The Battle Plan for Prayer: From Basic Training to Targeted Strategies

by Stephen Kendrick, Alex Kendrick

Inspired by the Kendrick Brothers’ new movie, W ar Room , this exciting new resource from the #1 best-selling author team behind  The Love Dare  and  The Resolution for Men  is designed to help anyone learn how to become a powerful person of prayer.  The Battle Plan for Prayer  begins with prayer’s core purpose, its biblical design, and its impact throughout history. Readers will be guided scripturally through the fundamentals of how effective prayer works, inspired towards a closer, more intimate relationship with God, and shown how to develop specific prayer strategies for each area of life. Prayer can accomplish what a willing God can accomplish. It should be your first plan of attack in all of life’s battles, not your last resort. If you want to experience the joy of mightily answered prayer, then it’s time to engage with God at another level.

Genres: Christian, Prayer, Nonfiction, Faith, Religion, Christianity, Christian Living

264 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2015

About the author

Stephen Kendrick (born June 10, 1974) is an American film writer and producer, co-writer of the book The Love Dare with brother Alex Kendrick, and former senior associate pastor at Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Georgia. Stephen, Shannon and Alex Kendrick comprise Kendrick Brothers Productions.

Reviews

[7jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although I have no interest in the Kendricks' movies (this book is inspired by "War Room") nor do I think share much of the same view of faith and values with them, this still makes one of those surprise books that is good anyway, and gives you solid hints on efficient, powerful prayer.

(I do think that 'moments of silence' have their values, even if one doesn't use those moments for prayer - this was one disagreement, but to be honest, I disagreed with few enough, and small enough things in this book that it got four stars.)

It is suggested that one could use this by reading a chapter per day, and praying the prayer at the end of each chapter, with Bible nearby. I read three chapters per day, no prayer, but I did like many chapter prayers included. The book suggests one should reserve a certain time and place to pray in every day - besides what one prays at other times - to concentrate on prayer only and with great intensity.

What the book includes:
- the power of prayer and the need for it
- basics: prayer types, answers from God, possible posture variations, bad and good prayer motives
- your heart and prayer: genuine relationship with God (not just routine), the excellence of humility and repentance, the power of people united in prayer, to not let pride come into prayer situations, the necessity of persistence
- startegies: Scripture inspiration (read and remembered), knowing J's will and willingness to give us what (good) we want, the use of God various names (listed in the appendix), praying for wisdom and incresed goodness, the guidance of Holy Spirit, praying against evil's attacks beforehand, the use of fasting with prayer
- praying for: nonbelievers, missionaries, other believers (esp. spiritual needs), family, authorities (incl. us if we have such position), pastors, and for revival
+
Appendixes:
strategy for praying for revival (alone and different groups)
checking for lukewarmness
encouragement to begin life of proper Christianity
hints of verses to use to pray for someone or certain groups of people
verses when wrestling with certain issues
the names of God (one and for each part of Trinity)
on starting a prayer ministry
discussion questions for introduction and each chapter

So this is a pretty good book to add to one's books about prayer even when not interested in the authors other works or sharing their values exactly. Nothing jarring, plenty of good information that one might miss. Something to reread parts or the whole of even in the future :)

[Crystal Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will admit I struggle with prayer, I don't like praying out loud, in front of people even my family. I don't know if its because I'm afraid I will not say the right thing. I have always longed to be able to pray like Beth Moore, Sheila Walsh, Lisa Harper, Lysa TerKeurst, you name it, that is who I wanted my prayer life to be like. In the Battle Plan for Prayer, the Kendrick brothers will show us how to have a powerful prayer life. Guided by scripture we will learn to have a closer relationship with Christ with the words we pray. Prayer should always be the first thing we turn to for attack in all of life's battles.

The Battle Plan for Prayer was inspired by War Room, the Kendrick Brothers new movie. If you are longing for a better prayer life I suggest watching War Room, reading The Battle Plan for Prayer and ladies read Fervent by Priscilla Shrier also. With all these tools that Christ has given us along with His word, we will be ready for Battle.

I highly recommend this book for anyone, young or old, man or woman. You will not be disappointed.

