When you hear the word “Holy Spirit” what comes to your mind? Do you relate to Him? Do you know Him? When I first heard about the Holy Spirit as a little child, I was scared of the concepts and ideas about Him.
He was Someone I could not understand or fathom; but now as a born again believer I say He is the most trusted, most reliable, most powerful, very best Friend, Helper, Guide, Comforter, sweet Presence of God that bring about great results in our faith walk. He makes heavenly things manifest in our lives in the most powerful ways.
Praying in tongues
Where I come from, speaking in tongues or praying in tongues is a normal thing in a believer’s life. It’s part of our Christian culture and it is heavily practiced. It’s when we pray with our spirit in an unknown language. I used to wonder before why fellow believers love to speak in tongues or pray in tongues during worship services.
I would simply follow the crowd without truly understanding why was I doing it. But as observed, those people who spoke in tongues were powerful in their Christian walk and I could sense the spiritual authority and anointing God had placed in their lives. But I just couldn’t fathom or understand what was praying in tongues all about.
The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians chapter 14 verse 14 that a person who speaks in tongues edifies himself. Looking at the definition of edify, it means to be strengthened, improved, and in my own words it’s like you are enriching your spiritual life with what God has prepared for you personally.
I had knowledge of this Scripture that’s why I tried to speak in tongues when we’re instructed to so but I really didn’t have an understanding of it, neither a passion to do it on my own nor saw its benefits in my walk with God until this pandemic came and change the course of the world.
The Powerful Helper
Since this pandemic has hit us, I found myself a lot in a state of not knowing what to pray for. There’s so much going on in the world, with the situations in our families, in the churches, in the Kingdom of God, in the spiritual realm that you don’t know where to start with God.
And in that struggle of mine on the journey, I felt the Holy Spirit wanted me to pray in tongues while reminding me of Romans 8 chapter 26 that He helps us when we don’t know what to pray for.
So as I started to pray in tongues, it was the first time that I saw Him standing beside me while I pray and I felt “helped” and not alone. As I continued on to pray in the Spirit, He started moving. I felt this deep assurance that all of my prayers and concerns were covered and taken care of as I pray in a language unknown to me.
I wasn’t even struggling in forming the words of concerns and cares for I was simply in a state of surrender, trusting fully in the Holy Spirit who searches deep things and thoughts in our hearts as I pray in tongues. I was so amazed by Him and how powerful He moves when we fully trust Him in our weakness.
Praying in tongues was never the same again since then. It was no longer a concept or an activity that must be done occasionally but it has become a passion for me knowing that I have the Holy Spirit who always helps me in all things.
The result of praying in tongues more often
I now understand why some believers are addicted to speaking in tongues and praying in tongues. It’s not about the activity or the utterances. It’s about the Holy Spirit who is always here with us, ready to help us, knowing Him and relating to Him. The benefits I have personally experienced since I started praying in tongues are many and one of which is the visible fruit of the Holy Spirit produced in my life.
For instance, I see myself manifesting peace, self-control, love, patience, and so on in situations I would normally react in flesh (worrying, doubting, anxious, impatient, angry, etc). So this is what being edified means. Other than that, the more I pray in tongues the more I get to see how beautiful, dependable, trustworthy and powerful the Holy Spirit is. I couldn’t thank Jesus and the Father enough for giving us such a marvelous Advocate who is so close to us, willing and simply waiting for us to ask for His help.
May those who of you who are questioning and wondering why speak in tongues and pray in tongues have an amazing encounter with the Holy Spirit and breakthrough in your spiritual life and be edified by God in Jesus’ name.
Lovely Lao is a Sunday school teacher and is involved in children’s ministry at a local church. She is a passionate lover of God and people, especially children. Jesus is her ultimate joy and excitement in life and she is hungry to know and learn more about him. She is also married to a youth pastor who is a man after God’s heart.
Lovely Lao’s previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/lovely-salcedo.html