The title of the book had me wondering what it had to do with prayer. I know how important prayer is and the way each individual prays is the way God designed our prayer life. I went into the book with an open mind and came out knowing that I don't agree with a lot of what is written in the book . To be fair everyone has their own belief system but I know if it doesn't line up with the word of God then it is not from God.

Praying together in a church is very dynamic. We come together to commit in agreement for something . We don't have to pray exactly as the person next to us. God wants us to pray from the heart and listen to His Holy Spirit. I don't think we need to scope out the atmosphere before deciding how to pray. If we are in a group at church, of course we will each pray differently and not everyone will agree.

I'm on the fence about the different types of intercessors the author described. If God puts on your heart to pray for finances one week and spiritual warfare the next, he will equip you too do so. People do have a heart at times for a specific needs, but I don't think we need to label which intercessor you are.

There is one statement I did agree with and wanted to jump for joy when I read it. We are not fighting against each other but, "we are fighting principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual hosts of wickedness." To me that is a powerful statement to remember. We are in this together and must join together as God has called us to pray for what he has put on our hearts. The author has many scriptures and personal examples of prayer that may be helpful for someone. I did find a few things I liked in the book but I can't say I agreed with everything he wrote.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. ( )

As a Christian, I understand that prayers are important. Prayers allow us to ask God for direction, thank Him for His goodness, love and, mercy, as well to intercede for others. I also recognize that there are those individuals who are true prayer warriors. These are individuals who constantly storm the gates of heaven with their own requests as well as the requests of others. Strike the Mark provides instruction and guidance for praying in a way that reaches God and allows us to accomplish His Will.

I believe that the prayers of the righteous are able to accomplish God’s Will, but I feel many people feel uncertain about how to pray “correctly”. I think this book does a fairly good job addressing the idea of how to pray. I also think it is written in a way that most people could understand. This book is meant for anyone who wants to pray with the Spirit.

While I feel this book does have a lot of good information and advice, I found it to be rather dry in spots. I feel this book would be best used in a group setting to help bring the book to life. ( )

Did “Strike the Mark” hit the mark with me? Yes and no. This reads as more of a regulation handbook, and as such I felt that it has several dry spells and some points with which I did not entirely agree. I was expecting it to be more dynamic and affirming. The author does inject a few personal stories into the narrative, and that does make it more relatable, but overall I honestly had a difficult time staying focused and interested. Much of the language seems to be aimed at a theologically-trained audience rather than the everyday prayer warrior. However, I did appreciate the abundance of Scripture verses and prayers, particularly in the resources section at the end. Also, the prayer at the end of each chapter is a nice summary and pinpoints the focus of that chapter.

In my opinion, “Strike the Mark” is best suited to a church study group. Reading it as an individual detracted from the experience, at least for me. The author’s points make sense, and I understand that prayer is more powerful when more people are involved. However, I got the impression that private prayer was somewhat downplayed. I think that the title should include the word “group” because that is really the main focus. Nevertheless, several parts of the book caught my attention. The author discusses twelve types of prayer that he together categorizes as the “orchestra of prayer”, as well as the various types of intercessors. Confessing generational sin, as exemplified by Daniel, Nehemiah, and Ezra in the Old Testament, encourages us to identify with the sins in our cities and institutions and to act as ambassadors to effect God-honoring change. Another concept mentioned is that of praying at particular sites, be it for blessing or for the extraction of evil. Overall, this small but compelling book is a good guide for groups looking to take their prayer ministry to the next level.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through CelebrateLit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own. ( )