A couple of years ago, I met an elderly believer in China whose life illustrated in a powerful way how vital it is to have the Word of God quickened to our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Incarcerated for his faith, he had spent 34 years in prison near Siberia. During that time, he was never sick. He never missed a day of work—even though he was forced to do tough, manual labor and was given only bread and water to eat every few days.
When I asked him how he did it, he said, “The Holy Spirit would give me songs in my heart. Every day there was a new song that energized, strengthened, and gave me life for that day.”
This man said the songs were to him like the manna the children of Israel received. The manna was there for them every day as long as they were in the wilderness. But when they went into the Promised Land, it never fell again. “Every single day that I was in prison, the songs came,” he said. “After I was released, I never got another song.”
Isn’t that amazing? The Holy Spirit quickened in that brother’s heart the exact truth he needed each day. And by giving it to him in song, it lifted his spirit in such a way that he was able to keep going strong, both spiritually and physically.
If we’ll take the time to get in the spirit, the Holy Spirit will do the same for us! He’ll give us something new every day. He’ll give us a word or a song, a scriptural passage or revelation that will make a familiar Bible truth shine in a whole new light.
He’ll show us how to walk and pray in victory every day.
Scripture Reading: Psalm 149:1 – 9
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!”