and surrendered fully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, I have forgotten your offenses. They no longer exist as far as I am concerned. Now you must walk in freedom. Do not allow the enemy of your soul to rob you of the joy of what Jesus has done for you. Forgive others as you have been forgiven. Love as you are loved. Jesus has set you free. Tell others of the gift you have been given, so that they can also be free.”

Psalm 103:10-12 NIV

¹⁰He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

¹¹For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;

¹²as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

John 8:36 NIV

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Gal. 5:1 NIV

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

---

A while ago, I was tormented by the sins that I committed before I came to the Lord for His forgiveness. My life was dark for many years. Even though I knew that it was an attack of the enemy to place me in bondage and fear, my thoughts could have become real enough to subject me once again to all the bondages from which I’ve been freed had I continued to dwell there. I believe that a spirit of fear was attempting to hinder me from remembering the mercy my Lord has given me.

I needed to go to His Word and remember what Jesus has done and why He did it. His Word allowed me to walk out from under the weight of sins that would condemn me - those sins committed before I knew of and surrendered to His saving grace and those sins I have confessed since then. The truth of God’s Word allowed me to remember that it is for freedom that Christ has set me free.

Help me remember Your Word and walk in Your freedom, Lord,

Jim Corbett

6/05/15

“I am your Buckler and Defender. I am your Strong Tower and your Hiding Place. I am your Safety in time of need and your Warrior in times of peril. I am your Counsel. I am your Advocate. I am always for you. I am your Friend. I am your Provider. I am your Wealth in your world. I am your Hope for your future. I call you Mine forever. I am much more than anything else in your life, for I Am your life. There is no one like Me.”

II Chron. 20:17a AMP

You shall not need to fight in this battle; take your positions, stand still, and see the deliverance of the Lord [Who is] with you…

Psalm 62:5-6 AMP

⁵My soul, wait only upon God and silently submit to Him; for my hope and expectation are from Him.

⁶He only is my Rock and my Salvation; He is my Defense and my Fortress, I shall not be moved.

Proverbs 18:10 NIV

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Isa. 46:9-10 AMP

⁹[Earnestly] remember the former things, [which I did] of old; for I am God, and there is no one else; I am God, and there is none like Me.

¹⁰Declaring the end and the result from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure and purpose.

---

Because we are His, He is ours. The truth and wonder that there is a God, and that He is mindful of us, is astounding. That belief and trust in God appears foolish to the skeptic, and yet, only a fool says in his heart that there is no God. The longer we study the wonders of Who He really is, the more wonderful He becomes. We are truly blessed.

Remind me over and over again, Lord,

Jim Corbett

6/04/15

“You say that you are a follower of Jesus. Oh, really! When was the last time that you considered My will more important than yours? When did you care more about someone else than yourself? Do you really care that others are separated from Me for eternity? Do you care enough for them to give your life for them? Would you spend the rest of your life so that they can embrace Jesus? Would you give up everything you owned for them? Whom did you say that you followed?”

I John 2:6 AMP

Whoever says he abides in Him ought [as a personal debt] to walk and conduct himself in the same way in which He walked and conducted Himself.

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The label of Christian was once given to those who saw Who Jesus was and patterned everything they did after Him. They spent all of their lives studying His way of living and then lived the same way. They took on His heart burdens, His love for the Father, His complete purpose for living. To do less was unthinkable, if they said that they followed Him, for their lives depended on it.

Sometimes following Him meant certain death. It was no small thing to say that you followed Jesus. How close does your life resemble the life of Jesus?

Make me like You, Lord,

Jim Corbett

6/03/15

“Do you know that you are ministering to Me in many ways? You are! I especially love it when you honor and praise Jesus. It thrills Me when you give honor to His Name and the work that He did and still does. I am delighted when you are sensitive to the leadings of the Holy Spirit and respond to His comfort. Continue to hunger and thirst after My Word. It is life and nourishment to you. As you grow and become more involved with My heart, bless others. As you minister to those who need My love and what has been done by Jesus, you bless Me. I love the way you are growing in Me. Keep up the good work! I love you!”

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...”

Psalm 20:6-7 AMP

⁶Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving strength of His right hand.

⁷Some trust in and boast of chariots and some of horses, but we will trust in and boast of the name of the Lord our God.

Amos 3:3 KJV

“Can two walk together except they be agreed?”

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“Nobody ain’t never loved me,” Train whimpered as memories of rejection and abandonment started to visibly wrack his gigantic frame. “Nobody ain’t never loved me like that.”

After several minutes, Train stood erect again, sobbing and wiping his tear-streaked face with his calloused, massive hand. He turned toward Tom.

“I gotta do somethin’ to thank Him for what He done. Can you tell Him for me, Preacher Man? Can you tell Him thanks for what He done?”

Tom looked up at the most broken man he had ever seen. Without hesitation, Tom put his hand on Train’s arm - something unthinkable just a short time ago.

