Sometimes you may not know exactly how to pray about the pressure you’re under. When you’re facing problems that seem big and complicated, you may find it difficult to fully express your heart to God about them. Years ago, an elderly Pentecostal pray-er taught me what to do at times like that. She taught me to obey the instructions in Lamentations 3:41:
Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens. (KJV)
I’ve found that one simple gesture of faith can work wonders. I’ve done it many times and I encourage you to do it too. When you’re battling serious anxiety, when you’re worried and fretful about something and you just can’t seem to get free of it, go into your place of prayer, get in the presence of God, put the thing that is bothering you in your hand and literally lift it up to heaven.
Say, “Lord, I give this to You right now. I put it into Your keeping. I trust Your wisdom and Your goodness; and I petition You to take care of this thing for me. I cast the care of it over on You, knowing that You care for me.” Then pray in other tongues.
Once you’ve done that, let the problem go. Every time the thought of it tries to come back and worry you, think instead about the goodness and love of your Heavenly Father. See Him holding that problem in His hands working it out on your behalf. Keep your mind focused on Him.
Isaiah 26:3 says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (KJV)
So put on that armor of peace, dear praying friend. Fasten it tightly around you and keep on marching through every difficulty you encounter. March on in triumph with your mind garrisoned and protected by your personal bodyguard. March with confidence, knowing that the God of all peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. March with the assurance that you, like Esther, are called for such a time as this.
Scripture Reading: Psalm 27:1
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!”