Imagine being given a wonderful gift but never using it. Imagine being given something so precious but living as if you never received it.
I can easily imagine it. It's what I do so often with the gift of speaking in tongues.
From God
I like when my kids enjoy a gift that I’ve given them and I love to remind then that it was from me, “Zoe, who gave you that pretty dress from India?”
It means a lot to me to remember that the gift of tongues is from God, prophesied and recommended by Jesus and delivered by the Holy Spirit. I should use it thankfully and frequently. Not like wearing that awful knitted jumper because I remember that I might see the relative that gave it to me.
Builds up
Can you imagine suffering from the cold and flu all winter while never opening the vitamins you've kept in the cupboard?
Praying in tongues is a gift that builds my faith. I can spend so much time worrying when I could at least spend a few minutes praying in tongues instead.
Tunes in
I could sit in a room with a radio switched off and wonder what’s going on in the world or I could tune in.
Praying in tongues is gift that helps me to tune in to God and the things of His Spirit. Even when I don’t know what to pray I don’t have to wait for inspiration or warm fuzzies. I can let God’s Spirit lead me.
Effective prayer
I could dig a hole with my hands. My yard is full of hard clay so it would be very difficult but I could do it. What would make it daft is that I have a shovel in the shed.
God’s gift of a prayer language can prop up my prayer life and add His power to it. Unfortunately, I need all the help I can get, and knowing that His power is at work makes it exciting.
I am writing to myself. I want to be a person who appreciates and uses this gift that God has given me. Even though it didn’t seem to come easily 18 years ago, today I could go a day or a week without using it.
For those like me, I challenge you keep the dust off that gift.
For those who are curious, I encourage you to keep pursuing it.
“I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.”1 Corinthians 14:18
I love the gift of tongues. I love knowing it is benefiting myself but also praying what needs to be prayed for. I can pray in my thoughts what I think might need to be prayed for while knowing that the spirit is taking care of the real important stuff (cosmically speaking). Thanks for reminding me to use the gift and not to overvalue my own ability to know what I should be praying for.
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