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Strike the Mark: Powerfully Targeted Prayers for Victory and Breakthrough

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Prayers that strike the mark are specific prayers authorized by the Holy Spirit and endowed with divine power to accomplish the will of God in your life and for the needs of the world. On the cross, Jesus fulfilled the ultimate answer to all of our prayers, but He awaits our invitation to come into our situations and circumstances. When people of prayer intercede, they create a meeting place between the heavenly Father and His children. God comes upon the person who is praying and moves them from the natural to the supernatural. Empowered by God, the intercessor has the authority to cut down enemy forces and pick out "targets" for God’s lightning bolts of glory, bringing victory and breakthrough.

Intercession could be called "extreme prayer” because it links extreme needs with the extraordinary power of God. Inserting ourselves into the gap between God and a need, we call upon the Holy Spirit, our Helper, who is ready to move us from finite ability to infinite ability, take hold of difficult situations, and help accomplish the will of God. We have the great honor of being called to “paint targets” on cities, churches, ministries, family members, contemporary "Sauls" (those who persecute or cause difficulty), and even ourselves. Our believing, persistent prayers will Strike the Mark !

“ He covers His hands with the lightning, and commands it to strike the mark ” (Job 36:32 NASB).

159 pages, Paperback

Published May 7, 2019

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About the author

James W. Goll

282 books138 followers
James W. Goll, formerly known as Jim Goll, is the Director of Prayer Storm (founded 2009), Coordinator of Encounters Alliance, and author.

(wikipedia)

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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Profile Image for Chautona Havig.
Author 274 books1,840 followers
May 17, 2019
Strike the Mark: Was It a Total Win or Epic Fail

I need to be honest up front. I’d only made it a few paragraphs into the introduction before I knew this wasn’t the book for me. In fact, if I hadn’t requested a review copy and committed to reviewing it, I would have set it aside then.

If you are of the “Word of Faith” movement who is strongly in favor of things like the “Toronto Blessing,” please know that this may not be a review you want to read. It will likely offend you, and I don’t want to do that. Still, I have to be honest in what I see and why I do and do not like what I read and agree to review.

The first thing that struck me in this book was the author stating, right up front, that he “prayed in tongues” for about six to twelve hours a day, every day, for three months. That kind of hyper-specificity bothered me because for someone writing a book about prayer, the author seems to start off ignoring one of the primary things Jesus taught us about prayer. In Matthew six, He says to do what this man did at first—go into his house, his private place, and pray in private.

And yet, here we are in a book about prayer, ignoring one of Jesus’ specific instructions. Had he said, “After a time of concentrated prayer by myself and others…” I would have had no quibble. I don’t think Jesus was telling us we should pretend we don’t pray or anything. Just making that clear.

Before I go further, I need to point out something. I am not going to list everything I had a problem with in this book. One, I don’t have the time to devote to it, and two, I think it would be crossing over from warning to attacking. I do not want to do that. So note that for everything I do mention taking issue with, there are several more that I didn’t.

“Strike the mark.”

One of my biggest problems with the book came in the early chapters. This quote illustrates it best.

Not all prayers will be spoken in our native language, or any language at all. Sometimes we pray deep prayers that are not in understandable language, or not even in words at all. We may groan or weep or wrestle or travail. Many times, we may pray (or sing) in tongues. This kind of Spirit-led praying is guaranteed to strike the mark every time. (emphasis mine).

My problem with that isn’t even about the whole groaning and travailing and tonguing… It’s that last line that I take issue with. I’m sorry, but I consider it borderline heretical.

You see, prayer is our communication with the Lord. We pray TO HIM. Period. So, unless God is not God anymore, and has lost His power to receive what we send heavenward, prayers always strike the mark.

Mr. Goll seems to consider prayers that “strike the mark” as only those that do what we want or think the Lord wants them to. In other words, prayers that are “successful.”

I think Anthony Hopkins’ portrayal of what C. S. Lewis had to say about prayer covers what I understand Scripture to say much better.

