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Your Story Has a Villain: Identify Spiritual Warfare and Learn How to Defeat the Enemy
Are you ready to change your narrative and live a different story today? If you're weary from the struggle and ready to experience life as God intended, this book will help you explore the tactics of Satan, equip you to overcome spiritual battles, and remind you of the victory already secured through Jesus.
There is an Enemy among us. You may know who he is, but you may not know what he is about. Do you know how he wages war? Do you know how he targets you specifically? He's the Villain who wants to change your story in the hopes you live isolated, powerless, discouraged, and defeated.
Satan has waged a war with the Almighty, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, and his sole desire is to keep you from God's goodness. He knows that he has been defeated by Jesus' death and resurrection, but until the final battle when he is cast into hell for eternity, he and his demons roam the earth like a roaring lion looking for anyone to devour. He is far more disruptive to our lives than we realize, and it's time to take action. In Your Story Has a Villain, bestselling author Jonathan "JP" Pokluda will help you:
Stand against the thief of life, who wants to take you out.
Understand the tactics the Enemy utilizes in your life.
Align yourself with God through prayer as you battle each day.
Rely on the truth and power of Scripture to counter the Enemy's lies and accusations.
Know that Jesus has already defeated Satan, so you can live victoriously.
Yes, your story has a villain, an unseen enemy disrupting your life more than you realize. But remember the hero, Jesus Christ, who came so that we may "have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10). We know the grim, eternal outcome for Satan and his demons, but the battle still rages. Are you ready to fight back, find freedom from sin and toxic thinking, and walk in the abundant life available to you?
There is an Enemy among us. You may know who he is, but you may not know what he is about. Do you know how he wages war? Do you know how he targets you specifically? He's the Villain who wants to change your story in the hopes you live isolated, powerless, discouraged, and defeated.
Satan has waged a war with the Almighty, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, and his sole desire is to keep you from God's goodness. He knows that he has been defeated by Jesus' death and resurrection, but until the final battle when he is cast into hell for eternity, he and his demons roam the earth like a roaring lion looking for anyone to devour. He is far more disruptive to our lives than we realize, and it's time to take action. In Your Story Has a Villain, bestselling author Jonathan "JP" Pokluda will help you:
Stand against the thief of life, who wants to take you out.
Understand the tactics the Enemy utilizes in your life.
Align yourself with God through prayer as you battle each day.
Rely on the truth and power of Scripture to counter the Enemy's lies and accusations.
Know that Jesus has already defeated Satan, so you can live victoriously.
Yes, your story has a villain, an unseen enemy disrupting your life more than you realize. But remember the hero, Jesus Christ, who came so that we may "have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10). We know the grim, eternal outcome for Satan and his demons, but the battle still rages. Are you ready to fight back, find freedom from sin and toxic thinking, and walk in the abundant life available to you?
223 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 28, 2025
999 people are currently reading
8171 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan "JP" Pokluda
15 books518 followersJonathan “JP” Pokluda is the Lead Pastor of a 145 year old Baptist church in Waco, TX, Harris Creek. Prior to moving to Waco in 2019, he was previously the leader of the largest weekly young adult gathering in the country. Although JP was raised in church, he didn’t come to understand the grace of the Gospel until his early twenties. This ignited a desire in him to inspire the next generation to radically follow Jesus Christ and unleash them to change the world. He spends a lot of time helping older generations understand and disciple younger generations.
JP is the author of several best-selling books, including Welcome to Adulting, Outdated, and his most recent release Why Do I Do What I Don’t Want to Do?, a book written to help readers of all ages replace deadly vices with life-changing virtues.
JP and Monica, his partner in ministry, have been married since 2004. Together they have the joy and privilege of discipling their children Presley, Finley, and Weston.
JP is the author of several best-selling books, including Welcome to Adulting, Outdated, and his most recent release Why Do I Do What I Don’t Want to Do?, a book written to help readers of all ages replace deadly vices with life-changing virtues.
