Another thing I’ve learned to do over the years to step up my pace in the Word is to choose a particular book of the Bible and study it in depth. There is any number of ways to do that, but my personal method involves reading a particular book straight through while jotting notes about it in a journal. Sometimes, if the book is a short one such as First John or Colossians, I read it through every day for a month.
As I read, I notice the overall flow and structure of the book. (Some people like to make an outline to help them capture the main points and overall message of the text.) If a particular passage brings questions to my mind, I make note of it. I also write down the thoughts and impressions that come to me as I study.
In addition to reading the book itself in several different translations, I like to read what Bible commentaries say about it. They give me insight into the historical events that were happening and what the culture was like at the time the book was written. They also explain words and phrases that might have had a different meaning than they do now.
It can also be inspiring to meditate the Word by reading just one chapter of the Bible a day very slowly and thoughtfully. When I read like that, I like to take the time to let each verse sink in. Instead of trying to study and figure out the passage with my head, I enter into the spirit of it with my heart.
If I’m reading an account from the Gospels about the ministry of Jesus, I let myself feel the warmth of the Middle Eastern sun on my face. I imagine it glinting off the Sea of Galilee. With the help of the Holy Spirit, I step into the chapter and actually experience it.
He can reveal to me exactly what it was like because, after all, He was there! He can do the same for you. So jump into the Scriptures with a new sense of expectation. Look at them in a fresh way. Study them. Think about them. Let the Spirit of God unfold them to you as never before.
Become a serious student of the Word.
Scripture Reading: Psalm 119:81 – 112
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!”