Matt. 3:1 – 3
In Minneapolis, we often say we have just two seasons every year. We have winter—and we have road construction.
During construction season when the road crews are working day and night, there are all kinds of pesky detours and traffic jams. But when winter comes, we’re glad those crews did their job because the roads they constructed make it possible for multiplied thousands of us to get where we want to go.
Much the same thing is true in the kingdom of God. It has two primary seasons. There’s the coming of the Lord—and there’s the preparation for it.
The coming of the Lord includes not only major events like the birth of Jesus and His end-time return but also the moves of God that come in between. The preparation season is much like the summertime in Minneapolis. It’s the time for spiritual road construction. It’s the season when work must be done to pave the way for God to move into individual lives, regions, and even entire nations.
Believers like us who have heard the call to prayer are God’s spiritual construction crew. We’re the ones building His roads and preparing the way for Jesus to get where He wants to go.
Like John the Baptist who got things ready for Jesus to reach the multitudes at His first coming, we are getting things ready for Him to reach them today.
We’re anointed in prayer to be a “voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make His paths straight.’” We’re laboring in the spirit to build highways for the King.
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:1–25
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!”