Whose word stands, anyway?

Mr. Goll has an eleven-step formula for YOU to decree something to be. Not God, you. This is what he says:

“But if you pay the price of meeting the conditions, you will be able to effectively decree a thing. Notice that it does not say, “God will decree a thing.” You will do it yourself., with your own mouth and by your own faith. This is not too much to expect for someone who is sold out to God. In fact, it is your birthright.”

I could go on, but I won’t. Honestly, after chapter two or three, I felt like I would be giving this book a one-star (Amazon rubric) rating. I hate even thinking of that. But honesty… As I told a friend, “If I can find anything good in it, I’ll be thrilled to give it two stars at this point.”

Well, I did. I found good stuff in here.

My favorite chapter was chapter five. In it, the author addresses sin, repentance, forgiveness. While he didn’t say anything startlingly new and insightful, I didn’t expect that. Those are foundational Christian principles. He did, however, give timely reminders of things we often kind of take for granted once we’ve been Christians for a while.

Later in chapter ten, he says something I can stand 100% behind.
It’s so good, so strong, so beautiful in its simplicity.

When the Holy Spirit convicts you, do not try to hide behind excuses. Simply confess your sins and repent, asking God to forgive both your sinful actions and your wrong motives. You may need to ask others to forgive you, too. Then ask God to help you change your behavior and tendencies. Never feel condemned with what has surfaced, simply thank the Lord for showing you what was in your heart, and ask Him to help you do something about it. Continue to serve Him, immersing yourself in His Word and surrounding yourself with other believers who are serious about walking in righteousness.”

Unfortunately, Strike the Mark was a fail for me. I want to leave a “recommended for” option, but I just can’t in good conscience recommend it. There are too many things in it that are extra-Biblical at best and others that, if they don’t cross into heresy, are close enough to make me uncomfortable.


Note: I use Goodreads' rating rubric. It says 2 stars are "It was okay." I'm more comfortable with Amazon's 2-star "did not like it" and "hated it" as 1 star. I did not like this book, but I did not hate it.

Profile Image for Sarah.
639 reviews56 followers
May 6, 2019
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.
Profile Image for Debbie.
2,565 reviews4 followers
May 20, 2019
"Strike The Mark" by James W. Goll is a book that is filled with lots of information about prayer. This book starts out using an orchestra as a metaphor describing the way our individual "instruments" of prayer blend together into one magnificent sound. It describes 12 diverse sounds of prayer.

This book is a good book to have as a reference tool in any library and for every believer.

This book also talks about sin and the Blood of Jesus. It is a good for Christian to be reminder that Jesus paid for all our sins.

At the end of each chapter there is a prayer to pray to help the reader in their prayer life.

This book reminded me of a sermon that my pastor preached awhile back about praying the Word of God. I actually tried this one night before going to sleep. I prayed Matthew 11;28, because I really needed a restful night and I slept all night. Yes, it works, I don't rest well, but I did that night It is ok to remind God of His promises in our prayers because it helps us to remember them also.

This book is full of Scripture passages that helps the reader understand and believed in the power of prayer more fully as well as enabling them to have a better prayer life.

One of my favorites quotes from this book is "Keep on praying. Don't give up. The more you pray, the more God will keep on drawing you into His heart. You and I have been called to be enforcers of the Kingdom of Light over the temporary kingdom of darkness. Giving up is not an option"!

This book also shares that our prayers will not be effective if we don't take every though captive and focus on the fact that Jesus's death on the cross makes us free and clean and that we are called to pray all the time and in all different ways-all for the sake of His great name.

I recommend this book to everyone that wants to have a better understanding of prayer and just so there is no misunderstanding this book mentions little about praying in the Sprit.

