War Room: Prayer Is A Powerful Weapon

In 2005, my husband and I went to England. Of all the interesting places we went, nothing can compare to Winston Churchill’s war room which is now a museum.

As we descended down into the intricate layout of rooms and entered the war room, I felt transported to another era. In this room, men worked beneath London to develop plans to keep the United Kingdom safe and to defeat the enemy. I remember closing my eyes at one point and trying to visualize what they heard above them as London was being repeatedly bombed.

Maps, telegraphs, phones, and detailed journals were scattered across tables. Pictures of life in the war room filled in my many questions— snapshots of men deliberating on strategic maneuvers of men, artillery, and aircraft in various war zones, trying to predict the enemies movement and advance ahead of it. I could almost feel the thick tension that had filled those quarters.

Decisions made in the war room had long reaching repercussion, affecting hundreds of thousands of people. The horror of war was ever present in every discussion. And when people came into the war room they knew their business meant life or death. You know prayers had to be involved.

Those small quarters housed men who changed the world by their decisions. The weight of that had to be heavy.

            Well, God sends us into small quarters to change our world by forming a holy alliance with our Father on the matters of the heart, soul, and mind. We do that through prayer.

            “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room,

            close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret,

             and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:6

            The inner room is a war room. Whether it’s a prayer closet or a small place outside the distractions of the world, prayer becomes intense and concentrated. It is the weapon we wield against the struggles we face, our families encounter, and our friends fall victim to. We battle knowing, “the adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeing whom he may devour. . .” I Peter 5:8

          

            Victories don’t come by accident! We fight through prayer.

             Dr. David Jeremiah reminds us that "Prayer is meant to be preventative, more than remedial." That means we pray God's will ahead of any circumstance.

            Priscilla Shirer, who portrays Liz Jordon in the movie, says, “When God sees this type of prayerful, grateful faith, when our mind is squared on Him, the peace of God expands within us. It stabilizes our runaway emotions, centers our minds, guides our footsteps, and even overflows into our experience with others. It cools our sharp tongue and dismantles our emotional walls.”

           

            The Kendrick brothers, producers of the movie, do an excellent job portraying the importance of fervent prayer in a sacred place removed from the distractions of the world. They let us glimpse into the life of the Jordon family who struggle to manage life’s challenges. We see the interaction of their friends and associates as they interact with them, and we are immediately immersed into their dilemma because it becomes our dilemma, too. We know every disappointment and sin they experience. We’ve all been there.

            Leaving the movie, my first thought focused on the powerful facet of issues that were covered during the movie, and how well they tapped into the needs and challenges of a multi-generational group of people. Everyone will identify with one or more of the characters. It’s impossible not to.

            I don’t want to give away too much of the details. I want you to go see War Room. Then I want you to see how you can change your prayer life to make it more intentional and deliberate. Whether it’s Churchill’s war room or our prayer war room, the purpose is to make decisions that protect and change lives. In the sacred moments of undisturbed prayer time, God reveals His plan for us in His will and timing. Living in God’s plan is the first initiative in changing lives. The change is the glow of Jesus in your life. When others see it, they will wonder and ask why you are different.

When you see the effect of personal change in the movie, I know you will be persuaded to begin your own venture into building your own war room for praying.

Prayer is powerful. It is our weapon against the harsh realities of life. Prayer changes lives and offers others a chance to renew their faith in the Almighty God.

It’s found in the privacy of your war room.

God bless you!