Thank you the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book for my honest review.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has helped me sooo much! I don't even know where to begin this review.
I usually don't enjoy this type of book. Sure, I've read several, but it's usually not a good, enjoyable experience and something that takes me forever to accomplish. That wasn't true with The Battle Plan for Prayer. I'll admit, it did take me awhile to get into this book, but once I did I thoroughly loved it.
The book is chock-full of helpful prayer guidelines, amazing Bible verses, and lots of inspirational stories that really grabbed and held my interest. The writing was great; it really kept me wanting to read more. And everything mentioned by the Kendrick brothers is backed up with powerful Scripture references.
All in all, this was an amazing book. It has really strengthened my prayer life. I underlined many places and scribbled in the margins. :) If you want to be challenged to grow closer to God, actively seek Him, and strengthen your prayer life, read this book. ;)

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been one of the most useful tools in transforming my prayer life. I highly recommend reading this book. I believe it is useful not only to those new in their faith but those who have been following the Lord for years. I tend to be hesitant towards "fad" type Christian books. I was iffy as this was based off of the movie War Room and I wondered if this was just another way they were trying capitalize on the movie. It has surpassed my expectations in every way. I have a better understanding of prayer and how my prayer life was hindered. You will not regret the time you spend reading and absorbing this book.

[Marnie (Enchanted Bibliophile) · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most helpful books about prayer I've ever read.

[Kymberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book in an old moving book and so glad I did. It was a blessing beyond measure for 2015 as well as this past month. Much needed and appreciated encouraging guidance. What has helped me in the past as well as today is I write my prayers to God in Journal. It isn’t dear diary but Dear Abba, thank You…

[Jordan Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

i think i’d really say 4.5⭐️, but giving it five because the way i think about prayer in my personal life (& actually pray) is definitely clearer after reading this book!

i think it’s really valuable to have books or conversations about prayer in specific detail—what is it and how does it work? what does it mean to pray and for what?—because i think prayer is a subject that often seems super abstract. and even for people of Christian faith, i feel like sometimes prayer is painted as something we… cannot understand? which doesn’t make sense? especially for people who have specific questions and struggles with Christianity, God, prayer, etc?

i think it’s positioned toward believers/people of Christian faith, so it may not best fit someone who doesn’t feel that way going into it. i haven’t read many faith/Christian books, but i’m really interested in reading others that go even further back into the basics. in other words, i wouldn’t call this a “Christianity or Prayer 101”, but i think it can definitely be helpful to a person who believes but also has questions to have some “aha!” moments.

the format is to read a chapter a day, 5 days a week (or as much as you can) for like 7 weeks, and the longest chapters are like 7 pages. it makes a lot of Scriptural points, but i could still stand for the chapters to be more in-depth, but i think that goes back to the book being oriented toward people for whom faith is already a large part of their identity/lives. for example, how God answers prayer is perhaps beyond a six page discussion. so, it didn’t cover absolutely everything (and maybe that’s an unrealistic expectation) but i’m glad i read it!

[Katrina Epperson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a study guide designed to help you on your journey of learning how to pray more biblical and strategically. To help in using this book as a study guide here are suggestions on how to use it:
-read a chapter a day at least 5 days a week for the next seven weeks
-read the Bible each day (the suggestion is the Gospel of Luke so you can learn from Jesus about prayer)
-pray everyday. Prayer time should be both scheduled and spontaneous
There is a battle plan page where you can list you scheduled time and place for prayer and then prayer targets that helps you develop a specific, personalized and ongoing prayer list. (very helpful)
The book is broken up into seven focus areas:
Enlistment
Basic Training
Conditioning
Strategies
Targets
Ammunition
Reinforcements.
Each focus area is further explained in the chapters they contain. For instance, the first chapter (under Enlistment) is the Legacy of Prayer.
In this chapter we learn that there's not an issue we're facing that prayer can not address because nothing is too difficult or impossible for God to handle. It also explains that the greatest and most spiritually successful men and women of the Bible were always people of prayer. Examples given were Abraham, Issac, Jacob, Moses, David, Daniel and Jesus. We are reminded that no church program, religious event, political effort, or humanitarian cause can trump the awesome power of what God can do in response to the prayers of His people. Then the chapter ends with a prayers.
This is a wonderful study for either a small group or an individual. It's set up in an easy to follow format. The verbiage is both easy to read and understandable. Each area is backed up by biblical scriptures that you can reference to. The section of Ammunition offers an array of references such as: Rhythms of Prayer, Spiritual Temperature Test, The Gospel, Prayer Strategy Verses, Spiritual Ammo, The Names of God, and Starting a Prayer Ministry. This area alone you could spend several hours if not days delving into the scripture. The last section is Reinforcements which consists of discussion questions.

