Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table: It's Time to Win the Battle of Your Mind...

by Louie Giglio

Publishers Weekly bestseller Discover how to break free from the chains of negative thinking and experience true freedom from unhealthy thoughts and emotions. The Enemy is constantly seeking to fill your mind with destructive and harmful thoughts—whether of fear, worry, insecurity, anxiety, temptation, envy. . . . It’s all too easy for Satan to manipulate his way into a seat at the table intended for only you and Jesus, and to try making himself at home in your mind. It’s an ongoing battle, but one you can win! In Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table , bestselling author and pastor Louie Giglio shares practical ways to overcome the Enemy’s lies and instead find peace and security in any challenging circumstance or situation. By drawing from Psalm 23 as a framework, he offers biblical insight on how to . . . You can find freedom from the war inside your mind—if you allow Jesus, the Good Shepherd, to lead the battle. Learn how to find encouragement, hope, and strength no matter what valleys you face. It’s time to reject the lies and listen to the truth.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Faith, Self Help, Christian Living, Christianity, Religion

224 pages, Hardcover

First published May 11, 2021

Reviews

[Austin Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

Update:
I've decided to edit this review to better clarify my thoughts on it and to respond to the myriad of comments received.

Giving a negative review for a faith based book such as this is tough; I have nothing against Louie Giglio or any of the doctrine in this book.
My problem with it, and reason for the one star rating, is that there is no "meat" or substance to this book at all - it all just feels incredibly shallow and superficial. There's no deep analysis or beneficial wisdom herein, merely lots of hype-talk that quickly becomes repetitive and serves as filler to pad out the word count.
I lost count how many times the sentence "Don't give the enemy a seat at your table." was used.
There is a plethora of fragmented and scattered sentences that don't feel connected to any theme or point the author is trying to make, making the book feel disjointed and messy. And most of these sentences are simple truths that Christians (and even non-Christians) might already know.

Louie Giglio relies heavily on the usage of metaphors, but he doesn't seem to understand how they work; he never gets to the point of any of them, making them feel like unfinished anecdotes. He never really gets to the point of anything, as a matter of fact - he keeps circling around to the same, unexplored statement: "Don't give the enemy a seat at your table."

I haven't ventured into Giglio's other published work, but I can't help but wonder that part of the reason for this book's incoherence and lack of depth could be due to his ineptitude as a writer. Even with several published works under his belt, a lack of talent in this area could make translating and conveying his ideas a difficult task.
And just to reiterate, I don't know the man personally and I have no doubt he is a man of God simply trying to help others and preach the word.

If this is a book that you found insightful or helpful, more power to you, but it did not benefit me in any way or help me learn anything new. If you are looking for spiritual wisdom and want to grow as a Christian, there are plenty of other faith based and spiritual aid books that I would recommend over this one.

[abigailscupoftea · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book is a reminder to take every thought captive (2 corinthians 10:5) and to remember your identity in Christ. it is a call to train your mind and heart to believe that you are a new creation (2 corinthians 5:17). your righteousness is safe because of what Jesus did at the cross.
“keep this in mind: the stakes are high. this is your life we’re talking about. this is your now. this is your future. this is your family. this is your sanity. your peace. your success. your calling. your destiny. this is everything God has made you to be. the devil wants to destroy you. he has no mercy, and he has all the time in the world.”
this book is a powerful encouragement to familiarize yourself with what the Bible says and repeat God’s truth to yourself so there’s no room for the enemy at your table. we have the victory because Christ lives in us (galatians 2:20). 🕯✨

[Oceana GottaReadEmAll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, I didn't expect this to get so good!

I listened to the audiobook and Louie narrates it himself. He did a great job! It felt like I was sitting down for coffee with him and he was sharing his heart.

Chapter 5 is when things got good. Like straight truth nuggets that spoke to me so much. A lot of encouragement here. I loved it!

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook Review

This was such a wonderful experience listening to pastor Louie Giglio as he personally narrates his own book. I found it filled with hope and guidance, especially in this chaotic world where negativity constantly fills our minds and thoughts - of worries, anxieties, jealousy, and what may end up spiraling into an ongoing battle no one can win.

In a prayerful and hopeful voice, pastor Louie Giglio offers peace, truth and solace to our lives. With the framework of Psalm 23, Giglio offers tools to empower against negativity, insecurity and destructive behaviors and thinking. I really enjoyed this wonderful audiobook.

