Facts & Trends recently spoke with Alex and Stephen Kendrick about their latest movie War Room, their new book The Battle Plan for Prayer, and their own prayer life.
Facts & Trends: What is the intent of your new book?
Alex Kendrick: The Battle Plan for Prayer is meant to inspire, engage, and call readers to an active, strategic, and passionate prayer life. In these crucial days, we urgently need the church to pray in unity.
Stephen Kendrick: We want to inspire people with the importance of being devoted to prayer, equip them with biblical training to help them pray more faithfully and effectively, and call them to unite with other believers, asking God to move mightily in our generation and bring healing to our families, churches, and nation.
F&T: What is the single most important reason to have a prayer strategy?
Alex: The book of James tells us the “urgent request of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect” (5:16). It’s our daily connection and communication with Almighty God. We would say it’s our lifeline to the Father.
Stephen: You can’t hit what you’re not aiming at! When we pray biblically, strategically, and specifically, we position ourselves to maximize the impact of our praying and to more readily see God glorified through the answers.
F&T: How does the book teach preparing a prayer battle plan?
Alex: The book walks readers through “boot camp” for an understanding of what prayer is and how we are meant to use it. Then we teach applications of biblical prayer with a focus on praying strategically in the various areas of life. In this way, we learn to “fight” in prayer.
Stephen: We inspire people with Scripture and stories of answered prayer, train them in the fundamental “locks and keys” of effective prayer, and provide six different tools they can use to help them pray.
F&T: What Scripture was the catalyst for the project?
Alex: In Matthew 6:6, Jesus teaches us to go into our room and pray to our Father in secret. Then, God rewards what is done in secret. So He desires for us to draw closer to Him in our secret place, and not just when people are watching us.
Stephen: Some key verses are Matthew 6:6, James 5:16, Colossians 4:2, and 1 Timothy 2:1-5.
F&T: How has creating the movie War Room and the related book impacted your prayer life?
Alex: The more we study prayer, the more we are driven to make it a larger part of our life. It’s meant to go along with the Word of God in maturing us in our faith and making us bold in our calling.
Both Stephen and I have increased our time with the Lord in prayer. We’re also helping our families to do the same thing. We want to be warriors ready for His orders, not lukewarm believers that spend most of our time on the bench.
Stephen: I have learned much more about prayer and have truly been inspired and challenged working on this movie and book. It has caused me to pray more joyfully, specifically, and with a greater faith, trusting that my Heavenly Father will answer in His timing.
We serve a mighty God who answers prayer. He is not unaware, unable, uncaring, unwilling, or unlikely to answer the prayers of His children.
Writing The Battle Plan for Prayer has caused me to pray with greater freedom and confidence in the Lord. Ephesians 3:12 says it’s through faith in Jesus we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
War Room opens in theaters today. To find out more about the film and related resources, like The Battle Plan for Prayer, visit Lifeway.com/WarRoom.
