Book Club Questions for The Battle Plan for Prayer

1.The Kendricks open by comparing prayer to a battle plan — the kind a general prepares before engaging the enemy. What does this military metaphor communicate about prayer that a softer image (like prayer as a conversation or a quiet moment) might miss?

2.How does the book's connection to the film War Room set the tone for what kind of prayer the Kendricks are advocating? What distinguishes a 'War Room' approach to prayer from the way most believers currently pray?

3.The authors assert that prayer is often our last resort rather than our first plan of attack. Be honest: in what areas of your life do you tend to exhaust human effort before turning to prayer?

1.The Kendricks argue that the primary purpose of prayer is not to get things from God but to get God Himself — to grow in relationship and intimacy with Him. How does this reframe what you consider a 'successful' prayer time?

2.The authors draw on Jesus' model prayer in Matthew 6 to show that prayer begins with the Father's glory ('hallowed be Your name'), not with our requests. How often does your own prayer time begin with worship and adoration versus immediately moving to your list of needs?

3.Jesus defined eternal life as knowing the Father and the Son (John 17:3). How does this connect to prayer? In what ways is prayer an exercise in knowing God rather than merely accessing God's power?

1.The Kendricks walk through the Bible and church history to show that every significant spiritual awakening has been rooted in corporate, fervent prayer. Which biblical or historical example from this chapter struck you most, and why?

2.The early church in Acts 1 gathered to pray before Pentecost, and in Acts 4 they prayed under threat of persecution and experienced a fresh filling of the Spirit. What do these moments suggest about the relationship between prayer and God's power being released in a community?

3.James 5:17–18 highlights Elijah as 'a man just like us' whose prayers shut and opened the heavens. What does it mean to you that Elijah was not a superhuman spiritual giant but an ordinary person? How does that encourage your own prayer life?

1.The Kendricks argue that the confidence and fervency of our prayers are directly tied to our knowledge of God's character. What attributes of God do they highlight in this chapter as most critical to a vibrant prayer life?

2.Hebrews 11:6 says that anyone who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. The Kendricks treat this as a prayer verse as much as a faith verse. What two things must we believe about God before we can pray effectively, according to this verse?

3.Isaiah 40 describes a God of inexhaustible power who gives strength to the weary. How does meditating on God's omnipotence change the kinds of requests you are willing to bring to Him?

1.The Kendricks identify several specific hindrances to effective prayer. List as many as you can remember from the chapter. Which one surprised you the most, and why?

2.Isaiah 59:2 says that sin separates us from God and causes Him to hide His face. The authors are clear that unconfessed sin is one of the primary obstacles to answered prayer. How do you practice confession in your own prayer life? Is it a regular rhythm or an afterthought?

3.James 4:3 warns that some prayers go unanswered because we ask with wrong motives — to 'spend on your pleasures.' How do you discern whether a request is rooted in godly desire or selfish ambition? Is this distinction easy or difficult for you to make honestly?

1.The Kendricks discuss both the physical postures of prayer (kneeling, lifting hands, bowing) and the inner posture of humility and dependence. Why might physical posture matter in prayer? Have you ever found that your physical position affected the quality of your prayer time?

2.Daniel's habit of praying three times a day on his knees — even under threat of death — is cited as a model of disciplined, consistent prayer. What does Daniel's example say about prayer as a non-negotiable practice rather than a feeling-dependent activity?

3.Jesus' parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1–8) is given specifically to teach the disciples to 'always pray and not give up.' What does persistence in prayer communicate about our faith — and what does giving up communicate?

1.The Kendricks draw on 1 Timothy 2:1 to identify several distinct types of prayer: supplication, intercession, thanksgiving, and petition. Before reading this chapter, did you practice all of these regularly, or did your prayer life lean heavily on one type?

2.The authors describe 'arrow prayers' — short, spontaneous prayers shot up to God in the middle of daily life, like Nehemiah's quick prayer before speaking to the king (Nehemiah 2:4). How might weaving these short prayers into your day transform your overall sense of dependence on God?

3.Intercessory prayer — praying on behalf of others — is a major theme in this chapter. Who are the people you regularly intercede for? Are there categories of people (enemies, leaders, the lost) that you rarely bring before God?

1.The Kendricks argue that praying the Scriptures is one of the most effective forms of prayer because we can be confident we are praying in alignment with God's will. Have you ever prayed a Bible verse back to God? What was that experience like?

2.John 15:7 promises that if Christ's words abide in us, we can ask whatever we wish and it will be done. How does being saturated in God's Word shape the content of our prayers over time — what we ask for, how we ask, and what we expect?

3.The Kendricks reference Jesus' use of Scripture in the temptation account (Matthew 4). He did not argue with the devil — He quoted God's Word. How does this model apply to the prayer battles we face, particularly in intercession for others who are under spiritual attack?

1.The Kendricks argue that praying 'in Jesus' name' is not a magic phrase that guarantees results, but an expression of praying in accordance with Jesus' character, authority, and will. How does this understanding change the way you think about those words?

2.John 14:13–14 records Jesus' promise to do 'whatever you ask in my name.' What conditions and context surround this promise in John 14–16? How do those conditions prevent this verse from being treated as a blank check?

