Review of Warriors of the Word
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Kibet Hillary
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Review of Warriors of the Word
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Warriors of the Word" by Rochelle Brandon, MD.]
The Apostle Paul, in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, writes that believers must "pray without ceasing." Also, prayer is one of the weapons he highlights while discussing the full armor of God in Ephesians 6. However, prayerlessness can easily creep in, and there can be a lack of focus on intercessory prayer.
What is intercession? What is the foundation of intercessory prayer? Why do we intercede? The question of "why" matters greatly. I appreciated the author’s statement: “We intercede because God cares for people, and in loving Him, we also care for those He loves.” In Warriors of the Word: Harnessing the Power of Intercessory Prayer, Rochelle Brandon not only addresses key principles of intercessory prayer but also dispels common myths surrounding it. One of the book's strengths lies in its focus on micro-habits, offering practical tips on how to cultivate a lifestyle of intercessory prayer, beginning with daily prayer practices.
Do you believe in the transformative power of prayer? If so, get your copy of Warriors of the Word by Rochelle Brandon, MD, to learn more about intercessory prayer. From the very introduction, the author made me recall Paul's warning that "our battle is not against flesh and blood," reminding me of the need to put on the full armor of God. In Ephesians 6:18-20, prayer is emphasized as an integral part of this armor. Beyond this, readers will explore the qualities of an intercessor, such as empathy, faith, perseverance, and humility. The author goes on to define each attribute. What stood out the most was the author’s emphasis on compassion as action. For instance, Rochelle explains that for someone needing food, demonstrating love means feeding them—not just expressing concern but taking tangible action.
There is much to like and commend in Rochelle Brandon’s book. One of the most common hindrances to prayer is the issue of perceived unanswered prayers. I appreciated that the author included the word "perceived" in the title of the subsection addressing this topic. Readers will understand, as I did, how this distinction changes the conversation significantly. Regarding myths and misconceptions about intercessory prayer, the author not only identifies prevailing myths but also effectively disproves them with well-chosen examples. The example of Ishmael, in particular, was spot-on. The book also provides a variety of prayer points, including prayers for healing, protection, provision, relationships, and the lost, among others.
I rate this book four out of five stars. The reason for the deduction is that some statements could have been expanded upon for greater clarity. For example, in discussing the "Seven Strategies of Effective Prayer," the author mentions bringing one’s friends up in prayer as one strategy. However, the explanation provided—"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one"—does not clearly illustrate how this strategy connects to praying for friends. Since the strategies are modeled on the Lord’s Prayer, a more detailed explanation would have been helpful, particularly considering that the strategy pertains to friends, but the explanation is about temptation, which can result from a person's desire, as highlighted in James 1:13-15. Overall, this is a valuable book for every intercessor and believer. Intercessory prayer is a call for all Christians, and Warriors of the Word is a guide to embracing and ultimately answering that call.
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Warriors of the Word
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
The Apostle Paul, in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, writes that believers must "pray without ceasing." Also, prayer is one of the weapons he highlights while discussing the full armor of God in Ephesians 6. However, prayerlessness can easily creep in, and there can be a lack of focus on intercessory prayer.
What is intercession? What is the foundation of intercessory prayer? Why do we intercede? The question of "why" matters greatly. I appreciated the author’s statement: “We intercede because God cares for people, and in loving Him, we also care for those He loves.” In Warriors of the Word: Harnessing the Power of Intercessory Prayer, Rochelle Brandon not only addresses key principles of intercessory prayer but also dispels common myths surrounding it. One of the book's strengths lies in its focus on micro-habits, offering practical tips on how to cultivate a lifestyle of intercessory prayer, beginning with daily prayer practices.
Do you believe in the transformative power of prayer? If so, get your copy of Warriors of the Word by Rochelle Brandon, MD, to learn more about intercessory prayer. From the very introduction, the author made me recall Paul's warning that "our battle is not against flesh and blood," reminding me of the need to put on the full armor of God. In Ephesians 6:18-20, prayer is emphasized as an integral part of this armor. Beyond this, readers will explore the qualities of an intercessor, such as empathy, faith, perseverance, and humility. The author goes on to define each attribute. What stood out the most was the author’s emphasis on compassion as action. For instance, Rochelle explains that for someone needing food, demonstrating love means feeding them—not just expressing concern but taking tangible action.
There is much to like and commend in Rochelle Brandon’s book. One of the most common hindrances to prayer is the issue of perceived unanswered prayers. I appreciated that the author included the word "perceived" in the title of the subsection addressing this topic. Readers will understand, as I did, how this distinction changes the conversation significantly. Regarding myths and misconceptions about intercessory prayer, the author not only identifies prevailing myths but also effectively disproves them with well-chosen examples. The example of Ishmael, in particular, was spot-on. The book also provides a variety of prayer points, including prayers for healing, protection, provision, relationships, and the lost, among others.
I rate this book four out of five stars. The reason for the deduction is that some statements could have been expanded upon for greater clarity. For example, in discussing the "Seven Strategies of Effective Prayer," the author mentions bringing one’s friends up in prayer as one strategy. However, the explanation provided—"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one"—does not clearly illustrate how this strategy connects to praying for friends. Since the strategies are modeled on the Lord’s Prayer, a more detailed explanation would have been helpful, particularly considering that the strategy pertains to friends, but the explanation is about temptation, which can result from a person's desire, as highlighted in James 1:13-15. Overall, this is a valuable book for every intercessor and believer. Intercessory prayer is a call for all Christians, and Warriors of the Word is a guide to embracing and ultimately answering that call.
******
Warriors of the Word
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
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