“Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.” — Joshua 1:3 (NKJV)

Joshua scratched his head as he listened to the Lord’s words. Something seemed confusing. “Wait, Lord,” Joshua said. “You said ‘I have given you’ the land. That sounds like it already belongs to us. But we haven’t even crossed the river yet, and there are still enemies living there. How can it be ours if we don’t have it yet?” The Lord smiled at Joshua’s honest question. “That’s a very good question, Joshua.

Let Me explain something important about how My promises work.” Joshua sat down to listen carefully. “When I make a promise,” the Lord said, “it’s as good as done. In My eyes, I have already given you the land because My word never fails. That’s why I said ‘I have given’ instead of ‘I will give.'” “So it really is ours already?” Joshua asked. “Yes, it’s really yours already. But there’s another part to this. Even though it’s yours, you still have to go and take possession of it. You have to walk on it, live in it, and make it your home.”

Joshua began to understand. “So it’s like… it’s ours, but we have to move in?”

“Exactly!” the Lord said. “Think of it this way: if a rich relative died and left you a house in his will, that house would legally be yours the moment he died. But you’d still have to go to the house, unlock the door, move your things in, and start living there to actually enjoy it.” Joshua’s eyes lit up. “So the land is legally ours because You promised it, but we still have to go take possession of it.”

“That’s right. And here’s the most important part, Joshua. The reason you can be brave enough to fight for it is because you know it already belongs to you. You’re not fighting to try to get something that might not work out. You’re fighting to claim what’s already been given to you.” Joshua stood up with new confidence. “So when we face those giants and strong cities, we’re not hoping we might win. We’re just moving into our own house!” “Now you understand,” the Lord said with joy. “My promises aren’t just wishes or hopes. When I promise something, it’s already done in heaven.

Your job is to receive it here on earth through faith and obedience.” Joshua looked across the Jordan River with completely different eyes now. Those weren’t enemy cities – those were his cities that happened to have squatters in them. That wasn’t foreign land – that was his inheritance that he just hadn’t moved into yet. “Thank You, Lord,” Joshua said. “Now I understand why You keep telling me to be strong and brave. I’m not fighting for something uncertain. I’m claiming something certain.”

Did You Know? When the Lord uses the phrase “I have given” instead of “I will give,” it’s called the “prophetic perfect” – speaking of future things as if they’re already accomplished because the Lord’s promises are absolutely certain. This is how all the Lord’s promises work: they’re already ours in heaven, but we receive them on earth through faith and obedience

🔥 Personal Reflection:

• What promises has the Lord made to you that seem “not yet” but are actually “already yours”?
• How would your faith change if you really believed the Lord’s promises are as good as done?
• What “inheritance” do you need to start taking possession of through faith and action?

🙏 Prayer: Dear Lord, help me understand that Your promises to me are as good as done, even when I can’t see them yet. Give me faith to believe that what You’ve promised is already mine in heaven, and courage to take possession of it here on earth. Help me stop doubting Your promises and start claiming them through faithful obedience. Thank You that Your word never fails. In Jesus’ name, Amen