JP and Monica, his partner in ministry, have been married since 2004. Together they have the joy and privilege of discipling their children Presley, Finley, and Weston.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 395 reviews
March 25, 2025
Simultaneously helpful and sobering. JP is real which I appreciate.
Also Goodreads has become my notetaking platform so feel free to ignore me.
1 Peter 5:8-9 - Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
James 4:7-8 - Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded
1 Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
Proverbs 4:23-27 - Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to thefn paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.
Ephesians 6:10-18
I have an enemy that wants me to forget about the spiritual battle being waged around me. It is a win for him if I am unaware and indifferent.
I want to live alert and sober, but not in fear.
I am not a citizen of this world.
Temptation is a proposition to not trust God.
The more we tell our story and live in the light, the less of a grip the enemy has on us. Keeping our stories to ourselves keeps others chained up.
What the villain does:
- Destroys - “You will never get in a bind believing that God can make good from anything”
- Distracts - “In contemporary society our adversary majors in three things: noise, hurry, and crowds”
- Deceives - Two main lies: God is not good and you cannot trust God. We fight lies by knowing and wielding the truth
- Disunifies - “Unity is an apologetic, a defense of our faith to a world that is so easily divided” & John 17:20-23
- Desensitizes - “When I sin I let him in” Desensitization starts with small compromises. Each time I give into temptation, I crack the door wider, making it that much harder to kick the enemy out.
- Deconstructs - Deconstruction is not inherently bad. Asking questions is a good thing. Deconstruction can be healthy when it leads to reconstruction based on God’s word.
Questions for reflection:
- If the enemy were going to take you out, how would he do it?
- Who/what am I serving and worshipping with my life?
- What does faithfulness look like for me today?
- What are the lies I hear and believe most?
- Where am I giving the devil a foothold?
- What are the common spiritual strongholds where I live?
- Am I nonchalant about the doctrine of hell?
- Where am I just going through the motions?
- What element of the armor of God (Eph. 6) am I most lacking?
- Are my prayers war time prayers or room service prayers?
- Do I spend time listening to God?
- How am I at resisting temptation? It’s like resistance training in the gym, the more I fight the more endurance I build.
- For guarding my heart: Who/what am I listening to? What am I saying? Where am I looking for guidance? Am I planning my path? What causes me to stray?
- Who is cheering me on while I run the race? Who am I cheering on?
Also Goodreads has become my notetaking platform so feel free to ignore me.
1 Peter 5:8-9 - Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
James 4:7-8 - Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded
1 Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
Proverbs 4:23-27 - Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to thefn paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.
Ephesians 6:10-18
I have an enemy that wants me to forget about the spiritual battle being waged around me. It is a win for him if I am unaware and indifferent.
I want to live alert and sober, but not in fear.
I am not a citizen of this world.
Temptation is a proposition to not trust God.
The more we tell our story and live in the light, the less of a grip the enemy has on us. Keeping our stories to ourselves keeps others chained up.
What the villain does:
- Destroys - “You will never get in a bind believing that God can make good from anything”
- Distracts - “In contemporary society our adversary majors in three things: noise, hurry, and crowds”
- Deceives - Two main lies: God is not good and you cannot trust God. We fight lies by knowing and wielding the truth
- Disunifies - “Unity is an apologetic, a defense of our faith to a world that is so easily divided” & John 17:20-23
- Desensitizes - “When I sin I let him in” Desensitization starts with small compromises. Each time I give into temptation, I crack the door wider, making it that much harder to kick the enemy out.
- Deconstructs - Deconstruction is not inherently bad. Asking questions is a good thing. Deconstruction can be healthy when it leads to reconstruction based on God’s word.
Questions for reflection:
- If the enemy were going to take you out, how would he do it?
- Who/what am I serving and worshipping with my life?
- What does faithfulness look like for me today?
- What are the lies I hear and believe most?
- Where am I giving the devil a foothold?
- What are the common spiritual strongholds where I live?
- Am I nonchalant about the doctrine of hell?
- Where am I just going through the motions?
- What element of the armor of God (Eph. 6) am I most lacking?
- Are my prayers war time prayers or room service prayers?