This is a book that when you finish will be placed close by for easy reference. Would I recommend it to anyone? Definitely. I can't think of anyone who would not benefit from this book whether you are new to Christianity or faithful believer.

*I received this book free from the Publisher through their book bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Besides the fact the book is associated with the Kendrick's "War Room" movie release, it comes with a clear mandate: prayer is a weapon in the battle with the enemy.

It begins with a wonderful testimony of answered prayer which had serious implications for the two brothers and their family. Often our prayers can become unfocused and generic and this book provides a blueprint for a more strategic biblically based prayer life. The 35 short chapters are spread out across seven sections: Enlistment, Basic Training, Conditioning, Strategies, Targets, Ammunition and Reinforcements and the authors encourage you to read a chapter a day. Each chapter starts with a bible verse relating to the topic, moves into a short commentary and ends with a specific prayer. The 35 prayers alone make the investment in the book extremely worthwhile. I'm hoping the authors may provide some form of abbreviated resource that records only the prayers and chapter headings.

I found most of the topics were covered in enough detail however, there were some could have had more. There are also a number of excellent appendices providing bible verses and pointers to specific prayer points which I expect will be used by many readers.

This is a book that will help all people pray more strategically whether or not your new to it or a veteran. But it's important to always remember that the best way to to get better at prayer is by having your Bible open and start praying.

[Austin Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

PERSONAL RESPONSE:
I enjoyed The Battle Plan for prayer by Stephen because it deals with serious subjects that most people can relate. The book is organized well, which helps track all of the ideas and strategies. I like how the author gives the reader a feeling that he is talking just to you. As the book goes on, I love how they use real life problems as examples.

PLOT:
The main events in the story are about how you should not fight with people but pray to have your problems fought for. The main idea is about how important it is to keep a relationship with God. They talk about how your friends are there for you, but you should not fight with each other but with God to have problems solved. The reader is also told that only God can change people. There is a main section on how to pray.

CHARACTERIZATION:
The book is told the third person point of view. The main development is about becoming a better, more faithful person. They start with just praying and creating a relationship with God. They then talk about praying to get through the many hardships that many struggle to get through. They talk about how to handle pressure the best as someone can and finds ways to cope with the harshness of life.

RECOMMENDATION:
I would recommend The Battle Plan for Prayer to eighth grade and beyond because some of the subject matter and concepts are more mature. Both males and females would enjoy this book it has universal subject matter and no gender based content.

[Nay Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a phenomenal book that focuses on prayer and doing so strategically and being specific. I loved every chapter and how it gave tips, ideas, prompts and scriptures to help me understand the different layers of prayer. Though prayer is complex, it's fairly simple as this book shares. I love the Kendrick brothers because their movies are amazing. This book was just as great, if not better than their movies.

This book has definitely embedded some key points to and of prayer that I will forever keep with me. I love the appendix ammunition as well. It's packed with so many scriptures and prayers. This book is PERFECT for new believers and mature believers. This will help you hone in on praying and being more effective in it -- more than you could have ever imagined.

Definitely a faith arsenal need!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This study has revolutionized my experience with prayer. It's helpful to have strategies and a better understanding of something so fundamental to the Christian faith. I feel changed having put a focus on communicating with God in better ways. It helped being involved in a small group going through the workbook as well. I also used the prayer cards that go along with the study that seemed to say exactly the things my heart needed to say at the time. I found the movie War Room pretty entertaining (a little cheesy but cute), but the resources available surrounding the movie are really great.

