In our journey of faith this year, we’ve focused on three pillars: Pursuing God’s presence, Passing the flame, and Possessing the land.

Last week, we began looking at what it means to actually possess the land God has given us. It starts with a shift in ownership. Whether it’s your bedroom, your car, your station at work, or the very ground you walk on in Keokuk—God has given you these places for His glory. We stand on the promise of Joshua 1:3: “I have given you every place where the sole of your foot treads.”

But as the Israelites learned in Numbers 13, possessing the land isn't always easy. The scouting report often comes back with a "However..."

"However, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified... we saw the descendants of Anak (giants) there." (Numbers 13:28)

Identifying the Giants

To take the ground, we have to be honest about what is standing in the way. If you want to know what your "giants" are, ask yourself these three questions:

  1. What are you afraid of?

  2. What feels overwhelming?

  3. What is standing in the way of your holiness?

As Ephesians 6:12 reminds us, our struggle isn't against flesh and blood. Your "giant" might look like a difficult boss or a neighbor, but the real battle is spiritual. It’s evil, and evil is very good at being evil.

The Modern Scouting Report

We don’t usually face 9-foot-tall soldiers with 15-pound spearheads, but our giants are just as real. They taunt us, trying to make us feel like grasshoppers.

  • Apathy: It tells you "the juice isn't worth the squeeze." It makes you lukewarm (Rev 3:16).

  • Isolation: The enemy wants you to believe you have to fight alone, but a cord of three strands is not easily broken (Eccl 4:12).

  • Cynicism: The "it won't work" heart that turns away from the living God.

  • Comparison: Looking at others instead of following Jesus (John 21:22).

Don't Just Fight—Knock Them Out

In Sunday School, we sometimes make David’s victory over Goliath seem like a lucky accident. It wasn't. David was proficient. He had trained in the secret places with his sheep so he could stand in the public places with his God.

When David hit Goliath with that stone, it was moving at 60+ MPH. It was a knockout. But David didn't stop there—he made sure the giant wasn't getting back up.

In our own lives, we can’t "dabble" with the giants of addiction, fear, or bitterness. This isn't a "special military operation"; it’s war. Our goal is the total defeat of the enemy.

Why It Matters for the Next Generation

There is a powerful legacy in slaying giants. After David killed Goliath, the Bible records that his "Mighty Men" went on to slay four more giants from the same family.

David revealed to everyone that giants could be killed.

If you don't face your giants—if you don't deal with the alcohol, the temper, the apathy, or the greed—your children will likely have to fight those same battles. Take the ground now so they don't have to win it back later.

Reflection & Action

  1. Name your giant. Write down the one thing that feels "too big" for you to handle right now.

  2. Change your perspective. Stop looking at the giant and start looking at the God of Armies.

  3. Use what you have. David didn't use Saul's armor; he used his own sling. What has God already put in your hand?

The Battle is the Lord’s. He has already defeated death and the grave. Today, stand in His authority and claim the ground beneath your feet.