“I think Jesus would like it very much if you’d tell Him yourself, Train. I think He would be very pleased to have you talk to Him.”

Shocked at the thought that God might listen to something he might say, Train stepped back a couple of steps in disbelief. Then he looked directly into Tom’s eyes. Tom looked directly back into his, assuring him that it would be all right.

“Do I gotta go to a church or somethin’?” Train questioned.

“No,” Tom smiled. “We could just sit here on the curb and you could just tell God what’s on your heart.”

Tom started to move toward the curb to sit down when he noticed that Train had dropped into a kneeling position right where he’d been standing. Tom moved next to him, giving a quick look to see if anyone was watching. Train knelt silently for a long moment, his head bowed and his hands folded in front of him, resting loosely against his body. Quietly he began.

“God...” he hesitated to wipe the tears from his eyes. “God, this is me, Train. I ain’t never talked to you before ‘cuz I been afraid...”

I’m so grateful that You made a way for me, Lord,

Jim Corbett

6/02/15

“Do you know that you are building up a case against yourself when there is evidence of Christ’s love in your life? The world hates Who He is. When they see Him in you, they will hate you. Soon those who love Him will pay a price for that love. It may require all that you have. It may require your life. If there is any evidence that Jesus is in your life, you will be the enemy of those who hate Him. Are you ready for that kind of sacrifice? Are you ready to show them Who He really is by loving them with His kind of love when they have only murder in their hearts for you? Now is the time to prepare for those times. They are coming soon!”

Psalm 3:1-6 AMP

¹Lord, How they are increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.

²Many are saying of me, there is no help for him in God. Selah [pause and calmly think of that]!

³But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

⁴With my voice I cry to the Lord and He hears and answers me out of His holy hill. Selah [pause and calmly think of that]!

⁵I lay down and slept, I awakened again, for the Lord sustains me.

⁶I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me round about.

Psalm 46:1 AMP

God is our Refuge and Strength [mighty and impenetrable to temptation], a very present and well-proved help in trouble.

Matt. 5:11-12 NIV

¹¹“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

¹²Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Matthew 5:13 AMP

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste (its strength, its quality) how can its saltness be restored? It is not good for anything any longer but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men.

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Most of us go to God for the “desperate” needs in our lives, like paying bills or that person at work that is not being nice to us. We forget about the saints who live under dire circumstances, such as prisons or persecutions, all over the world. We choose to forget that this life in Christ is distasteful to those who love evil.

As this season comes to an end, it would be good to understand that we are in a time of training for evil times ahead. To claim that we are immune to peril because we love Jesus is foolishness. Any reasonable, thinking human being can see that darkness is becoming more prevalent and great darkness is soon to come. Now is the time for spiritual preparation. It will be very important to know our God intimately and to gain the heart of Jesus for when great evil invades our lives.

Prepare my heart now, Lord,

Jim Corbett

6/01/15

“You must become devoted to Me and My Word. In fact, I want your whole life to be considered a devoted thing, something having no life of its own; but existing only through and for Jesus. Build up a resistance to criticism as you sell out. Harden your heart to the sirens of the world. Soften it to every beat of His heart. Walk only where you are invited to walk with Me. Avoid anything that resembles the world.

As you distance yourself from those things that desire to sway you away from a devoted life, you will find the true peace and happiness that comes from an honest, upright relationship with Me. You will experience unparalleled joy that is not contingent upon your circumstances and situations. You will have overcome the world and its ways. You will finally have peace, the kind of peace that I have always intended for you to have.”

Gal. 2:20a NIV

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.

Gal. 5:24 AMP

And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires.

Gal. 6:14 NIV

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Phil 3:10-11 AMP

¹⁰[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]

¹¹That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].

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Paul’s devotion to the Gospel is heartwarming. As you study the verses in Philippians 3 above, try to see through the words and into the heart of this devoted man of God. There was no compromise for him. He was completely sold out to the desire of knowing his Master and Savior. He wanted to know his Lord intimately. He wanted to understand exactly what had occurred at the cross and the resurrection. He wanted to benefit from the power of the risen Christ, not for his own good; but for the sake of being changed into the image of his Lord. He wanted it all for the sake of the Gospel.

This relationship with Jesus is much more than going to church, giving to missions, praying, and talking about the things of God. It is a road trip to the complete death of our flesh. It is also an incredible journey to knowing our Lord and Savior intimately, if we choose to sell out completely to Him.

I believe that most of the church functions on the perimeter of the kind of relationship that Father God intends for us. Most of us do only as much as it takes to know that we are “safe” and on our way to heaven, when there is so much more available if we would only sell out completely. The thought of compromise never entered into Paul’s heart and mind when it came to His relationship with Jesus. It shouldn’t enter into ours either.

Remove compromise from my life, Lord,

Jim Corbett