(Romans 8:5 – 6)
The apostle Paul says that living according to the Spirit (or living out of your heart) is the key to life and peace. It is what enables us to live in fellowship with the Lord, be led by the Holy Spirit, and pray real heartfelt prayers even when we’re surrounded by natural difficulties and distractions.
I was reminded of that fact not long ago when I went to London to speak at a prayer conference. The only reason I went there in the first place was because my heart drew me there. In the natural, I didn’t particularly want to make the trip. But every time I would draw near to the Lord and tune into my heart, I’d sense the desire to be there. It seemed I just had to go.
When I arrived, I found myself surrounded by outward activity and distractions. I stayed in a hotel across from Windsor Palace, and right outside my window, there were tourists taking pictures and horses pulling noisy carriages down the street. What’s more, the air conditioning in my room didn’t work and I would get so hot that I’d have to open the window. When I did, the ruckus outside came flooding in.
Clearly, my circumstances were uncomfortable. But it didn’t matter because I was so tuned into my heart—so turned inward toward God—that I was totally happy. I just lived from my heart, obeying the leadings of the Spirit, so I could do what He had led me there to do.
Looking back on the experience, I can see that because I continually turned inward and drew near to the Lord, I wasn’t affected very much by either the negative or the positive circumstances around me. I wasn’t upset by the heat and the noise, nor was I overawed or distracted by the magnificent, natural sights of London. As Colossians 3:2 says, I was able to set my mind and keep it set “on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth” (Amp).
So I was able to enjoy life and peace in the midst of the hubbub, pray from my heart, and fulfill the will of God.
Scripture Reading: Galatians 5:16
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!”