3.The Kendricks use the illustration of an ambassador acting in the name of their nation's leader — with full authority but also full accountability to represent that leader faithfully. How does this image reshape your sense of what it means to pray as a representative of Jesus?

1.What is your honest history with fasting? Have you fasted before? If so, what was your motivation and experience? If not, what has kept you from it?

2.The Kendricks note that Jesus said 'when you fast' (Matthew 6:16), not 'if you fast' — treating it as a normal Christian discipline, not an advanced spiritual practice. Does this assumption match the culture of the churches or communities you have been part of?

3.Isaiah 58 describes the kind of fast God actually chooses — one that loosens chains of injustice, feeds the hungry, and brings freedom to the oppressed. How does this passage challenge any tendency to treat fasting as merely a personal spiritual upgrade rather than a practice connected to love for others?

1.The book reaches its most practical chapter here: building an actual battle plan. What key components do the Kendricks recommend for a structured, intentional prayer strategy?

2.Nehemiah's prayer life in chapters 1–2 is held up as a model of a man who prayed with both urgency and strategy — weeping, confessing, reminding God of His promises, and then acting boldly when the opportunity came. What elements of Nehemiah's approach most challenge your current prayer habits?

3.The Kendricks encourage readers to create a dedicated prayer list — organized by categories such as family, church, workplace, government, and the lost. Do you currently pray with this kind of specificity? What is lost when prayers remain vague rather than specific?

1.The Kendricks paint a vision of a praying parent or spouse as someone who covers their family in intercession daily. What would it mean for your household to have a consistent intercessor — and are you currently filling that role?

2.Deuteronomy 6 commands parents to teach God's commands to their children 'when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.' How does prayer fit into this vision of faith permeating daily family life?

3.The authors challenge spouses to pray regularly for and with each other. Research suggests that couples who pray together have dramatically lower divorce rates. What makes praying together with a spouse both powerful and, for many couples, surprisingly difficult?

1.The Kendricks challenge every believer to maintain a specific list of lost people they are actively praying for. Do you currently have such a list? Who would be on it?

2.Paul's cry in Romans 10:1 — 'My heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved' — shows a man whose intercession was driven by deep personal anguish. How does your emotional engagement with the lostness of people you love compare to Paul's? What would it take to feel what he felt?

3.Matthew 9:37–38 records Jesus asking His disciples to pray for workers for the harvest field — not simply for the harvest. Why does Jesus ask them to pray for laborers? What does this suggest about the connection between prayer and evangelism?

1.2 Chronicles 7:14 is one of the most frequently quoted promises in the context of national prayer: 'If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray...' The Kendricks place the responsibility for national renewal squarely on God's people, not on politicians. How does this shift responsibility in a way that is both humbling and empowering?

2.1 Timothy 2:1–2 commands prayers for 'kings and all those in authority.' The Kendricks challenge us to pray for leaders regardless of our political agreement with them. How consistent are you in praying for political leaders? Does your prayer intensity vary based on who is in power?

3.Nehemiah prayed over the broken walls of Jerusalem with weeping, fasting, and specific Scripture-saturated intercession before he did anything else. The Kendricks point to this as a model for praying over broken communities and nations. What 'broken walls' in your community or nation do you feel called to pray over?

1.The Kendricks are honest that persistence in prayer is one of the hardest disciplines. What are the most common reasons believers stop praying for a specific request before the answer comes? Which of these reasons resonates most with you personally?

2.Jacob's all-night wrestling match with God (Genesis 32) is one of the most mysterious prayer narratives in Scripture. The Kendricks use it to illustrate tenacious prayer — a refusal to let go without a blessing. What does it mean to wrestle with God in prayer, and have you ever experienced something like that?

3.Daniel 10 reveals that Daniel's prayer was heard from the first day, but the answer was delayed due to spiritual warfare. How does this passage change the way you interpret unanswered prayer? Does knowing there may be an unseen battle behind the silence help you persist, or does it raise new questions for you?

1.The Kendricks close with a call to integrate prayer into the entire texture of daily life — not as a scheduled event but as a continuous posture. What is the difference between having a quiet time and living prayerfully? Can you have one without the other?

2.Paul's command to 'pray without ceasing' (1 Thessalonians 5:17) has puzzled and inspired believers for centuries. How do the Kendricks help make this command realistic and practical? What does 'ceaseless prayer' look like in the middle of a workday, a commute, or a difficult conversation?

3.Luke 5:16 records Jesus regularly withdrawing to lonely places to pray — even while in the middle of a wildly successful ministry, with crowds pressing in on all sides. What does Jesus' practice teach us about the relationship between ministry and prayer, and about guarding solitude even under pressure?

1.Looking back over the entire book and study, which chapter or concept had the greatest impact on you? What made it land so powerfully?

2.How has your understanding of prayer changed over the course of this study? Compare how you would have defined or described prayer before reading this book to how you would define or describe it now.

3.The book opens with the claim that prayer should be our first plan of attack, not our last resort. Looking at your daily life now, have you actually begun to reach for prayer earlier? Where have you seen a difference when you did?