Who Are Your Anakims?

Today’s Verse:

And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities. ~Joshua 11:21

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The name Anakims means “long neck.” They were an ancient race of people whose descent is traced back to a man named Anak. They were very tall and big-sized men. They were giants in every sense of the word. Our devotion this morning exhorts us to deal with the Anakims that stand between us and our victory.

We see the horror.

The Israelites had a dread and fear of the Anakims. They compared themselves to grasshoppers in relation to the size of the Anakims. When the men of Israel who were under Saul heard the challenge of the giant Goliath, they fled in fear. An Anakim, or giant, is something or someone that intimidates you in size and causes you to panic. You feel a sense of inadequacy and inability to deal with the giant. There is overwhelming dread and fear whenever you face the giants in your life. What giant in your life is causing you great fear?

We see the hindrance.

Until Joshua took the initiative to deal with them, the Anakims stood in the way of Israel. They blocked the mountain passages. They made the mountains seemingly unsafe and a place to avoid. They were a spiritual and mental hindrance to progress. Giants stand in our way of possessing our land and our spiritual inheritance. Giants hinder the exercise of faith and prayer. Giants hold back progress and advancement. Giants will cause you to look for the safe way in dealing with challenges instead of accepting risk and stepping out in faith. Giants will result in anxiety, loss of appetite, and sleeplessness. What are the giants in your life doing to hinder you?

We see the hero.

We read that Joshua came, cut off the Anakims from the mountains, and destroyed them utterly with their cities. First, Jesus, our "Joshua," defeated the giants of sin, Satan, and death when He died on the cross and rose again from the dead. Second, Jesus enables us to defeat our giants through prayer in His name. Through the name of Jesus, whatsoever we ask the Father, that will He do for us. Third, Jesus makes a way for us through mountains and passageways that the giants might possess.

We see the holocaust.

Joshua destroyed the Anakims and their cities, and he took the whole land. Giants have to be destroyed. Allowing giants to linger will keep us from moving forward. Giants are destroyed through the Word of God, prayer, the power of the Spirit, faith, and obedience. We must destroy the giants of fear, unbelief, bitterness, anger, lust, prayerlessness, lukewarmness, indifference, anxiety, and unforgiveness. We must call on the God of peace to bruise Satan under our feet shortly.

We see the happiness.

When the giants are defeated, there is a way to go forward. There is joy, happiness, and celebration. There are mountains and pathways for us to claim from giants that stand in our way. Let the Lord lead you in battle and take down the giants that are in your way.

Have a giant-free God Morning!

Bible Reading Schedule: Numbers 16-17

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