When I was in college, a group of my friends and I went on a weekend retreat. I was canoeing with a friend who was deathly afraid of water because he didn't know how to swim. His canoe tipped and even though he was wearing a life jacket, he panicked. As I tried to give him reassurance that he would not drown on my watch, I stuck my paddle in the water and discovered that although it was murky, it was only waist deep. Stifling my laughter, I shouted out, "Darryl, stand up!"

Darryl was battling a lie, but as long as he thought it was the truth, he struggled. Once he realized the truth, Darryl overcame his fear and won his war.

[...] When an enemy is outnumbered and out-armed, his best weapon is deception! The devil is both defeated and disarmed, but he still winds victories in our lives through his cunning use of deception.

^Taken from Chapter Five of the book.^

About the book and author:

Leighann McCoy is an author and speaker who helps women develop a never fail faith. She knows an unfailing faith is possible because shes no stranger to the tough stuff in life. Leighann has endured a personal battle with cancer, walked with her daughter through a teen pregnancy, and served for over 25 years as a pastors wife. Spiritual Warfare for Your Family is her fifth book. Click here for her website.

Quick Review:

Need a quick guide to spiritual warfare? Check out this book.

What I liked:

She filled the book with personal stories, making it so much more relatable. She used plenty of word pictures, helping you to understand what's really going on. She gives practical advice to help you out. When you first pick up the book, you might be intimidated by the size, but don't worry. The chapters are small and set out so that you can find what you need easily.

What I didnt like:

I didn't have a problem with this book. It took me a bit to get through it, yes, but I've been busy. It was a kinda hard to read with my list of other to-reads that are fiction and definitely more interesting, but this was way more beneficial.

Who I would recommend this to:

Anyone who wants to learn more about spiritual warfare.

Rating:

4 stars

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.*

In Christian circles, spiritual warfare ranges from being unheard of, to being ignored, to being embraced in a mystic sort of way, and everywhere in between. In Spiritual Warfare for Your Family, Leighann McCoy aims to educate the reader regarding what spiritual warfare is, the importance of spiritual warfare, and how to successfully fight to protect yourself, your family and other loved ones.

There are several chapters that explain the basics of spiritual warfare what it is, why it happens, where it happens, etc. She addresses some hard questions like, Why did God create the devil? and Why do we still struggle with sin if Jesus has already won victory and empowered our lives? I felt most of the information was Scripturally sound, though at few things might have been a bit edgy.

After the basics are laid down, McCoy moves into tactics to fight the enemy. Although these lessons are framed as tactics within the concept of spiritual warfare, most of them are basic Christian living principles that people just need to put into practice. Forgiveness, love, prayer, resisting fear, surrender to God, etc.

Lastly, McCoy offers several chapters that address particular life stages and common issues in homes. These down-to-earth principles offer suggestions on how to try to prevent situations from happening as well as what to do if they have already happened. I appreciated her honesty as she shared her own failings and what, in hindsight, she believes she should/could have done differently.

Some of the lessons I gleaned from this book included: 1.) Confess your worst fear. Then focus on God, not you. 2.) Give up your own will completely. 3.) Tear down the High Places in your life.

McCoy points out that she isn't a prosperity preacher advocating health and wealth if you serve Jesus. Living the Christian life is often more about surrender and sacrifice than pleasant desires and luxuries. Even the basic principle of forgiveness can be terribly difficult if the wrong has been severe enough. I think that most Christians would find parts of this book challenging to put into practice, but the application of difficult principles can lead to spiritual growth and victory in the spiritual realm.

Overall, I think Spiritual Warfare for Your Family: What You Need to Know to Protect Your Children by Leighann McCoy is worth the time to read. I plan to keep it and read it again in the future.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

From the Back Cover:

You Can Win the Battle on the Home Front!

The Enemy wants nothing more than to hurt you and those you love. But his power pales in comparison to God's.

With warmth and wisdom, Leighann McCoy offers this practical guide to protecting your family from spiritual attack. In these pages you will learn what spiritual warfare is as it relates to your children and discover why you may be struggling to overcome the weapons of the Enemy. From there you'll develop the offensive tactics to strike first through prayer and the knowledge of God's Word.

Whatever stage your family is in--from babies to the teen years to enjoying your grandchildren--be empowered to recognize your own vulnerability and lean more heavily on God's strength and wisdom. He has every tool you need to protect your loved ones.

Includes end-of-chapter questions for reflection or group use.

About the Author:

Leighann McCoy is a sought-after speaker and author of Spiritual Warfare for Women. She is the prayer minister at a large Southern Baptist church where her husband serves as pastor. She also leads Never Fail Faith Ministries, a community of believers who connect with one another for encouragement and growth. Leighann lives with her family in Tennessee, and you can visit her online at www.LeighannMcCoy.com.

My Review:

Spiritual Warfare for Your Family by Leighann McCoy is one of the most comprehensive books on spiritual warfare that Ive read. The book is divided into six sections: The Battle is Real, Never Loose a Battle Again, What the devil Doesn't Want You to Know, Desperate Times Calls for Desperate Measures, Protecting Your Children, and Common Issues Families Are Facing and What You Can Do About Them. Each subsection has a prayer and or questions making this a great book for group study. This book would be a great book for any parent wanting wisdom on the spiritual aspects of parenting and the issues that families face today. The only thing I that I wish is that the author would have expounded more on the subtopics that she touched on in the back sections of the book. Greater wisdom on these topics is highly sought after by parents today. I recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn about the strategic plans and methods of the enemy on families and those you love.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Bethany House Blogger Review Program. http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/bethanyhouse/bookreviewers I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 : Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

In Spiritual Warfare for Your Family, Leighann McCoy emphasizes the impact of spiritual warfare by delineating what spiritual warfare is, why it happens, and how to recognize it in various forms. In the first few chapters, McCoy provides background that is essential for the foundation of the majority of the book. Spiritual Warfare for Your Family is also interspersed with personal stories from McCoys life as a wife, mother, and cancer-survivor.

I appreciated how McCoy wove Scripture into Spiritual Warfare for Your Family. She used Bible verses to support her examples, but also to encourage readers how to confront spiritual warfare in various life circumstances. Also, each chapter concludes with a few questions that revisit the topic of the chapter and help the reader to focus on self-reflection and life application.

Spiritual Warfare for Your Family is filled with powerful teaching. I will place Spiritual Warfare for Your Family in the re-read category of my list of books, and suggest that it is a necessary read for all Christians, whether or not you have children.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

For me this is a very timely book. I actually bumped it up in my reading list because of things going on in my life.

I need my eyes open to what the enemy is trying to do to me and my family and I must fight the good fight. I must make sure I am fighting the right person or thing and I haven't been.

Do you feel like your family is coming under attack? Then stand and fight with me. This book will give you some insight and courage and encouragement to stand up and fight for your family.

I highly recommend this book, we can't get enough knowledge on this topic that is threatening our families everyday.

A copy of this book was given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.