- Do I spend time listening to God?
- How am I at resisting temptation? It’s like resistance training in the gym, the more I fight the more endurance I build.
- For guarding my heart: Who/what am I listening to? What am I saying? Where am I looking for guidance? Am I planning my path? What causes me to stray?
- Who is cheering me on while I run the race? Who am I cheering on?
March 30, 2025
This is a great little book about spiritual warfare. I found it as an audiobook on Audible and was surprised how much I enjoyed listening to it. The book has a serious topic that could have been difficult to digest, but every chapter interested me throughout. There's so much to learn!
It is a fact that the more we do to help Jesus, the likelier it is we'll be facing spiritual warfare of some kind. It is important to learn what it is, how it manifests, why it happens, and what to do when it happens.
Attacks can come through people we know and love, people we would least suspect, and even from other Christians who little suspect they are being used by the enemy to attack you.
One thing that always alerts me to a spiritual warfare attack is to hear name-calling and accusations directed my way. Satan is the accuser. That's what his name means. If you find someone is suddenly accusing you and calling you names (especially if the situation doesn't warrant the attack) that's a clear evidence he or she is being used by the dark forces to try to ruin your day, happiness, life, or whatever else possible.
But never fear - because we who are Christians can lean into the safety and comfort of our loving Savior's arms. Remember, Jesus is always with you, he loves you, and you are his.
Anyhow, to return to the subject of this book - it is very well-written and it kept my interest though I read it just one chapter at a time, and never more than one chapter in a day. I normally juggle a lot of books so this kind of reading is normal for me. I thought the book was fantastic and covered the topic well, and that the narration was pleasant to listen to.
It is a fact that the more we do to help Jesus, the likelier it is we'll be facing spiritual warfare of some kind. It is important to learn what it is, how it manifests, why it happens, and what to do when it happens.
Attacks can come through people we know and love, people we would least suspect, and even from other Christians who little suspect they are being used by the enemy to attack you.
One thing that always alerts me to a spiritual warfare attack is to hear name-calling and accusations directed my way. Satan is the accuser. That's what his name means. If you find someone is suddenly accusing you and calling you names (especially if the situation doesn't warrant the attack) that's a clear evidence he or she is being used by the dark forces to try to ruin your day, happiness, life, or whatever else possible.
But never fear - because we who are Christians can lean into the safety and comfort of our loving Savior's arms. Remember, Jesus is always with you, he loves you, and you are his.
Anyhow, to return to the subject of this book - it is very well-written and it kept my interest though I read it just one chapter at a time, and never more than one chapter in a day. I normally juggle a lot of books so this kind of reading is normal for me. I thought the book was fantastic and covered the topic well, and that the narration was pleasant to listen to.
January 23, 2025
This book has completely changed my day to day thoughts already. I find myself being much more aware of the enemy’s attacks daily and observing how God can use those situations for His good. I find myself questioning more of my motives and actions through the lens of scripture. This book also TREMENDOUSLY helped me understand how the enemy operates, as I had never thought much about it before. I also appreciate the reflections/applications to complete at the end of each chapter.
I loved the chapter on prayer. I recently have been noticing friends and family members of mine praying over every tiny thing, even losing their keys. JP calls these “walkie-talkie” prayers, and watching them has convicted me and encouraged me to do the same. We should be praying throughout the day, not just before meals and before bed, if we want to strengthen our relationship with God and guard our minds/hearts.
Thank you, JP, for this resource! God uses you in wonderful ways to further his kingdom. I have a feeling I’ll be reading this book again, many times, in the future!!
I loved the chapter on prayer. I recently have been noticing friends and family members of mine praying over every tiny thing, even losing their keys. JP calls these “walkie-talkie” prayers, and watching them has convicted me and encouraged me to do the same. We should be praying throughout the day, not just before meals and before bed, if we want to strengthen our relationship with God and guard our minds/hearts.
Thank you, JP, for this resource! God uses you in wonderful ways to further his kingdom. I have a feeling I’ll be reading this book again, many times, in the future!!
