Rashi (20:3) שמע ישראל – אפילו אין בכם זכות אלא של קריית שמע בלבד, כדיי אתם שיושיע אתכם. Why is it specifically the merit of krias shema that guarantees success in war?
This blog mentioned before the Even Ezra that to be a nazir is considered a פלא; for a person to control their animalistic desires is considered a פלא. Rav Leeb Chasman asks why is it considered such a big deal to abstain from some wine and haircuts for thirty days? It doesn't seem that these are tremendously earth shattering, otherworldly guidelines to adhere to? He explains its not the content of the nezirus that's the פלא, its the acceptance. For a person to be willing to accept upon himself even a small measure of abstention runs against the very nature of an individual and it is indeed a פלא to willingly accept such limitations upon one's self.
The Shem M'Shmuel says that's the great merit of shema as well. It isn't just a mitzvah like any other but it involves a acceptance of malchus shamayim. It is the acceptance of Hashem's will, even if it hasn't fully been realized in actuality that is the grates merit for success in war.
This is why the baalei mussar put an emphasis on some form of a kabbalah (or hachlatah depending on your lingo,) of special behavior for a person to accept upon themselves during these times of year. It's not the point for the actual content of the kabbalah itself, quite the contrary, very small kabbalos are encouraged. It's is the middah of curtailing a person's free reign in some matter, the need to acknowledge a Higher Presence that is expressing by means of the kabbalah.
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