1 John 2:28
The amazing thing about the process of continually turning inward toward the Lord and becoming aware of Him is this: it is extraordinarily simple!
There is nothing showy or pretentious about it. In fact, it’s not an outward act at all. It is totally an action of the heart. It’s just an inner shift that allows you to settle down and rest in the fact that God is there abiding within you.
When you make that shift, your affections will immediately be drawn toward the Lord. You may not even have a conscious thought that you could put into words, yet the awareness of His presence and His love will begin washing over your soul. Your heart will respond to His nearness and you’ll know what the psalmist meant when he wrote:
How lovely are Your tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My soul yearns, yes, even pines and is homesick for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out and sing for joy to the living God. Yes, the sparrow has found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself where she may lay her young— even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed … are those who dwell in Your house and Your presence; they will be singing Your praises all the day long. (Psalm 84:1 – 4 Amp)
As you continue to practice this turning inward toward the Lord, you’ll develop a habit of returning to the awareness of Him. You’ll be like the sparrow who—although she must fly out to attend to certain necessities—will always return to her nest the moment she is through. The pattern of returning to your heart will become your constant experience. And since your heart is the dwelling place of the Lord, you will find yourself abiding in His house, singing His praises all day long!
Scripture Reading: Psalm 84:1 – 12
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!”