December 27, 2024
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.
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.
March 13, 2025
I’ve said this time and time again… if you are a Christian, you NEED to read this. Not a want, a NEED. So thankful for JP and him being obedient to the Lord with writing this. I know this is going to change so many peoples lives.
February 23, 2025
I was going to go with 3 stars, but after flipping through and seeing what I underlined, I think I can bump to 4. Nothing was just unbelievable or profound, but there were certainly some helpful pieces.
Say what you want about JP, but something I will always appreciate it is his ability to say something in a way that sticks with me. There were some good one-liners and illustrations in here. I can’t say I learned anything super new, but I liked it!
Some takeaways:
-I like how he organized the enemy’s tactics: destruction, distraction, deception, disunity, desensitization, and deconstruction. I appreciate the categories!
-I am re-encouraged to pray without ceasing and memorize Scripture.
-We have to watch our INPUTS - what am I consuming? What am I listening to? What am I saying?
Nothing earth-shattering, but I think this will bless people!
Say what you want about JP, but something I will always appreciate it is his ability to say something in a way that sticks with me. There were some good one-liners and illustrations in here. I can’t say I learned anything super new, but I liked it!
Some takeaways:
-I like how he organized the enemy’s tactics: destruction, distraction, deception, disunity, desensitization, and deconstruction. I appreciate the categories!
-I am re-encouraged to pray without ceasing and memorize Scripture.
-We have to watch our INPUTS - what am I consuming? What am I listening to? What am I saying?
Nothing earth-shattering, but I think this will bless people!
March 29, 2025
4 stars! I really like Jonathan Pokluda and some of his other books and the podcast he does so I was excited to read this book! I think it was definitely a good book for the times when we often overlook the very real spiritual world and the impacts it has on us. I was definitely hoping for a little more depth to the book but it served as a good reminder/refresher on these tough subjects. Definitely give it a read if you have the time but no need for it to top your list! (No offense JP)
March 12, 2025
A must-read. JP addresses a topic that a lot of us just ignore most of the time. He covers hard topics while staying grounded with simple knowledge that anyone can understand. We all have one and only one enemy and we can't be ignoring that fact.
February 26, 2025
Listened. Good thought-provoking read. It didn't have the depth I went into it thinking it'd have, but it was still good. Makes a topic that may be intimidating for some approachable.
April 22, 2025
I've enjoyed every Jonathan "JP" Pokluda book I've read and, dare I say, this might just be his best yet!
JP opened my eyes to brand new ways of understanding the way the enemy or "the villain" comes to attack Christians today and how he operates in our modern world. I enjoyed JP's transparency and real-life, easy-to-incorporate applications to bringing prayer to the forefront of our daily walk as Christians and easy ways to embrace it as one of our strongest weapons in battle with the enemy and his minions across the earth. I found this book to be incredibly powerful. I truly cannot wait to order a physical copy soon to highlight and underline and annotate all over it--to really hold these practices close and keep them accessible.
This is not something I would merely recommend to my friends, family, and followers--it's something I would classify as a "NEED to read" text that everyone should have on their shelves.
Thanks to NetGalley and W Publishing for the audio ARC of this book!
JP opened my eyes to brand new ways of understanding the way the enemy or "the villain" comes to attack Christians today and how he operates in our modern world. I enjoyed JP's transparency and real-life, easy-to-incorporate applications to bringing prayer to the forefront of our daily walk as Christians and easy ways to embrace it as one of our strongest weapons in battle with the enemy and his minions across the earth. I found this book to be incredibly powerful. I truly cannot wait to order a physical copy soon to highlight and underline and annotate all over it--to really hold these practices close and keep them accessible.
This is not something I would merely recommend to my friends, family, and followers--it's something I would classify as a "NEED to read" text that everyone should have on their shelves.
Thanks to NetGalley and W Publishing for the audio ARC of this book!
June 2, 2025
I loved this book! Good for me to acknowledge ways the Enemy is trying to distract me & learned a lot about the importance of prayer!
