Promised Land

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Joshua 18:3 Take What God Has Given You

So Joshua said to the Israelites: “How long will you wait before you begin to take possession of the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given you?” Joshua 18:3

People are often given some opportunity to gain something or some position. With the opportunity, the person must be willing to step out and do some work to gain it or take it.

Although many would love to have what is being offered, very few will take possession of it. Most desire to have it completely handed to them free of any work on their own part.

As many of the tribes of Israel had taken possession of the new land, some did not. Joshua asked them how long they would wait to take possession of the land God had given them.

Believers are given many promises by God, but very few will actually take hold of those promises and claim them as their own. People want things handed to them by God without any work on their own part or change in their life.

A few of the things God wants to give His people are no fear, a living heart, boldness, peace, and physical provisions. Just as some of the tribes of the Israelites held back on taking possession of the land, many believers hold back on taking what God has offered.

Jesus did the work of removing sin and the power of sin, but the believer must be willing to step out in faith and take the blessings of His work. It is a self-choice to not fear, or to be bold, or to have peace.

All one has to do is go in and claim it and take possession because God has already given it to him. One should not wait to get what God has for him.

If you have chosen to believe in Jesus, God has many things to give you. Each day you have to choose as to whether you will take possession of what God has for you or if you will reject it and keep waiting for something to change.

Do not allow yourself to sit back and do nothing when God has given you a promise. Seek God’s wisdom and timing and then go out and claim that promise, whatever it is.

Live your life in the fullness of all that God has to offer you.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know the promises of God to you; that you will claim what God has promised you; that you will not fear taking what God offers to you; and that you walk in the boldness and strength of God.

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Joshua 14:12 With God’s Help

Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said. Joshua 14:12

In order for a person to gain something new it often takes work on his part. He has to be willing to reach out and grab it, since it is rarely just handed freely to him. In the process of grabbing something, many will often need others to assist in making it happen.

Caleb asked for a hill country with Anakites living there that had been promised to him. He said that with God’s help he will be able to drive out the Anakites to possess the land.

Believers are given many different promises in and outside of the bible. Some of those promises, very few, are given without any assistance upon the believer himself. Those few are given only by God and His power.

God, in His infinite power and wisdom, gives believers the power, wisdom and direction to be able to gain many of those promises.

Although believers today very rarely have to physically take land, they do have to take other areas in life. Control of their thought life, emotions, and overcoming temptations are just a few areas that a believer must conquer.

Usually, God does not just give immediate victory over those areas, but gives direction, power and guidance to conquer those areas.

The believer has to step out in faith, doing God’s will, knowing that God is with him and will help him. It takes action upon his part with God’s Holy Spirit strengthening and helping him fulfill the promises. With God’s help, he will drive out sinful practices and sin in his life.

Looking at your own life, there are areas that God wants you to conquer and have victory over. While God may supernaturally give you victory over some of these areas, most of them will require some work on your part.

You have to be willing to step forward to take the promise of God knowing that God will help you. It may be driving something out of your life or strengthening something good in your life. God is with you and will help you, if you will step out in faith to do His will.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that God will reveal areas that need to be conquered in your life; that you will step out in faith to take what God has promised; and that you will see God’s victory over sin in your life.

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Numbers 34:2 There Will Be Boundaries

Command the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter Canaan, the land that will be allotted to you as an inheritance is to have these boundaries:’ Numbers 34:2

Every nation and city on the earth has some boundary set up that defines where it is. Boundaries are what help guide others as to where a city or nation is located and who controls it.

Although most people do not want to have boundaries limiting them, most places have some type of boundary set up. While boundaries can appear to restrict, they can also give freedom.

God told the Israelites that when they entered the promised land of Canaan there would be boundaries set up as He gives them the land.

When boundaries are set up, many people feel as if they are being stifled or held back and they no longer have full freedom. In the church, many will consider boundaries as legalism and reject all boundaries claiming freedom in Christ.

While there is freedom in Christ, there are also some boundaries that are in place. With no boundaries, all one has is chaos.

The boundaries a believer has are not always physical ones as with the Israelites but are spiritual ones. God does not His children to fall into sinful practices and move away from His will, so He sets up boundaries.

There are sins that God specifically tells His people to flee from. There are guidelines as to how to act and think in order to live the holy and righteous life that God has called every believer to live.

