Shut Up, Devil: Silencing the 10 Lies Behind Every Battle You Face

Bible teacher Winkler (Activating the Power of God’s Word) equips readers with the tools to recognize and silence self-doubt in this spunky guide. Drawing on personal anecdotes and biblical analysis, the author suggests that negative thoughts about one’s “faults, failures, and inadequacies” are the work of the devil, and debunks 10 common “lies” the devil tells to make Christians feel insecure. To rebut the fear that bad things happen because God wants to punish wrongdoers, Winkler posits that “God loves you unconditionally” and that those hardships result from the devil’s mischief and the consequences of living with original sin. The author pushes back against the worry that “you do not belong” by reminding readers that they are “handcrafted by God,” and, though the devil may make them feel that they need to change to fit in, Winkler urges people to embrace their quirks as reflections of God’s intention. The author sometimes makes such vague statements as “scripture interprets scripture,” but his relentless positivity and message of God’s love is unmistakable. This is an engaging volume by an insightful storyteller and biblical interpreter. (Apr.)