Being watchful is so crucial in these dangerous days that we should do everything we can to sharpen our spiritual senses. We should seek out ways to cultivate our sensitivity of heart so that we pick up on the leadings of the Holy Spirit when He warns us about Satan’s plans.
A friend of mine was recently reminded of just how important that can be.
She was standing in a church service worshipping the Lord when suddenly she began to weep. As she did, all she could think about was her 14-month-old grandson who lived hundreds of miles away in another state. For no apparent reason, she sensed a desperate desire to hold him, to hang onto him for dear life.
After a few moments, the weeping subsided but knowing it might be a prompting to pray, my friend was especially watchful over the condition of her heart the next few days. As she did, she noticed a sense of uneasiness, a subtle disturbance in her spirit. Not knowing how to pray about it with her understanding, she prayed over the situation in tongues for a day or two until total peace returned.
Within the week, she received word that her daughter-in-law and grandson had been in a car accident. Another driver had run a stop sign and hit their van broadside at a high rate of speed. Although the van was completely wrecked, neither the daughter-in-law nor the grandson were injured. No cuts. No bruises. No broken bones.
Later my friend’s son told her (not knowing that she had prayed) that the protection of God had been clearly evident. “If that car had been going just a little faster,” he said, “it would have crushed the part of the van where the baby was sitting. He probably wouldn’t have survived.”
Isn’t it amazing what wonderful deliverances the Lord can give us when we watch and pray? He can lead us triumphantly through even the most treacherous times if we’ll be alert to heed His precious promptings!
Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:1–9
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!”