Slaying the Giants in Your Life. By David Jeremiah. Nashville , TN : Word Publishing, 2001. 217 pp. Cloth. $19.99.

Popular author, pastor, and radio preacher, David Jeremiah, has written what many consider to be his finest work to date. After reading this book in one sitting, this reviewer would have to agree. Slaying the Giants in Your Life delivers on its promise to equip the believer to win the battle and live victoriously. One of the unique strengths of this book is its concise structure and organization. Since the book is based on a recent sermon series it is replete with contemporary illustrations, alliterated expositions, and creative principles and applications. Few Christian living books are as easy to read and retain as this one.

In twelve chapters, Jeremiah marshals a strategy to overcome the battles that Christians face. In Chapter 1 he uses Deut 1:19-33 to explain how to fight fear by exercising faith. In Chapter 2 Jeremiah walks the reader through Nehemiah 4 as a lesson on destroying discouragement.

Jeremiah liberates the reader from loneliness by picking out segments of the church (e.g. the lonely single, spouse, survivor, senior citizen, sufferer, and servant of God) in Chapter 3. He then cites biblical examples of those who have learned to cope with loneliness (David, Jeremiah, and Paul). Chapter 4 explains how to win against worry. The principal text in this chapter is Matt 6:25-34. This may be Jeremiah’s best exposition in the book.

In Chapter 5 we learn to guard against guilt through insightful expositions of Psalms 32 and 51. In Chapter 6 he urges Christians to tame temptation by relying on 1 Cor 10:13. The temptations that are focused on are idolatry, immorality, and greed. In Chapter 7 Jeremiah attacks anger by explaining from Ephesians 4 the difference between biblical anger and sinful anger.

Jeremiah helps the reader resist resentment in Chapter 8 by working through five simple steps: think it through, write it down, work it out, talk it over, and give it up. In Chapter 9 he disarms our doubts through the story of Thomas in John 20. In Chapter 10 Jeremiah advises the reader to postpone procrastination. This chapter is full of motivating quotes, illustrations, and insights from Acts 24. In Chapter 11, the reader is counseled to face failure head-on by meditating on 2 Cor 4:7-18. In the final chapter Jeremiah uses various Scriptures to teach the reader to journey beyond jealousy. His final applications are: renounce jealousy as sin, remember your rival in prayer, reaffirm God’s goodness to you, and rekindle God’s love in your heart.

JOTGES readers should note that at one point Jeremiah is inconsistent in his understanding of eternal security. In his exposition of Ps 52:11 (“Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me”), Jeremiah writes “Imagine it: cast away from the presence of God. This would be the description of a soul eternally lost—a soul castaway! David prays to avoid such a destiny. He pleads with God not to remove His Holy Spirit from him” (p. 83). The heading of the section from which the above quote is found is entitled “Renewing the Fellowship.” Unfortunately, Jeremiah never comments on the proper temporal aspect, choosing instead to delve into eternal consequences.

Pastors and teachers who are looking for a helpful tool in developing a sermon series need look no further. Those looking for a gift to share with a “seeker” will find this book a welcomed resource. Jeremiah wisely targets felt needs that all people have and provides a hopeful remedy. This is an excellent book written by a man who has demonstrated great credibility throughout his life and ministry.

Keith R. Krell
Senior Pastor
Emmanuel Baptist Church
Olympia , WA