James 4:7
If we don’t spend enough time reading and studying our Bibles, we’ll find ourselves praying ineffective prayers. All we’ll be able to do is wring our hands and say things like “Oh, God, stop the terrorists! Save us! Help us!”
I’m not going to say that such prayers don’t make any difference, but they certainly don’t pack the spiritual power that’s needed in times like these.
If we’ll really dig into the Word, however, we’ll find we have a powerful case to set before the Lord. If we spend time reading and praying over scriptures like Psalms chapter 83 and Matthew 24:14, we can step over into the spirit and begin to be led by Him. Then He’ll quicken those scriptures in our hearts, and we’ll wield them not just with our own natural strength but with divine power and authority.
As the Spirit leads, we can loose the very words and commands of God. We’ll find ourselves saying things like this:
“Devil, I oppose you in the name of Jesus! You’ve come against the people of God—Jews and Christians alike—and I say you are put to shame. I say your forces are confounded and confused. You are like the chaff in the wind. Your attempt to capture the nations and shut out the Gospel will come to nothing because Jesus said this Gospel will be preached to ALL the nations. I stand on those words. I say the words of Jesus will come to pass. I resist your every attempt to terrify and destroy this nation, and the Bible says that if I resist you, you must flee!”
When you move over into the realm of the spirit and start praying prayers like that, you’ll sense the difference. You’ll know you’re getting something done!
Scripture Reading: Psalm 83:1 – 18
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!”