I’ve recently watch this movie called “War Room,” and I must say it was better than I expected it to be. The Lord has been moving my heart to pray more, and not just for my self and my family, but for the body of Christ and those who are in need of God’s grace and mercy. The movie was made by Kendrick Brothers Productions (Alex and Stephen Kendricks), who also made movies like Fireproof, Courageous, and Facing the Giants. Although these stories are dramatized, the central theme of gospel message is there and seek to deal biblically with the life issues Christians face in America. I’ve heard Christian leaders talk about the importance of prayer closet, but didn’t apply it. Seeing the film’s character, Miss Clara Williams, using her prayer closet which she calls “War Room” made me humbled. Though she appears weak and old in the flesh, her powerful praying made me cry. How is it that when we have the youth and strength to pray, we pray so weak? It was a lesson that God’s mighty prayer warriors are not determined by one’s physical appearances, strength, and youth.

“But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will repay you.” (Mt.6:6)

Here is the plot of the story as taken from Wikipedia. If you do not want spoiling, do not read it. Watch the movie and be challenged. Create a war room for yourself that will take you to the throne of grace of God (Heb.4:14-16).

Pharmaceutical salesman Tony Jordan and his wife, realtor Elizabeth Jordan, appear outwardly successful; they have a large house, plenty of money, and a beautiful daughter named Danielle. Behind the façade, however, Tony and Elizabeth’s relationship is strained. Tony is callous, verbally abusive and thinking about cheating on Elizabeth. In addition, because his job requires frequent travel, he is almost never there for his daughter.

Elizabeth goes to work with an elderly woman, Miss Clara, to sell her house. Miss Clara senses the stress Elizabeth is under, and suggests that Elizabeth fight for their marriage by praying for Tony. Miss Clara shows Elizabeth a special closet she has dedicated to praying, which she calls her “War Room”; as she puts it, “in order to stand up and fight the enemy, you need to get on your knees and pray.” As Elizabeth starts to seriously pray for her husband, Tony leaves for a business trip, having dinner with a beautiful woman who invites him back to her apartment. Meanwhile in his home, his wife Elizabeth is praying that if Tony is about to make a wrong decision, God to intervene and stop him. Just as he is about to leave the table with her, he becomes nauseous and runs to the bathroom to throw up.

Shortly afterward, Tony is fired for fabricating his sales figures; unbeknownst to Elizabeth and Danielle, he has been stealing drug samples and selling them to make even more money. Realizing he has hit rock bottom, Tony rededicates his life to God after finding his wife’s prayer closet and reading the prayers about him she has been pinning on the wall. He now realizes that he has to return both the stolen samples and his ill-gotten money, even though revealing what he’s done could potentially send him to prison. Tony meets with his former boss and confesses; his former boss is moved by his willingness to admit his wrongdoing and make amends, and decides not to press charges. Tony begins to show an interest in his daughter’s jump-roping skills and offers to participate with her and her friends in the upcoming double Dutch competition at the local community center. Tony and his daughter’s team takes second place in the competition, creating a new bond between him and his daughter.

Elizabeth successfully sells Miss Clara’s house to a retired pastor who realizes someone has been praying in the closet. Shortly afterwards, Tony is offered a job as the director of the community center. Although the pay is only half of what he used to make, he realizes that with the income from this new job combined with Elizabeth picking up some extra work, the family can live less frugal and be happy. Finally, Elizabeth realizes that all her prayers had been answered and she had fought her enemy with prayer. She says that “there’s got to be a God in heaven.”