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With a family background reaching back to the harshest world war experiences, author Tranquilla applies his understanding of waging war to the battles that all Christians must wage against the forces of evil. This continuing struggle requires planning, discipline, communication, and comradeship. One of the first necessities for a prayer warrior is recognizing that individual prayer won't suffice. People of like mind must gather and pray together to achieve the best effect since Satan knows and fears such cumulative power. An example given is that of an apostle—Peter—in prison. Peter asked the entire church to pray for him, with immediate results.
Tranquilla has arrayed his 101 "Missions" in simple lessons, often beginning with a story drawn from actual warfare. He details the ways in which unseen enemies align to make the followers of Jesus fearful and unsure. They will be reminded of their own weaknesses and failings, and they will be "attacked" when they are most vulnerable, such as in the wee hours of the night or on Mondays, after all their church-going energies have been expended. Training is essential: setting aside an evening during the week solely for prayer, joining with others of like sentiments to focus together on a problem, and sometimes simply knowing what to ask for.
Offering fact-based situations on which to pin one's prayer strategy, Tranquilla, whose mother lived through the Nazi occupation of Belgium, has clearly made a significant study of that era. One powerful example of how the enemy might work is the strategy employed by both Germany and Japan in the constant announcements of victories in battle to lull their citizens into believing that all was well. These real and often chilling scenarios give Tranquilla's exhortations greater depth and a sense of immediacy. In fact, the range of materials covered to alert prayer warriors to the importance of their mission is proof itself of the author's determination to provide both strength and hope for their devotions.
With bulleted and numbered suggestions and reminders, and a vast selection of biblical quotations, the author's book is both instructional and inspirational. He has apportioned his wisdom well, often based on personal experience. His advice is also succinct and practical, as when he points out that some fears have a positive effect, warning of potential danger. At the heart of the work is the absolute conviction that God's ways and words are impervious to Satanic attack, so the Holy Bible must be the prayer warrior's constant reference point.
The book concludes with a "Final Mission Briefing" to remind those who have "enlisted" in the prayerful struggle proposed by Tranquilla that God is not in sanctuaries but in His people—dedicated Christians who sincerely seek to take on the likeness of Jesus and display his light shining through their armor. Vying with one's weaknesses against the power of evil will require "strong praying and a strong realization of God's presence." Tranquilla's rational, well-organized guide aims to infuse that spiritual goal into the minds and hearts of all sincere followers of Jesus.
RECOMMENDED by the US Review