I must remember that merely to proclaim what Christ has done for me is not enough; I must claim it also. The blessings of the Christian life are not automatic; they must be staked out and walked over just as the Israelites had to lay claim to the land of Canaan. One of the saddest things the Lord said to Joshua was, “Very much of the land remains to be possessed” (Joshua 13:1). The land as a whole had been conquered. Now it was up to each individual tribe to move in foot by foot, claim possession of its particular territory, drive out its enemies, and set up authority over it.
I make a mistake when I equate living by faith with living in laziness. God never intended that I should be “carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease.” I must adopt an aggressive stance in my determination to possess everything Jesus died for. Satan will see to it that it he cannot keep me from accepting Jesus, he will do everything he can to keep me from using Jesus. If he cannot keep me out of the land of Canaan, he will do everything possible to keep the victories of Canaan out of me. Satan is the greatest “blowfish” of all time; he will blow himself immensely out of proportion just to frighten me out of the blessings Christ has bought for me. I may be living at the poverty level right now, not because I am not rich, but because Satan has convinced me I am not.
“Just as God gave Israel the land of Canaan, so He has given me all spiritual blessings … in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3, KJV). Therefore, I have the authority to claim everything I need from Him. But He promises something more: the ability to drive out the enemy, who keeps me from possessing my possessions. God, make me more than a conqueror (Romans 8:37)!
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).
Daily with the King 