Boundaries given by God are not to enslave a person and hold one back, but to allow them to live a full abundant life in Christ Jesus, not a life of sin and death. They are to let the world know that believers are different and belong to God.

Regardless of where you go in life, there is always some type of boundary you must accept. Just as you are willing to accept the boundaries of property, you must be willing, as a believer, to accept the boundaries God has placed in your life.

Live within the boundaries God places so that you can live the full life God has for you. Do not leave these boundaries for temporary sin and eternal death. These boundaries are placed to keep you safe in God’s will, not to hold you down.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know the boundaries God has for you; that God will guide you on how to live the abundant life He has for you; and that God will strengthen and guide you to stay in the boundaries He has for you.

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Leviticus 20:22 Don’t Get Spit Out

Keep all my decrees and laws and follow them, so that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out. Leviticus 20:22

Every nation and city around the world has some rules and regulations that are expected to be followed. If one does not follow them, there are consequences anywhere from a small fine to prison time. The consequences are spitting a person out from being able to fully enjoy the freedoms he once had.

Most people are willing to obey the majority of those laws, but there are always some that reject some or all of the laws.

God told the Israelites to keep all of His laws so that they would not be kicked out of the land He was giving them to live in.

Although most people today are not in a ‘promised’ land such as the Israelites were in, many are in a promised place set by God as they follow Him. God’s favor rests upon those who obey His commands that set them apart from the rest of the world. Provision and blessings are seen in ways that the world cannot understand.

However, when a believer chooses to disobey and go against God’s commands and sin, God will often remove His hand of favor upon his life. The ‘land’ that he is in will spit him out. Things will not work in his favor and struggles will abound with no peace or comfort at hand.

No believer can follow God’s commands one hundred percent of the time, but he can strive to and be willing to repent immediately upon sinning. It is with this heart to follow God’s commands that God steps in with His grace and mercy of forgiveness and gives the believer His hand of favor so that he will not be kicked out of the land promised.

Sit back and think about how much God has blessed you since you first chose to follow and obey Jesus. These blessings are the land God has promised you and blessed you with.

Do not allow yourself to disobey God’s commands and run after the sinful ways of this world. Do not give God a reason to have the land of favor spit you out because you choose to not obey His commands.

Set yourself apart from the world and be holy, obeying all the commands of God. Know the favor of obeying God.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will know God’s commands for you; that you will obey all of God’s commands to you; that you will live a holy and separate life unto God; and that you will know God’s hand of favor upon your life.

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Exodus 15:13 God Will Lead In Love And Strength

In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. Exodus 15:13

From the moment of birth to the moment of death, people are led by someone to some level or more. Some are very closely guided, while others are more loosely led.

With all of these leaders there are many different types. Different styles of leadership are to be found with some being extremely strict and bossy, while others are very lenient and friendly. Of all the human leaders, none are able to lead with perfect love and strength.

After being rescued from captivity in Egypt, Moses and the Israelites sang a song about what happened. They stated that God lead them with unfailing love and strength to the holy dwelling place.

Once a person chooses to repent of his sins and God rescues him out of the captivity and death of sin, God does not leave him alone on his own. He is willing to lead him on the new journey in life to the promised land. This promised land is not a physical land on earth as the Israelites traveled to, but to a home in heaven for eternity with God.

This journey, like all journeys, can be filled with challenges, troubles, and detours. One cannot know all the correct steps to take on his own, but needs guidance and direction.

The world is unable to correctly lead a person on how to make this journey. The world is leading a person to death in sin. God, in His perfect love and strength, is able to lead a person on the right path towards heaven and He will not make a mistake or lead wrong. This path is one that guides the person to become more like Jesus every day in following God’s will.

You are on a journey in this life. If you have chosen to follow Jesus, you are on the journey towards heaven, the promised land.

Do not allow yourself to be guided on this journey by the world. That path will only lead to death and destruction.

God is ready, willing and able to lead you with perfect love and strength. He knows the steps you must take. Seek His direction and obey His commands and you will make the journey in success. It will not be easy, but it will be worth it in the end.

Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that you will be led by God’s Holy Spirit; that you will walk the path God lays out for you; and that you will trust God’s perfect love and strength to lead you.