[Amber Pupel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Psalm 23!!!! This book changed the way in which I take my thoughts captive- a question that has truly been a life changing tool is asking myself: “did you [thought] come from the pit or the throne?”

[Coralie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, I have mixed feelings about this book. My bible study group is going through the book and the accompanying book study. This is the first of Louie Giglio's works I've encountered.

Initially, I really didn't love the book. It's redundant and repetitive and uses a lot of metaphors for the same point over and over again. But the second half/last third of the book I enjoyed much more. I think Louie spent a lot more time setting the initial idea of a table than he needed to, but once he finally started building out from that, I did enjoy the book more.

And let me be clear, I still really liked how he set up the table metaphor in the first place. I just didn't love the additional 800 metaphors for each element along the way. Some of them were helpful, actually, and the anecdotes made his points clearly. But at a certain point, the sheer number of them became monotonous. In the latter half of the book, he dropped the metaphor onslaught and started just to make his point and use scripture a lot more.

I went into the book expecting it to be a study of Psalm 23, because that was how it was presented to me, but really, I don't think that's an accurate description. Yes, the book starts with the Psalm and dives into parts of it to draw out this metaphor of a table and a personal invitation with the king, but truly, the book centers around just a few verses within the Psalm and then builds out from there. I thought a lot of Giglio's points were powerful and the heart of the book is a beautiful call to focusing on Christ. There was much in this book I drew out and was encouraged by. And, again, many of the visual representations did actually give me a new way to think about the points he made.

I will say, I didn't love all of the modern phrasing for some of the examples and metaphors. I get that Giglio is trying to relate to current culture, and some of it worked well--like the drive by coffee date. Excellent point, clearly illustrated. But some of it felt a little flippant (which, to be fair, our culture is often flippant) and I personally as a reader wanted to go deeper, be more serious--and be taken more seriously. Maybe I'm just a little old school, but I didn't love the tone of the book.

Additionally, I'll just point out that while the video series has been really well done so far (we're still going through those cause I finished the book early. I'll review the study book when we do finish the proper schedule), the video series is very repetitive with the book and the study book. All three resources at once were a bit much for me. They all three pull directly from each other and it just didn't feel necessary. I might recommend the book and the video series (or maybe the study book and the videos, but that doesn't quite go to the depth that the book did)--still repetitive, but the visual representation in the first two videos really was stellar. The study book does ask some questions and lead to some discussion, but it draws heavily from the book sometimes in large sections and some of the questions didn't quite click with me. Though I did enjoy the bit on the armor of God, which wasn't in either the videos or the book.

I'm not honestly sure if I'd recommend the study or not. Again, I'm a bit conflicted. Maybe I'm just not the primary audience. There are some good parts here, but I didn't love the compilation of them and felt many of the pieces weren't necessary or could have been done better.

[Lovely Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Would’ve had a 5⭐️ except the section on thoughts & our thought life did not address the cases of chemical or hormonal imbalances causing distress in our minds. Other than that oversight, this was a great book!

ALSO!!! One of surprisingly few Christian non fiction book that starts and ends with a prayer for the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts as we read the book.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

“humility isn’t thinking less of yourself; humility is thinking of yourself less”

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table
It's Time to Win the Battle of Your Mind...
by Louie Giglio
Back of the Book: “Louie Giglio helps you find encouragement, hope, and strength in the midst of any valley as you reject the enemy voices of fear, rage, lust, insecurity, anxiety, despair, temptation, or defeat.
Scripture is clear: the Enemy is a liar who will stop at nothing to tempt you into poor decisions and self-defeating mindsets, making you feel afraid, angry, anxious, or defeated. It is all too easy for Satan to weasel his way into a seat at the table intended for only you and your King. But you can fight back.
Don’t Give the Enemy a Seat at Your Table outlines the ways to overcome those lies so you can find peace and security in any challenging circumstance or situation. With the same bold, exciting approach to Scripture as employed in Goliath Must Fall and his other previous works, pastor Louie Giglio examines Psalm 23 in fresh ways, highlighting verse 5: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.”
You can find freedom from insecurity, temptation, and defeat—if you allow Jesus, the Shepherd, to lead the battle for your mind and heart. This spiritual warfare book for those who are leery of spiritual warfare books will resonate with Louie’s core Passion tribe as well as with Christians of all ages who want to live a triumphant life in God.”
Impressions: I felt like there was a lot of “hype” talk but not a lot of actual hype. The author received advice, “Don’t give the enemy a seat at your table” and it inspired him to share this message. It’s great advice but the book became bogged down with too much chatter and fluff for me. I didn’t finish reading the book, unfortunately.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

[Brendan · Rating 2 out of 5]

A mediocre sermon series expanded to be a book, written with the typical Christian-self-help writing style. Full of rhetorical questions, "I don't know about you"s, quirky personal stories, and pop psychology.

