20 Jan Your Battles Belong to The Lord
Joyce Meyer has always been one of the most influential preachers in my personal faith journey. She never shies away from the nitty-gritty and is quick to call a spade, a spade. I love her frank, and cheeky way of getting a point across, and often, her messages remind me of the way my own gran preaches. Joyce’s story of overcoming sexual abuse, finding forgiveness, going through a divorce, remarrying, finding God, being called to the ministry but still doing it in true Joyce fashion (in one podcast episode, she talks about how she would host Bible Study groups in itty bitty shorts, with a cigarette in one hand and a Bible in the other), is the unfiltered testimony that more of us need to hear.
Often, when I feel lost and like I need a stern talking to, I opt for listening to Joyce’s podcast. Just like the millions of people who are inspired by her teachings, I am in awe of the way God has used her and am constantly encouraged by everything that she does, so when I picked up her new book, Your Battles Belong to the Lord in the midst of a low-point in my depression, it wasn’t a surprise that it was everything I needed to hear and more.
In Your Battles Belong to the Lord, Meyer explains that while some problems may result from a person’s choices or circumstances, others are rooted in the spiritual realm. Once you recognize the devil–who is real and active in the world today–as your true enemy and the source of many of your struggles, you can overcome them and live a life of peace, freedom, faith and victory.
Each chapter of the book helps you understand how the enemy operates and learn to counter his schemes and strategies so you can live at a new level of strength. Chapter titles include: “Know Your Enemy,” “Eliminate Fear,” “How the Devil Tries to Deceive People,” “Hold Your Peace,” “The Power of a Thankful Life,” and “Internal Rest.”
In this fresh approach to the subject of spiritual warfare, Meyer focuses not only on the nature and strategies of the enemy, but also on the power and love of God, who always defeats the enemy and leads you to triumph. No matter how difficult your challenges are, if you have God with you, you have all you need to win every battle.
I think that often, as Christians, we foolishly believe that we aren’t going to encounter troubles or challenges because we have God on our side, but we forget that often these battles help refine and grow in our faith, while also building a stronger relationship with God. Through our spiritual warfare, we learn to seek, trust and thank God. In fact, if I think back to my lowest point in life, I remember one day physically writing down all the challenges that were weighing me down and saying, aloud, “I give it all to you, Lord. I can’t do this on my own anymore – I need you!” Later in the day, I was comforted by the picture of God holding me above the waves that crashed around me. I saw how despite the rough seas, He stood confidently tall, unshaken, and unmoved, carrying me through life.
In this book, Joyce assures us that God will fight our battles for us, but that we also have a role to play in identifying our enemy’s strategies and nature. When realizing that it’s the enemy who is attacking us, we are reminded to be obedient and turn our focus on God’s word. God’s word serves as a shield and assures us of God’s faithfulness – if you are armed with God’s word, the enemy is already thrown off his course.
Personally, Joyce’s teachings always appeal to me because she takes scripture and breaks it down into simple to understand teachings. Her messages are practical and filled with personal stories and examples that are relatable and easy to apply in our own lives. I love that the stories weren’t just about her victories but also about her challenges and how she has overcome them, reminding us that even with her success that we may take as face value, she too gets attacked by the enemy.
Again, this is one of those books that I will refer back to, especially in times of spiritual warfare. It’s a confidently written book, one that breathes fearlessness into its reader and reminds us of how great our God truly is.
You can purchase your copy of Your Battles Belong to the Lord from leading book stores including CUM Books.
I’m a coffee-wielding mood reader and romance book collector who may or may not have a slight addiction to buying books. I read a variety of sub-genres within romance, including rom-coms, dark romance, and fantasy. I love sharing my thoughts on books, whether it’s through book reviews, quotes, or recommendations inspired by my current reads. Through my romance book blog, Literary Inspired, I aim to provide in-depth book reviews, curated reading recommendations, and exclusive author promotions. I’m passionate about supporting indie authors and sharing my latest book discoveries with others. When I’m not reading, you can find me cheering on my favorite football team and F1 drivers, crafting, baking with my kids or playing with my pets.
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