(Ps. 34:10)
What happens in our lives spiritually when we don’t take the time to make God welcome?
The same thing that would have happened to the Shunammite lady if she hadn’t built a room for Elisha: nothing at all.
God won’t come barging into our living rooms, grab the remote control out of hands, and say, “Shut that television off, will you? I need to talk to you!” He won’t sovereignly rearrange our schedules and force us to spend time loving and fellowshipping with Him. He’ll just let us go our own busy way while He continues to yearn for us to make Him welcome.
Of course, what eventually happens when we don’t take time to seek the Lord is that we find ourselves in trouble of some sort. Needs begin to pile up. Circumstances start to overwhelm us, and we end up going to the Lord not because we want to but because we have to.
We come into His throne room with our list of wants and needs. We come under pressure, far more concerned about what He can do for us than what we can do for Him. And God, in His kindness, mercy, and grace still helps us, doesn’t He? He answers our prayers and meets our needs.
But even so, by seeking Him only when we’re in trouble we miss out on His best and His highest for us. We miss out on that which only comes to those who instead of just making demands on Him when the need arises, seek His presence day after day just because they love Him.
We miss out on supernatural surprises God has in store for all who will take the time to make room for Him.
Scripture Reading: Psalm 34:1 – 22
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!”