't really wanted any more. You can have all that you want. "Every place where the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you." Then the land is described as abundant and far-reaching; a land in which you will find all you need, in every area of life; "a land flowing with milk and honey." (Ex. 3:8) "From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun shall be your territory." {Josh 1:4 RSV} But we find that it is also a land of both conflict and victory: "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you." {Josh 1:5 RSV} One of the first things we learn in coming into this place of walking in the Spirit is that although it is a place of conflict, every conflict can be a victory. There need not be any defeats. It is a frontier, if you like, and there is nothing more exciting than life on a frontier. This life is especially frontier living in the victory of Christ. The secret of living in the land includes both a promise and a presence; an obedient heart and an empowering spirit. God said: "Be strong and of good courage; for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous..." {Josh 1:6-7a RSV}It is going to take courage. There can be no drifting aimlessly along with the crowd. You are going to have to walk against the current. "...being careful to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commanded you; turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have ...
