“And the LORD gave them rest on every side, just as He had sworn to their fathers.  None of their enemies could stand against them, for the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.  Not one of the LORD’s good promises to the house of Israel failed;  everything was fulfilled.” 

Joshua 21:45

Do you remember the movie Far and Away (1992) with Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman?  There is a scene in the movie capturing what is known in American History as the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1893.

At precisely noon on September 16, 1893, at the cannon’s blast, off went 60,000 hungry settlers.  In covered wagons and on horseback they rushed to stake their claim to land that would become their own.

To see the scene click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxaJY8UZxn4

Joshua 21:45 says, not one of the promises of God have failed; not ONE.

Hebrews 13:8 says, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.   

Seeing this movie (many years ago) made a spiritual mark on my mind.

With new eyes, I began to see my Bible as unclaimed territory waiting for me to take hold of.  I began driving my stakes into the promises of God!  When I would come across a verse that I wanted to claim for my marriage, my children, my family and friends, I would draw a flag, color it, write the name of the person and the date.

Today, my Bible is chalked full of answered prayers & living miracles I have been a witness to.

In the real historical account, as the settlers began staking claims on their territory, they had to keep watch…because the enemy (who comes to kill, steal and destroy) was waiting to remove from them what was rightfully theirs.

Hard times will come and when they do, the enemy of your soul will use his schemes to make you believe you have no choice but to bend the knee and crumble into a hopeless situation.   Isolation, discouragement and fear are just some of the tactics he uses in order to attempt to steal from you—what is rightfully yours.

God, on the other hand is Truth embodied.  Truth became a person.  Jesus, fully God and fully man—lived, died and rose again to as Ephesians 1:3 says, “to bless us with every spiritual blessing that is ours in Christ.”

Remember:

• Not one of His good promises have failed—not one.
• His Word is not only unchangeable, it is unshakeable.

A few weeks ago, my family received some very devastating news.  My brother, Bob Latham was diagnosed with a rare cancer of the blood known as Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia.  The initial report was a burden too heavy for us to carry.  My entire family felt the weight of the crushing news.

Psalm 30:5 says, weeping may last for a night but joy comes in the morning.

And that is exactly what happened.  My family (all 14 of us) are believers in Jesus Christ.  We each have a personal relationship with Him.  We KNOW who He is and what He is able to do man’s report.  He is God and He is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever hope for or imagine.  He takes the impossible and makes it possible!

We are driving our stakes into the promises of God.

• Psalm 121:1 “I lift my eyes unto the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, maker of heaven and earth.”
• Zephaniah 3:17 says, In that day the Lord will say to you; “Do not fear, O Zion;  do NOT let your hands fall limp.  The LORD your God is among you;  He is mighty to save.  He will rejoice over you with gladness;  He will quiet you with His love;  He will rejoice over you with singing.”

And so while we walk hand in hand through this fiery trial, we will worship and sing praises to GOD.  We will boldly speak the Word over Bob—out loud because the Bible says, “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.”

The enemy cannot rob us of what is rightfully ours:  we are children of the Most High GOD.

What battle are you or a loved one facing today?

Feelings or fear have no power but God’s Word does.   Drive your stakes deep into the unfailing promises of God.  Agree with what is rightfully yours and keep looking up—your help comes from the LORD, maker of heaven & earth!

Prayer:  Father, we lift our eyes to You.  We know and believe You are Faithful and True.  Your mercies are new each and every morning-great is Your faithfulness.  I pray for every person reading this blog.  I pray that whatever battle they are facing today, they will know that through belief in Jesus, they are granted access every promise that is ours IN Christ.  Father,  equip them to stand firm in the battle and to not lose heart.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen.