To effectively fight spiritual battles, we must know our enemy. The unfortunate reality, however, is that most people not only do not know the enemy and his tactics–they don’t even know they are in a war. In JP’s newest book, Your Story Has a Villain, he seeks to equip his readers with the knowledge and information necessary to fight effectively in our spiritual battles.

The book is divided into three parts, with the first identifying who the enemy is. This section investigates who is the devil and what is hell. Are these things real? What misconceptions do we have about each of them? Then, in the second part, JP provides six tactics of the enemy in his warfare strategy. And, in pastoral fashion, they all start with the same letter: destructs, distracts, deceives, disunifies, desensitizes, and deconstructs. Finally, the last section teaches us how to fight back using the armor of God and the power of prayer.

Each chapter, in addition to the information throughout, offers a “Make It Stick” conclusion. JP uses this opportunity to offer some practical tips to live out what that chapter covered. I appreciated this tangible approach, as simply knowing about the enemy and knowing about the weapons and defenses at our disposal will do nothing for us unless we employ them. That is often the disconnect that occurs: “Okay, great, info. Now what?”

If you desire to learn more about spiritual warfare and what the Bible has to say about it, this is a great primer. I felt it offered a comprehensive overview defining terms, revealing tactics, and laying out our response. Not only was this book informative, but it was actionable, too. Further, JP offers illustrations that are relatable and writes in a style that is easily understood and to read. I’m thankful to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the advanced readers’ copy in exchange for my honest review.