We can learn some important things from men like Moses and Samuel about responding correctly to the call of the Lord. The first one is this: when you sense the Spirit’s call, go to God first and find out exactly what He wants you to do.

Don’t just jump out and come up with something on your own (like Moses did in his early days). Don’t just go talk to a friend about it (like Samuel did at first), or listen to another message, or read another book on the subject.

Draw near to the Lord. Get His wisdom by fellowshipping with Him.

We have scriptural precedent for that in the Gospel of Matthew. There, in chapter ten, we see Jesus so moved with compassion for the multitudes that He is about to give His disciples His own power and authority to minister to them. But first, Jesus called the disciples to Himself. That’s the way it always is with God. When He is ready to promote us to walk in higher places of power and authority, the first thing He does is call us to Himself.

It’s in our times of fellowship with Him that our calling takes definition. It’s in communion with Him that we receive the understanding and the grace to do what He wants us to do. Certainly, other believers can encourage us spiritually and stir us up. But we can only grasp our destiny by coming personally into the presence of the Lord again, and again, and again.

Unfortunately, some believers draw near to Him once or twice and then get discouraged. They seem to think they’re going to get a detailed description of their entire life’s plan from the Lord the very first day. But He doesn’t work like that.

The Lord works with us almost like an artist paints a picture. He begins by sketching a few broad strokes on the canvas of our hearts. Initially, we might not even know what those strokes mean. But every time we go back to Him, He adds a little more definition.

He takes His Holy Ghost paintbrush and adds a few more details until, eventually, He has painted within us the most beautiful picture we have ever seen.

Scripture Reading: Matthew 9:35–10:1

Lynne Hammond

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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!”