Somehow manages to take Psalm 23's meditations on living with God even in the midst of suffering and turns it into a Word-of-Faith manifesto about "agreeing with God" to bind thoughts and kick the devil away from "your" table. (Spoiler, in the psalm, it's GOD's table. He owns the table and provides the protection, not you "agreeing" with Him.)

2 stars because if Giglio had stripped out the bad exegesis, he genuinely gives some good advice. Compare your thoughts to Scripture, etc. But overall this just feels like a cash grab capitalizing on the popularity of Charismatic Christianity and instagram carousels that use therapy terms.

[LAMONT D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe this is the first book I have read from this author and pastor of the Passion City Church in Atlanta. He has also been a part of a great movement called the Passion conferences which have reached many college-aged young people with the gospel of Jesus Christ. In this book I found the chapter on capturing every thought very helpful. That verse has always intrigued me while challenging me to apply its principle to my life. He reiterates that you can win the battle for your mind. Don't give in to the negativity and lies that may come by taking every thought captive. Along the way throughout the book, he gives you tidbits regarding the original language of the words (for example the word holy comes from the Hebrew word which means sacred and set apart) in the Bible along with personal stories and ideas for personal applications in your life. His main thesis is to change your thinking by dwelling on and memorizing scripture saying back to yourself the truths you find in scripture (for example I am fearfully and wonderfully made, and my life has a purpose, etc.).

[Cupcake Book Lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

“God doesn't force us to follow Him. He offers an incredible invitation: Jesus is saying, I want to be your Good Shepherd. He is a personal, involved God who wants to shepherd your life. Something is going to lead you. Jesus He shows you how to deal with your enemies so they don’t tear you apart inside.
This is the picture of “even though/ I will” faith. Even though I am surrounded by enemies, God has prepared a table for me, and I will sit down with Him.
The ultimate reward for any follower of Christ is not what God gives us, and we need to keep this in mind right from the start. It’s about the relationship itself. It’s about God sitting at the table with us. It’s about God walking with us through the valley of the shadow of death. This is not a self-help book where I’m giving you three steps to pain-free life. It’s a book of worship, where we see Jesus in new and biblical ways.”

Because many Christians are introduced to Psalm 23 early in their faith, we can grow callused or unhearing to its message. But this book breathes new, deeper life into the words of King David in a way that is relevant to any Christian, no matter their current season of life.

This masterpiece of a book by Louie Giglio offers a new look at Psalm 23, as well as the concept of winning the battle for your mind and putting things in perspective to have peace even in life’s valleys. With conviction and encouragement, this book reveals how to stop the enemy from devouring the abundant life Christ has paved the way for us.

This brilliant book will teach you how to have “the close relationship you are meant to fully and deeply enjoy with God.”

[Isaac Denton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good and timely read for me. I enjoy Louie’s writing style as he really put the title and the metaphor into a picture. I had never thought about Psalm 23 in this light before and how God desires for us to delight at the table of His presence. To be so caught up in Him that there is no room for the enemy to come and pull up a chair.

[Fontana Arnaud · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
I read this with my small group @ church. It’s a great concept and written really well! The only “issue” I had is how much fluff was in there. I wish there was a bit more meat to the bones. But overall really good read! Lots and lots to think about.

[Namito Yokota · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good topic, but should’ve been an article or sermon, not a book.

[Thomas Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an easy read and so helpful in seeing how and when the enemy is trying to attack. It is such a relief to read about how other people have the same struggles and reassuring to know we are never alone. Love love love

[Nicole Seipel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Bible study.

[Karen_RunwrightReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains a few practical ways to identify the presence of the enemy hovering around your table as well as how to banish those lies that would encourage you to entertain him - like the lie of worthlessness that says you’re not good enough to deserve the seat you occupy, the lie of comparison to get you to move from where you are in search of even greener pastures, the lie of paranoia that gets you to believe no one, not even God, can be trusted.

I really enjoyed reading Giglio’s anecdotes, both his personal stories and testimonies that have been shared with him, but even more than that, I admired how he explained and incorporated the message of Psalm 23 in the context of power and choosing how to define your life.