I just have to add that the narrator they got to do the audiobook sounds like a robot. That's my only criticism.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

We have a LOT of books in our personal library. As a result, I am particular about spending money on a book which will then have to be stored and cared for. This book has made it onto the short list of books I want to actually own. It is well-written, concise, informative, and doctrinally correct. The chapters each cover a certain aspect of prayer, there are prayer helps at the back of the book, and a prayer at the end of each chapter. This book is a great asset whether you are new to prayer or an established prayer warrior looking to be refreshed or deepen your prayer life. It truly is a battle plan for prayer!

[Linda Yezak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did the full study--this book, its workbook, and corresponding video--with friends. I highly recommend doing this. Even though we already knew much of this, the video and our discussions, along with prayer for His guidance, provided enlightenment. This has truly enhanced my prayer life and has enhanced our group prayer time.

[Stacey E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Lord has just really put prayer on my heart lately, and I have been devouring lots of books on the subject. Fervent was such a blessing to me that when I saw this while book thrifting, I picked it up, thinking it would be similar. I did find myself highlighting and tabbing a few places, but overall, this wasn't as "meaty" as I was hoping it would be.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Biblically based and inspiring!

[JD Lo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took me a few months to finish this book.
Was worth it, has a lot of knowledge.

[Kells Next Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another powerful book on prayer and it's effectiveness to a believer once done right. Great tools for Christians and those that are thinking about joining the faith to have and put in practice.

[D Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Obviously if you are not a Christian , for you this book will not be relevant as it is very scripture based. If you are, it is an awesome resource.
There is nothing here that was new to me but it is a really thorough guide! The prayers are really useful and the appendix too. I really do need to be a bit more methodical. I am sure there are many things I could have prayed for but didn't think to.
I loved the film that this came from. I intend to keep the book and dip into it to keep me feeling inspired.
If you don't already pray in a wide variety of ways or with much thought or plan, this is a really good book.
It is not saying that there is a formula for answered prayers ( I hate those books!) it's rather a presentation of the wealth of possible ways to speak to and with God.
The only thing I feel is missing is a detailed chapter on fasting- I'll be needing a separate book.

[Aaron W. Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a book I read and put down and picked back up to finish over about a 7-month span. I used it for personal gains, to help teach lessons, and to set a program in place for prayer leading up to a fall revival. It's really good.

[Janelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was well researched and written. It was thought provoking and helpful in learning to think about praying effectively. I do wish there were some prayer templates in the appendix, because it seems a bit overwhelming to me to pray for everything discussed in all 35+ chapters. But I think that's just me and not the book (there probably is something similar to a prayer template in it).

It was challenging, inspiring, and thought provoking to read this book. Very biblically based way of praying and well explained. Everything was easy to understand, even when the author used Hebrew or Christianese. I'm excited to put it into action.

[Missy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Method for creating a prayer list:

1) What are your top 3 biggest needs right now?
2) What are the top 3 things you're most stressed about?
3) What are 3 issues in your life that would take a miracle of God to resolve?
4) What is something good and honorable that, if God provided it, would greatly benefit you, your family and others?
5) What is something you believe God may be leading you to do, but you need His clarity and direction on it?
6) What is a need from someone you love that you'd like to start praying about?

[Ebony S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a very easy read. Very encouraging and the prayers were beautiful. I would recommend this book for someone who is just starting off in prayer and mabye hasn't read a deeper book like the power and purpose of prayer by Dr.Myles Munroe. I didn't receive much revelation or new things I didn't already know. I absolutely loved the scriptures at the start of each chapter as well as at the end of the book.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a solid book for increasing and expanding your prayer life. Would highly recommend if you desire to grow deeper in conversation with God and learn how to pray more specifically for every area of your life. Short chapters with great, simple application!

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing new but some great reminders and good index in the back to help you if you cannot think what to pray about. Love the written prayers at the end of each chapter.

[Nola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! This was exactly what I was looking for.

[Honeybee · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I was looking for a Bible study based on the popular film, War Room, this is more of what I had in mind. My home fellowship went through the DVD-based study by the same authors, called War Room Bible Study, but it was not so much about prayer as about getting your heart right in preparation for prayer. This Battle Plan for Prayer does have several chapters on the same thing, but they also give plenty of instruction about how to actually pray for yourself and others.

