Besides the literal ground still unoccupied for Christ, there is before us the unclaimed and unwalked territory of God’s promises. What did God say to Joshua? “I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised.” Then He set the boundaries of the Land of Promise—all theirs on one condition: they must march across its length and breadth, measuring it off with their own feet.

Yet they never marched across more than one-third of the land, and as a consequence, they never possessed more than that one-third. They possessed only what they measured off and no more.

In 2 Peter 1:4 we read, “He has given us his very great and precious promises.” The land of God’s promises is open before us, and it is His will for us to possess it. We must measure off the territory with the feet of obedient faith and faithful obedience, thereby claiming and appropriating it as our own.

How many of us have ever taken possession of the promises of God in the name of Christ? The land of His promises is a magnificent territory for faith to claim by marching across its length and breadth, but faith has yet to do it.

Let us enter into and claim our total inheritance. Let us lift our eyes to the north, south, east, and west and hear God say, “All the land that you see I will give to you” (Genesis 13:15). ARTHUR TAPPAN PIERSON

Wherever the tribe of Judah set their feet would be theirs, and wherever the tribe of Benjamin set their feet would be theirs, and so on. Each tribe would receive their inheritance by setting foot upon it. Don’t you imagine that as each tribe set foot upon a given territory, they instantly and instinctively felt, “This is ours”? An elderly man who had a wonderful testimony of grace was once asked, “Daniel, how is it that you exhibit such peace and joy in your faith?” “Oh, sir!” he replied. “I just fall flat on God’s ‘very great and precious promises,’ and I have all that is in them. Glory! Glory!” One who falls flat on God’s promises knows that all the riches abiding in them are his. Faith Papers

The Marquis of Salisbury, an English statesman and diplomat, upon being criticized for his colonial policies, replied, “Gentlemen, get larger maps.”

This blessed inspiring word greeted Israel as they faced the Promised Land. They had the promise of it before; now they must go forward into it and place their feet upon it. The promise is in the perfect tense and denotes an act just now completed— “That have I given unto you.”

Our Joshua gives us the same incentive for conquest: every promise in the New Testament that we put our feet upon is ours! The upland of spiritual power is yours though Anak may live there! It is yours if you will but go against him and drive him out of his strongholds, in the might of The Name.

If we dare to place our foot on anything God has promised, He makes it real to us. So take Him as the supply for all your need: believe He is yours, and never doubt it from this moment.

It may be your need is for spiritual cleansing. His promise covers this: “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you” (John 15:3 KJV). If you can believe this, you shall be sanctified and kept.

Take the promise that suits your need, and step out on it; not touching it timidly on tiptoe, but placing your foot flat down upon it. Do not be afraid it will not hold your weight. Put your whole need on the Word of the eternal God for your soul, for your body, for your work, for the dear ones for whom you are praying, for any crisis in your life: then stand upon it for ever!

All the blessed promises of the Old Book are yours, and why are you so slack to go up and possess your land? The size of your inheritance depends upon how much land you have trodden underfoot, really stood on or walked over. Between you and your possessions that huge mountain looms up.

March up to it and make it yours! Go in this thy might and God will get glory; and you, victory. A. B. SIMPSON

Footprints mean possession, but it must be your own footprints.