July 7, 2025
A solid book about spiritual warfare! Starts out by talking about what forces are against us (the enemy and the results of a fallen world), goes on to tell us how the villian aims to ruin our lives and turn us against one another, and then talks about what we as believers in Jesus can do to combat these forces in our own lives! An interesting perspective for sure since some would say the spiritual realm isn’t real and others in society place too much emphasis on the dark spiritual realm. It was helpful to read that YES there are forces in our life working against us because we live in a broken world, but take heart! Jesus has overcome the world and belief in Him means that we will live abundantly without that brokenness in our next life.
Casual poolside/oceanside read on Jewel of the Seas 🥵🛳️
Casual poolside/oceanside read on Jewel of the Seas 🥵🛳️
May 17, 2025
I'm usually a little leery of literature on Spiritual Warfare, I find it to be very "ME" focused. MY victories, MY overcoming, etc. But this book kept coming up on the radio and conversations around me, I wanted to give it a chance. I've opened up with some close to me that the past two years have been ones in which I have felt more spiritual attacks against me, and especially my husband than any other time in my life. This was exactly the read I needed, both succinct and filled with truth. If you're going through a season of discouragement, disunity, or desensitization to sin, I highly recommend.
July 9, 2025
I listened to this one and LOVED IT. JP reads it, doing a fantastic job. He writes/speaks with grace and biblical truth while allowing no excuses for sin. He says it like it is.
This might become a life book, ie, a book I read/listen to almost yearly.
This might become a life book, ie, a book I read/listen to almost yearly.
June 11, 2025
With his relatable writing, JP makes an often intimidating topic manageable and sobering. Will definitely be a reread!
July 18, 2025
WHEWWWW. This one was good. JP always slaps me dead in the face and I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!
August 11, 2025
So good!! Spiritual Warfare isn’t talked about enough. We have an enemy and need to learn how to fight him, DAILY! This book gave biblical advice and practical strategies to arm ourselves with. Highly recommended!
April 28, 2025
This is a great book for someone who is unfamiliar with spiritual warfare! I was hoping for more depth as I’ve grown up learning a lot about this topic
July 8, 2025
Excellent, powerful, convicting and practical. Can’t recommend enough.
August 9, 2025
Good book yes, easy read to understand how the enemy takes over everyday and how to fight back for you and others. Has questions at end of every chapter to actually imply this on your life. A good and needed read.
December 19, 2025
a MUST read to all my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. left me with a lot of things to sit and dwell on.
January 27, 2025
JPs books are my favorite!!! Another 5 stars from me- opening my eyes to the fight we face everyday and practical strategies to use to protect our hearts. 10/10 recommend.
February 26, 2025
Very readable and approachable, at times too simplistic and contextual for his Bible belt reality in Waco, Texas. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it and think many will find it helpful, especially teens.
January 23, 2025
This book provides such a clear definition of spiritual warfare, the tactics to look for and methods to help combat these very tactics. JP does an excellent job providing such a simple way to understand what we are Christians face every day. I cannot recommend this book more and will be one for continual reference as needed.
July 17, 2025
So good!! First book of his and I def want to read more! Super easy read but also so applicable to everyday life!
October 27, 2025
I found this book to be super helpful! It provided great insight about spiritual warfare and applicable steps to identifying spiritual warfare and the enemy’s tactics.
August 1, 2025
Nothing really new here, and a few points I couldn’t agree with. I wish he had provided more biblical support for his points, especially early in the book.
March 7, 2025
So good! Great reminder about the spiritual forces at play in our world. Also informative about the tools the enemy uses! Would recommend!
January 23, 2025
classic jp slay, & i think this is his best book yet! took really complex topics from a variety of historical christian books and compiled it into an applicable and thorough overview.
March 24, 2025
So good I wish it was longer! JP makes it so easy to understand the enemy’s tactics and how he wants to destroy us. Some tactics of the enemy are: he destroys, he distracts, he deceives, he disunifies, he desensitizes, and he deconstructs. This made me realize the different ways the enemy could get a foothold in my life and how I need to armor up and protect my heart.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 395 reviews