Why is spending time alone with God so important?
Because when you shut out the natural noise of life that normally fills your physical senses, your spiritual senses become more alert.
Often, it takes time to get your body and mind to be quiet, but once they are, your awareness of the presence of God increases. You are better able to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit as He brings to your remembrance things He has spoken to you in times past about His purpose and plan for your life.
As you lift those things before Him, praying in tongues, worshipping and waiting expectantly on Him, He’ll reveal more to you. He won’t show you everything at once; but each time you fellowship with Him about your purpose, He will unfold it a little further.
I think of it like walking into a room. The first time you walk into a large, elaborately decorated room, you get a general overall impression of it. You notice big things here and there. But to fully comprehend every detail in that room, to see and understand the purpose of everything in it, you have to visit that room over and over again. You have to spend time there, not just once but repeatedly.
Don’t let the gradual nature of the process discourage you. Just remember that every time you grasp a little more about what God has called you to do, you’ll move up to a higher plane of life. Your fervency will increase.
You’ll have more satisfaction in life. You’ll experience a greater sense of the delight that comes from knowing and doing the will of God.
Scripture Reading: Proverbs 8:1 – 36
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!”