The Devil is constantly turning up the pressure on believers. Sometimes when I stand before a congregation and start to lead corporate prayer, I can almost hear people worrying about their problems and wondering how they’re going to make it through.
When we face that kind of pressure, one of the things we need most is an example to follow. We need to be inspired and encouraged by someone who has faced circumstances far worse than our own and found a way to walk through them in triumph. We need to look away from those who are wringing their hands in anxiety about the crises around them and focus on the people of faith who somehow found calm in the midst of the storm.
Thankfully, the Bible is full of such people. So before you try to pray about the difficulties in your life, open it up and read about some of them. Spend time in the Scriptures reading about men and women of God who overcame the obstacles the Devil threw in their way. Find out how they did it so you can follow in their footsteps. Watch how God came through for them, and remind yourself that He will come through just as faithfully and supernaturally for you.
If you’ll do that, you’ll be able to stop worrying and pray about your situation in faith. Instead of wondering what God will do for you, you can draw near to Him knowing He will hear and answer you. You can become one of those who “though faith (by their leaning of the entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) and by practice of patient endurance and waiting are [now] inheriting the promises!” (Hebrews 6:12 Amp).
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 11:1 – 40
Source: Devotions for the Praying Heart by Lynne Hammond.
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!”