In Old Testament times, watchmen were stationed on top of the walls of a city. They would stand atop those walls and look out into the distance to see what was coming.
If an enemy came and shot a fiery dart, the watchman had a bucket of water on hand to pour over the fire so it didn’t burn a hole in the wall. If the watchman saw an army coming, he would give warning. If he saw friends coming bearing gifts, he would alert the gatekeepers to let them in.
The watchman’s responsibility was to guard the goods of the city.
As a pray-er, God has made you a spiritual watchman. He has set you somewhere and given you responsibility to watch over that place. I don’t know all the places He has given you responsibility to watch over, but I do know some of them. I know, for example, that He has given you responsibility to watch over yourself. He has given you responsibility to watch over your family. He has also given you responsibility to watch over other believers as the Spirit leads “praying always … and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Eph. 6:18 KJV).
If you handle those responsibilities, He will give you other territories to watch over, perhaps your city or your nation. He may even put other nations in your heart.
What do you do with those territories?
You pay attention to what the Spirit is saying to you about them. You stay alert and sensitive to the moving of the Holy Spirit and be quick to pray when He quickens you to pray. You do what Isaiah 62:6–7 says and “[… by your prayers] put the Lord in remembrance [of His promises], keep not silence, and give Him no rest” until He establishes your territory and makes it “a praise in the earth!” (Amp).
Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 18:24 – 27, 2 Kings 9:17 – 21
Source: Devotions for the Praying Heart by Lynne Hammond.
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!”