Think what powerful things can happen in the kingdom of God when the Holy Spirit opens the door. Imagine the wonders we will see as He unlocks the doors of people’s hearts, doors of revelation, geographical doors, and doors of utterance! Isn’t it thrilling to live in the time of open doors?
Surely we can’t help but rejoice over it.
As pray-ers, however, we must remember that God expects us to do more than just rejoice and be happy. He wants us to yield ourselves in prayer to the ultimate watchman, the Holy Spirit, and become co-laborers with Him. As we do, His supernatural energy will be released through us and go to work opening doors for Jesus.
Because that energy is spiritual, we may not see with our eyes its immediate effects. Like the wind, the Holy Spirit’s power is an invisible force. But if we will keep praying and not faint, lose heart, or give up, as surely as we can see the leaves shaking and the flag whipping from the flagpole when the wind blows, the effects of our prayers will eventually become visible to all.
Dearest friend, I have it on good authority, long-awaited doors are about to open. Our heavenly commander is preparing us to take new territory for the kingdom of God. He is equipping us to pray much like a military leader equips the soldiers under his command.
Once during a trip to Israel, I had the opportunity to see such a commander in action. An Israeli Defense Force (IDF) unit had gathered near a place where my friends and I stopped for lunch and as we watched, their commander stepped up to give directions and instructions. He didn’t just tell them what to do; he spoke words of strength and exhortation to them. He was almost like a preacher— commanding, instructing, inspiring, and encouraging.
The soldiers listened in rapt attention. They knew they could not move forward without those commands and they were eager to be on the move!
Oh, what a picture that is of God’s praying army right now! We are eager to be on the move, and the Holy Spirit Himself is on the scene giving us His commands. We must be attentive and listen to them with care. We must be ever ready and eager to yield to Him.
For this is not a time to sit back and allow things to just happen. It’s a time for us to rise up and take our place in prayer. It’s time to delve into the realm of the spirit and help bring that for which our commander is calling. It’s time for us to help open the doors.
Scripture Reading: Luke 18:1–8
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!”