I am praying and believing to see more churches operate like armies of God, especially here in the United States. If there were two such churches in every state, I believe with all my heart that we could cover this whole nation with a powerful blanket of prayer. If there were at least two churches with pastors who functioned not only as shepherds but as spiritual commanders receiving prayer direction from heaven, the oppression of Satan could be overturned and that state could be protected.
If the leaders will lead, God will give them strategies. He will give them directions. And He will give His people the will and the wisdom to follow.
So keep praying for the pastors. Stand in faith with me for prayer armies to rise up in churches all over this nation.
The God of Deborah, Barak, and Jael, the God of the Old Testament nation of Israel is the God of the Church today. He is as powerful now as He ever was and through the work of Jesus, He has already defeated the enemy we face. If we will get fed up enough to rise up and oppose him in our families, our communities, and our nation, we can through the power of prayer subdue him just as Israel subdued Jabin.
If we’ll pray for our leaders to lead, then follow them and fight to the finish, it will one day be written of us as it was of those Old Testament saints: the hand of God’s people grew stronger and stronger against the oppressor until they destroyed him.
And then their land had rest.
Scripture Reading: Acts 9:31
Source: Devotions for the Praying Heart by Lynne Hammond.
Excerpt permission granted by Lynne Hammond Ministries
On the chilly March night in 1972 when Lynne Hammond took her first step into a life of Spirit-led prayer, she had no idea what was about to happen. All she knew was the hunger in her heart for God wouldn’t let her sleep. In the few short months she’d been born again, her desire to fellowship with Him had grown so strong she could hardly contain it. “Help me, God!” she cried. “I want to know you. I want to be able to talk to you. Please, teach me to pray!”
Suddenly, a heavenly presence flooded the room. Lynne sensed waves of spiritual fire sweeping over her and a beautiful language began to flow like a river from within her. Although she’d never heard of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, she knew instantly, without a doubt—this was God!
What began that night soon blossomed into a life of prayer that ultimately became a ministry of prayer when, in 1980, Lynne and her husband, Mac, founded Living Word Christian Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Under Lynne’s leadership, the prayer ministry at Living Word has become an internationally recognized model for developing effective pray-ers in the local church.
A teacher and an author, Lynne publishes a newsletter called Prayer Notes, has written numerous books, and currently serves as the national prayer director for Daughters for Zion. Her passion for inspiring and leading others into the life of Spirit-led prayer continues to take her around the world to minister to believers whose heart cry, like hers, is “Lord, teach me to pray!”