The books consists of 35 chapters, plus appendices, divided into seven parts. The first two parts give reasons and definitions for prayer. Part III is about aligning your heart with God. Part IV is where it starts to get really good--talking about strategies for prayer. Part V gives you target areas to pray about, including unbelievers, Christians, family, those in authority, churches, etc. Part VI is a set of appendices which are referred to throughout the book. There are discussion questions for each chapter at the very back of the book, in case you should choose to use it for a small group or one-on-one discipleship/prayer. I read a chapter a day during my personal devotional time for about a month.

If you are looking for a nice overview on prayer for folks with varied backgrounds and experience, this may be a good resource. There are other excellent, more in-depth books by Derek Prince, Dutch Sheets and other authors about prayer and intercession. However, this book "brings the cookies down to where the children can reach them." Be sure to show the movie, War Room, to your group at some point during your study!

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Kendrick Brothers have brought us many entertainment alternatives to Hollywood’s 42 Billion Dollar film industry. Other than being film writers, producers, directors, and actors, they also pastor a Southern Baptist mega-church in Albany, Georgia. To accomplish all this, they must have a good prayer life!

After trying many attempts to read this book after its initial release, I just decided to read it here and there over the past 6 months and accomplish it that way. It seemed to worked. And over those six months, I slowly downloaded tips for a better prayer life. Such a slow download seems more like my childhood on a dial up internet connection on a Windows 98.

The Kendrick’s have outdone themselves with this work. For a subject matter as massive as prayer, this little book doesn’t condense prayer to fit within it’s pages, but rather is well-rounded in every way. They follow the ACTS principle. Not the Book of Acts, but an acronym:

Adoration
Confession
Thanksgiving
Supplication

The Kendricks suggest that we do not need to follow the ACTS acronym in order, but that our prayer lives needs to be made up of each of these every day. To get closer to God, we need to Adore Him, Confess our sins and wrongdoings to Him, give Him Thanks, and Supplicate, or ask for something earnestly and humbly.

My prayer life has been anything but what it should. Irregular, seldom, listless, lackluster, and boring all come to mind. But this book served as a definitive guide and has been an enlightening read to know the ins and outs of the most important conversation we can have, our heavenly one.

[Jack Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The movie, War Room: Prayer Is A Powerful Weapon, inspires this book by Stephen and Alex Kendrick to instruct the reader on how and when to pray. Many people do not take advantage of the open, free channel they have with the One who is the solution to any problem. The authors also describe why one prays in the first place.

This book goes over all the names for God in the Bible and what they mean as well as monikers for Jesus. How to prepare for prayer and for what to pray includes introspection with repentance, asking for forgiveness, praising God for who He is and what He does; then requesting His blessings for oneself and others. Others include those who refuse to accept God or Jesus and those who are hateful and evil, especially toward those who do believe and are saved.

The battle plan calls for reading the Bible and applying scriptures to issues that confront people daily. Asking God for wisdom is paramount to proceed in a moral, ethical way. It prevents rashness and folly. Asking God for wisdom is a most wise prayer; ask Solomon. The Battle Plan for Prayer: From Basic Training to Targeted Strategies, directs the reader to Proverbs for a book on wisdom.

This book wants readers to know God and make Him known. Through a plan of prayer, a person becomes a better representative of God through Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit who resides in the born again individual. Prayer keeps one in communion with the Creator who is with everyone, forever. He is here, now.

[bri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was pretty into the first few chapters of this book but as I read on I got more and more bored. Prayer is powerful, there’s this or that reason for it etc, which I gathered from the first couple chapters. But it seemed as if they started running out of things to say about prayer and it got relatively repetitive and much harder to read because it was starting to all sound the same. There is only so much someone can say about the power of prayer. The first quarter of the book was finished far more quickly than the rest of it. I try really hard to save abandoning books for something that’s just really dreadful so I pushed on through this one. But let me tell you it was a slow and painful read, which is unfortunate because I hate having anything other than something positive to say about such well intentioned writers such as the Kendrick brothers. Don’t get me wrong, there’s some good stuff in here. If you’re the type who needs repetition to get something into your head, you might love this book. If you get bored easily like me, maybe not so much