Give Me My Mountain!

“I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming. So now give me this hill country of which the Lord spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the Lord will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the Lord said.” Then Joshua blessed him, and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance.  Joshua 14:11-13

At the ripe age of eighty-five, Caleb was intent upon seizing his inheritance, the mountain of Hebron. There had been no early opt-out. No retirement plans. No romantic strolls on the beach. And I suspect, no bingo.

There remained a fight. An unconquered mountain. That mountain was his inheritance. For Caleb, a battle for the ages loomed.

If you’re still breathing, you have a purpose to fulfill—an inheritance to seize. And a mountain to conquer. The Lord will strengthen you to fulfill His purpose in the season of life you are in right now.

Oftentimes in moments of uncertainty, delays, and challenges, we are struck with spiritual amnesia concerning the promises of God that were spoken into our lives from previous seasons of life. In my last football game in college, I had a severe concussion which resulted in amnesia. I could not recall anything short-term. The trainers confiscated my helmet to ensure that I did not try to reenter the game. I was not fit to play. For roughly eight hours I kept asking the same questions every five minutes (and to this day I can’t recall anything during that span). I was ill equipped to function properly.

Likewise, when we fail to remember the promises of God that were birthed in our hearts through His Word, we undermine our ability to “fight the good fight of the faith” (I Timothy 6:12).

Note the words of Caleb which revealed his source of expectant faith and confidence: now give me … which the Lord spoke on that day. Faith to do the impossible was possible because Caleb heard what God spoke to him. He remembered precisely what the Lord promised on that day. It was a done deal as far as Caleb was concerned. He was utterly convinced that this mountain was the Lord’s inheritance for his life.

What is the inheritance that the Father wants you to seize? What is the mountain that you are called to conquer?

Stick your nose to the grindstone of His Word. Remember, faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17). There’s no substitute for God-inspired faith in the heart of His sons and daughters. Positive thinking or self-determination alone won’t suffice to seize your inheritance. You must encounter Christ as you seek Him through the written Word. Faith will arise within your spirit as He speaks deep into your heart concerning His promises for your life.

You need a Rhema.

When the treasured written Word becomes alive within our heart, this is known as Rhema. Mary Jo Pierce beautifully captures this process in Adventures in Prayer as she states that “the written word becomes the Living Word.” Furthermore, regarding Rhema, she writes:  “One Rhema word can anchor me in any storm, deliver me from any fear or concern, and strengthen me for any test or trial.” And, may I add, one Rhema word can infuse supernatural faith to seize your inheritance. Rhema is the substance of faith within the heart that will not back down.

Then in the face of your daunting impossibilities, you will utter these fierce, faith-filled Rhema words that causes mountains to tremble: Give me this mountain!