I love prayer conferences. Ever since we started having them at our church years ago, I’ve found that when pray-ers get together, we have the most extraordinary times. We always go to wonderful places in the spirit.
One time I asked the Lord about it. I said, “Why is it that in those services, we can go so much higher than in others?”
In answer to that question, He began speaking to me about the importance of drawing on the anointing of God. He reminded me of Proverbs 20:5 and revealed to me that just as counsel in the heart of a man is like deep water that must be drawn out, the anointing of God flows forth in greatest abundance when His people are drawing on it. Because pray-ers generally understand how to draw on the Spirit of God, amazing things come forth when they get together.
Sadly enough, however, sometimes even as praying people, we forget to draw. Sometimes we come to church very casually and just sit there, waiting to see what the minister does. As a result, we miss out on God’s highest. We miss out on His best and end up receiving just a small portion of what He wanted to give us.
That’s not only disappointing to us but to the ministers as well. I know, because I’ve been on both sides of the situation.
Recently, for instance, I had some things in my heart I wanted to preach. I’d tried to speak them out but they just wouldn’t come out the way I wanted. It was as though there was a spiritual pitch on the inside of me and I just couldn’t reach that pitch.
But thank God, some praying people began drawing on what God had put within me. They prayed for me and somehow a well was opened in my spirit. After that, I was able to tell some things and talk out of my heart like I hadn’t before. Their prayers reached a new depth in me and new possibilities of God came out!
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 12:3
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!”