In these last, critical hours as God’s end-time plan unfolds, it is not enough for believers just to say prayers anymore. It is not enough for us to make dry, dutiful requests based on a prayer list.
We must be attentive right now to the promptings and leadings of the Holy Spirit. We must have our ears tuned to His voice so we’re quick to perceive and respond to His cues.
In other words, we must watch so that God Himself can help us pray. The New Testament instructs us again and again to do that. It says:
• “Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints …” (Ephesians 6:18 Amp).
• “… Let us not sleep, as the rest do, but let us keep wide awake (alert, watchful, cautious, and on our guard) and let us be sober (calm, collected, and circumspect) … Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]” (1 Thessalonians 5:6, 17 Amp).
• “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13). • “Keep awake and watch and pray [constantly], that you may not enter into temptation …” (Mark 14:38 Amp). • “Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming— in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mark 13:35 –37).
Scripture Reading: Habakkuk 2:1
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!”