Have you ever had to deal with great hurt in the midst of good times? It reminds me of a book we read in high school – A Tale of Two Cities. It starts out, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times! I understand that! I am living it.

I am finding that this is actually how things play out most of the time in the Kingdom of God. Where Christians miss it is thinking their “promised land” is all sunshine and roses and not a problem around. That is not the promised land, that is heaven! As long as we are on earth, we have an enemy, the devil, who goes about roaring as a lion, seeking whom he may devour!

So, how do we possess our promised land? WE POSSESS it! Possess is an action word! As Chuck Pierce says – “If there are giants in your land, they are YOURS.” In other words, God has promised the land to you, so take it.

When Moses stopped at the Red Sea and cried out to the Lord, the Lord responded in Exodus 14:15-16 – The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground.”

When the twelve spies came back to report to the people, Caleb and Joshua were so excited at the fruit of the land and the produce and abundance. However, the ten could only see the giants. I have no doubt that Caleb and Joshua saw the giants too, but their eyes were on the prize! They only saw what God had promised them! And 40+ years later, they were the only ones that came out of Egypt that entered into that land! Caleb said he was as good physically then as he was before and that he would TAKE his mountain! Go Caleb!

What has God promised you? It matters not what it looks like. What has God promised you? I don’t care how many giants are in the land! WHAT HAS GOD PROMISED YOU? Go POSSESS your land! The giants are yours! They are bread for you! (meaning, you will take them out!)

So, when you find yourself in a great season of life, yet a great hurt or an attack comes, don’t abandon your season! Don’t let the words of your mouth pull out your good seeds sown and all the words you have declared!

Take it from me! When you are in a good season, or you have declared a good season, attacks will come! Remember Joseph? I asked the Lord once, why did He give Joseph the dream knowing that the enemy would come along and attack? I mean, because he shared the dream with his brothers, they grew even more jealous than they already were, and didn’t God know that would happen? But I remember what I heard in response, “I gave the dream because the enemy’s attack was already coming!” AHHHHH – the dream came in response to what God knew the enemy had planned in order to sustain Joseph until he got to HIS promised land! WOW! What has the Lord told you prior to your current attack, distraction or frustration? What are you looking forward to, only to have a hurt, a set back, or attack come? THAT is what you need to go after! The adverse things are ONLY a distraction from what you have been promised.

So, be encouraged! If you are in a good time, yet all hell has broken loose- don’t quit! You are still in a good time! The attack is simply a distraction! The sickness is a distraction! Whatever is trying to steal your joy is a distraction! The hurt is a distraction! The pain is a distraction! Keep your eyes focused on Jesus! How? Take every thought captive! Seriously, TAKE EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE! Focus on Jesus and His word! He’s right there with you, as a matter of fact, I will bet He is setting a table before you in the presence of your enemies as you read this! Go and possess your land! It IS the BEST of times!