I was given a complimentary copy by the author and Celebrate Lit. These opinions are mine.
Profile Image for Deana Dick.
3,085 reviews135 followers
May 20, 2019
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.
Profile Image for Nyla Kay.
Author 1 book24 followers
May 16, 2019
Strike The Mark is a no nonsense book on prayer. Its subtitle says “Powerfully targeted prayers for victory and breakthrough.” This nonfiction book says “prayers that strike the mark are specific prayers authorized by the Holy Spirit and endowed with divine power to accomplish the will of God in your life and for the needs of the world.” Wow, heavy reading here.

The author included scripture as well as person stories to make his point. I particularly liked that each chapter was closed with a prayer. His writing was concise and for the most part easy to understand. However, at times I felt like I was in a theology class and my mind wandered.

There are twelve chapter in this book. Dealing with a wide variety of topics such as confessing our sins and praying for others there are some chapters that touched me more than others. I did learn a lot but sometimes I did not personally agree with his line of thinking.

I would recommend this book on prayer. It would be perfect for a small group on prayer. There is much to ponder and discuss after reading Strike the Mark. I rated it 4 out of 5 stars. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but I was under no obligation to write a review.
1,888 reviews
May 11, 2019
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.
Profile Image for Mary Hake.
Author 4 books413 followers
May 14, 2019
This nonfiction book will boost your prayer life. The author provides interesting and encouraging words regarding prayer and how to pray, including much Scripture. The end has lists of Bible prayers, which are helpful guides for your own prayer life. We know God has commanded us to pray, and this guidebook will assist’ in partnering with the Holy Spirit to pray as we should. The author explains twelve types of prayers. I liked the comparison of various forms of prayer to the instruments in an orchestra—each does its part to produce a wonderful symphony. The books twelve chapters offer much meat to chew and would be good to reread from time to time. They cover topics such as removing obstacles, confessing sin, reminding God of His Word, and exposing demonic influence. Although the text may have a more “Pentecostal” feel to it, the book does not demand readers pray any certain way, but rather encourages biblical prayer and seeking the Lord. I think it would make a great group study book too. I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Cheri Swalwell.
Author 72 books61 followers
April 8, 2019
This was definitely not a relaxing weekend read. This book has depth and is one that I will be reading and rereading multiple times, and I know I will continue to get new enlightenment every time I read it.

This book came at the right time in my life. God was bringing me to a new level in my prayer life, but I had questions. And this book has begun to answer them for me, along with giving me more things to think about.

Wonderful read. I’m reading it currently with a friend and enjoying that we are learning together. It’s easy to understand; yet carries a depth that makes one want to peel back the many layers to understand all of the message being spoken.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. All opinions were strictly my own.
Profile Image for Janice Sisemore.
1,650 reviews15 followers
May 20, 2019
Strike the Mark

A book about prayer and how it works in our lives. Prayers that we do when we are alone and ones with others. Each chapter has at the end of it called “target practice “ that helps in praying concerning what the chapter is about. A lot of verses from the Bible. I mean , a lot of verses. Examples from the Bible and current time of things that happened through prayer.

Being a nonfiction book it was hard for me to read and review since I read more books that are fiction. But it is definitely good one to read and explore for a nonfiction book. There can be a lot to learn from one. Prayers are definitely a important part of a Christian life. I know I need to do more of it.

I received a advanced copy of the book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write an positive review. This is my own opinion.
1,324 reviews11 followers
May 15, 2019
I have read other books by James and have enjoyed them, now I will add this one to the list of books I have devoured by James W. Goll.

If you are looking to reignite your prayer life and maybe get to the bottom of why you have been asleep in your prayers this just might be the book to wake you up.

This book wasn’t really geared toward waking you up so much as giving you direction but for some reason, for me, this book ignited something in me. At one point I found myself crying and actually getting excited about praying again. It has been a struggle for the last 9 months or so. Whatever the reason, I needed this book.

A copy of this book was given to me through the Celebrate Lit Team. All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Karen.
560 reviews8 followers
January 24, 2021
Foundations of prayer. Beneficial resources in the back of the book.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews

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