Spiritual Warfare for Women: Winning the Battle for Your Home, Family, and Friends
Do You Know How to Protect Your Family, Your Friends–and Yourself? The enemy is real, and his mission is to hurt you, your family, and your relationships. But the enemy has no weapon that could ever compare to God’s love.
Leighann McCoy, women’s minister and speaker, shows how sometimes the most significant spiritual battles are the ones you fight inside yourself. With warmth and wisdom, she offers practical tips on identifying and combating Satan’s most powerful attacks, helping you find the victory that comes through knowing who God is and who you are in Him. Spiritual warfare doesn’t always mean plunging headlong into the enemy’s camp with sword raised high. Sometimes it comes down to a more subtle war between the lies that imprison and the Truth that will set you free.
This Mom’s Review of Spiritual Warfare for Women: Winning the Battle for Your Home, Family, and Friends
Spiritual warfare is a topic that has been taught in church. Yet, I pictured it as something that just affects my spiritual growth. In this book, I see just how Satan can and has attacked many areas in my life: my marriage, children, friendships, health and church; which are areas covered by the author. (See the table of contents). I think the chapter that spoke to me most was about friendships with other women. I find myself getting into pity parties and telling myself I don’t need my friends. I now understand why I need those female friendships. God has given us friendships for vital reasons shared in this book. In addition to that chapter, the reader of this book will learn about God’s love, Satan’s character and methods, and who we are in Christ. All these things will help us win the battle for our homes, families, and friends.
In the beginning of the book, fear is discussed. Here is a quote from the book that really stuck in my mind – page 15:
“… We truly worship that which we fear most… Our fear drives us to adjust our behavior so that we honor the object of our fear.”
This is a smart observation. God tells us to fear Him and we’re to worship Him – a healthy, God-revering fear. This little quote has prompted me to think about my fears and the attention they get in my life. I’ve never looked at it this way before, so when I read this, some light was shed on some things in my life that line up with what the author has said.
This is the first time I’ve read a book written by Leighann McCoy. I am interested in reading more of her books!
Bible translations include NIV, ESV, HCSB, The Message, NASB, NLT, and KJV.
Questions & Answers with Author Leighann McCoy
You say in your book that because you grew up in a denomination that taught very little about spiritual warfare you developed your own theology that proved to be
“grossly false.” What was wrong with your theology?
My false theology went something like this: What you don’t know can’t hurt you. Only people who are a little bit wacky get involved in that sort of thing. And, just don’t go there. As a pastor’s wife in a small church, I learned that what I didn’t know hurt me more because I never saw the battle coming. Then I looked around and watched as many people I’d consider reasonably sane were targeted for attack. And perhaps the most powerful lesson came when I realized that you don’t have to go looking for the battlefield; it comes to you.
What is your definition of spiritual warfare?
Spiritual warfare is a battle between God and Satan. It is a war that began in the heavenlies before Adam and Eve ever arrived on the scene. And although the war was won at the cross, battles continue today with us at the center of them. Spiritual warfare involves Satan’s attempts to bring pain, suffering and heinous evil into our lives (and into the world) that.
How do you define the “win” in spiritual warfare?
The “win” is defined by whether or not followers of Christ proclaim or profane the name of God. When we encounter an attack and respond to that encounter with courage, confidence, and great faith in the power and love of God, we win. When we encounter an attack and respond to that encounter with defeat, discouragement, and a lack of faith in the power and love of God, the enemy wins.
In your book you mention women who think they’ve “out-sinned the love of God.” What do you mean by that, and how does that thought process impact spiritual warfare?
I’ve met many women who live in constant awareness of their failures. While they intellectually understand that Jesus died for their sins, they have a hard time understanding that He completely forgives them for that particular sin. In chapter 3 of my book I shout the truth that you cannot out-sin the love of God. I encourage the reader to camp out at the foot of the cross long enough to realize that when Jesus declared sin’s price tag paid in full…it was paid in full. Who would know how much sin cost better than God’s only begotten Son? The impact this has on spiritual warfare is huge. If the Enemy can somehow paralyze us with guilt, shame, and remorse, we’ll live our lives hiding from the presence of God rather than walking with Him on this adventure called life.
You mention throughout your book the power of God’s Word. You even talk about “Post-It Note” warfare. What is that?
Post-It Note warfare is simply taking verses from the Bible, printing them on Post-It Notes, and sticking them wherever you’ll see them throughout your day: on the mirror in the bathroom, just above the kitchen sink, on the steering wheel in your car, anywhere you will look. Then, throughout the day, read those verses aloud in order to
take your thoughts captive to the lordship of Christ.
More Questions & Answers with Leighann McCoy (pdf file).
A copy of the book was provided by Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review. Sneak a peak via Scribd.com, then grab a copy from Amazon.com, Christianbook.com, BarnesandNoble.com or your local bookstore.