One time when I was preaching at our church about the story of the Shunammite woman, the Lord spoke through prophecy and told us that He wants us all to be like her. He wants every believer whose life has seemed spiritually barren to be blessed and bear much fruit for the kingdom of God.
To do so, however, we can’t be spiritually lazy or asleep to His presence. We must painstakingly go after Him. We must do what it takes to make room for Him.
“For if you live only in the natural,” said the Lord, “if you are always just flowing in a natural stream, you will move more and more into the flesh realm. You’ll become more and more carnal. Many of My people have come to a point where they have stagnated and are stuck. They don’t even know how to get to the supernatural. But if you will turn just a little bit, if you will just make room for Me, I will bring you out. I will open the doors ….
“It doesn’t begin with Me, it begins with you. You decide.
“You decide to press into the narrow way. You decide that you want My presence more than other things. You decide that the Spirit will take ascendancy over all else. And you decide not to flow and walk with the world. Put off your carnal way and wake up—for a new day is dawning, a new time has come—the time of My Spirit.
“Those who desire to be filled with Me will surely know all of My Spirit’s power and what I am bringing to them. If you could only just see a little bit higher, you would see the rivers that are about to flow. They are ready to break open, like a reservoir or a dam. It’s about to happen.
“So wake up! Wake up to My Spirit and to that which I am doing this day and time. For it’s a new season, and I’ll dress you up, for it is an anointing and a power that you know not of, clothing upon clothing, and you’ll walk in a new light and in a new way.”
Oh, my praying friend, let’s not miss out. Let’s make room for the supernatural. Let’s make room in our lives for Him!
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 55:6 – 12
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!”