The message in this little book is a powerful one and would probably resonate more comfortably with someone who already has a baseline relationship with God and is looking for a more practical knowledge of God’s power but the lessons here would be applicable to anyone.

Read my full review at Runwright.net
https://runwright.net/2021/05/19/dont...

[Wes Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

Louie Giglio is a master of the illustration. He is top-tier when it comes to making a concept understandable, and this book is a perfect example of that. The metaphor of a table for two, only you and Christ, surrounded by enemies (temptations, guilt, shame, etc.) who want to pull up a chair, makes clear a concept that has eluded me for a long, long time. The battle is in the mind, and I feel more "armed" now than ever. One last note: this book came at a time in my life when it was so needed, so exactly-on-time, that I know it was sent to me by the Holy Spirit. In other words, this book has been prayed over, and that makes all the difference.

[Candace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book I've read by Pastor Louie Giglio. It provides helpful advice on how to keep the enemy from pulling up a chair at God's and your table. He focuses on Psalm 23, specifically verse 5: "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies." At the end of the book, Pastor Giglio provides seven seeds of advice and scripture to plant in the garden of your mind. This small book uses several metaphors to get his point across. By the time the reader finishes this helpful book, they will have the title cemented in their mind: "Don't give the enemy a seat at your table. "

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this quick book. The audio is told like a series of mini sermons and it was really enjoyable. This author is one of my favorite Christian non fiction authors and this one is just a reminder to take our thoughts captive and fill our brains with truth, not the Devil's lies. Chapters: 9 words that will change your life, the 23rd psalm remix, mind if I sit down, deadly lies exposed, the sprial of sin, freedom revolution, take every thought captive, grace that silences shame, staggered by the mountain, the garden of your mind.

[Melanie Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, especially for this season. May I grow to have an “even though...I will” faith. Took me a while to get through this one because I wanted to really process it and see what God had for me. Good stuff in here and highly recommend.
“One huge difference between God and Satan is that the Enemy will condemn you, but God will convict you. There’s a world of difference between the two actions. Condemnation is done from a posture of hate. Conviction is done from a posture of love.”

[Ashley Rhein · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The choice to know God more fully is yours”

“One huge difference between God and Satan is that the enemy will condemn you, but God will convict you”

How beautiful is it that we get to serve a God who wants to know is deeply and intimately?? This book had so many impactful reminders that help you to see how much God is fighting for you. How deeply He longs for you to be seated at his table, just the two of you. Oh how Holy He is 🫶🏻

[Juli Minchey · Rating 5 out of 5]

From someone who struggles with anxiety I absolutely loved this book and couldn't get enough of it. I loved the way he word's everything and breaks down the different ways the devil can squeeze himself into your life.

[Hope Wiseley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book along with the study guide and video was sooo good for me. I highly recommend them all together.

[Mikaela Jordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the premise of this book but the second half of the book took me forever to get through because it was too redundant and felt like I was just reading the same thing over and over again

[Sarah Riley · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 I hate to give any Christian literature a bad review, but I don't really recommend this book. There are way better ones out there! (Desiring God by John Piper for one) This book felt like a locker room pep talk for young Christian men with a lot of repeating the same thing. This could have been reduced down to one chapter in a larger book.

For me personally, the picture he kept hammering home was nice but blessedly unhelpful. His attitude towards the enemy is light-hearted and almost like a whimsical fairy tale.

Some of my notes -
Safeguards are wise but can quickly become legalism - be careful.

Best quote - "Sin is always less than God's best for you."

I dont like how he paints a victim mentality throughout the book instead of encouraging us to take ownership of the fact that we're absolutely addicted to our sin. God's power can help us overcome sin. Most of the time, we are at fault because we're enticed by our own desires. Blaming the devil is not going to crucify the love of sin in our hearts.

Chapter 8 talks about sin, and confession & is pretty good. It's still very man centered instead of Christ center.

The prayer at the very end was great.

[Emily Cobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars // This found me exactly when I needed it most. Through every page, I felt seen, comforted, and challenged in all the right ways.

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

i thought this book had great application for thoughts around temptation and lies we believe. on the same note, i loved the picture that Louie painted of Pslam 23 and not giving the enemy a seat at your table. i listened to this as an audiobook (yes, i’m counting those) and really liked the way that Louie shared the story

[A.R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good message and I enjoyed the book.