Acts 14:3
Some years ago, a minister I know went on a missions trip to Poland where he experienced in a wonderful way exactly what the manifestation of Jesus’ presence can do. By divine arrangement, no doubt, when he arrived in the country he found that his interpreter was not there yet, so he spent three days walking the rural countryside just talking to Jesus while he waited for his interpreter to come. As he did, the Lord’s presence became so real to him that he was constantly aware that He was there.
One afternoon, some people took him to pray for a little boy who was paralyzed. When he touched the boy’s feet and started to pray, he knew that it was Jesus’ hand touching them and not his own. Jesus’ presence completely filled the place and the boy was instantly made whole.
A day or two later, he went to preach in a Polish Catholic cathedral where about 7,000 people were gathered to hear the Gospel. In the midst of the crowd was a deformed child that had been brought to the meeting next to his mother. He lay next to her on the floor in a fetal position with his limbs curled and his body drawn.
As my minister friend began to preach, he sensed the same presence of Jesus filling the cathedral and suddenly the child began to move. Little by little, that child’s limbs straightened out and he rose to his feet and began to walk! When the crowd saw what had happened, all who needed healing began to rush toward the minister in an effort to touch him. He didn’t know what to do so he took his coat off, threw it into the crowd, and people all over began to be healed. Later the priest told him that for three months people would touch that coat and be healed.
I realize that’s unusual but it’s scriptural nonetheless. (See Acts 19:12.) What’s more, we desperately need outstanding miracles like that today. We need those kinds of signs and wonders because that’s the way the world is going to see Jesus.
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:1–5
Source: Devotions for the Praying Heart by Lynne Hammond.
Excerpt permission granted by Lynne Hammond Ministries
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!”