Day 20 28 Days To Confidence In Prayer
For the last couple of days we have been talking about praying in tongues. (Praying in the Holy Spirit). Until you have entered into this phase of praying, there is no way you can comprehend its significance. This special gift can take your praying to a whole new level!
There are many times when you need prayer, but you don’t know exactly what to pray. You could have a problem with finances, your family, or your career. Sometimes you might be seeking wisdom. Other times you might need to pray for a situation involving others and you don’t know all the details involved in the problem. All of these are circumstances which could benefit from praying in tongues.
I’ll share an example. Amanda was a mother whose daughter, Olivia, was anorexic. She had cmpared herself to pencil-thin models so often that she no longer saw herself as she was. Olivia was dangerously thin, but when she looked in the mirror she saw an overweight person. After several years of this, with yo-yo dieting, bulimia, and many tears, Olivia’s health was in grave danger. Olivia was 5’7″ and weighed less than 100 pounds. Strangely, she still saw herself as fat! Amanda had spent many hours in prayer, but Olivia, now in college, seemed totally indifferent to her problem.
One morning at 3:00 AM Amanda awoke with a start. She was suddenly wide awake and felt the Holy Spirit calling her to pray. As Amanda walked into the den, she felt an urge to “pray in tongues” – not knowing why. For the next three days Amanda spent most of the time praying in tongues. She had other obligations which required her to be around people, so she would quietly pray under her breath. Then as soon as she was alone, whe would yield to the Holy Spirit and pray more intensely. During that time, the mother lost her appetite completely. Her entire focus was on praying in tongues.
After three days, Amanda felt the prayer assignment lift and she continued with her normal routine – still unaware of the reason for her prayer. On day five, she had an amazing thrill. Olivia called in tears. She had suddenly become aware of her condition and had checked herself into a hospital. She was finally ready to receive the help she so desperately needed. Within weeks Amanda’s porecious daughter, Olivia, was well on her way to recovery.
As she shared her story with me, Amanda said, “I never knew what I was praying for, but the Holy Spirit did. He prayed for my Olivia according to God’s perfect will – and deliverance was sure to come. Why didn’t that happen sooner? Of course, I don’t know all the answers, but I believe that God waited until Olivia’s will was at a place of softening – a place where she was willing to let the Lord speak to her. When someone’s heart is hard, they won’t listen to anyone – including the voice of the Lord. But God knows just how to continue to work with people, bringing them opportunities, until they are willing to listen. It’s as if one day He says, “Now! Go! The time is right! Let’s get this job done!”
Our Father is so amazing! Earlier we discussed God’s Word and its power. We saw how God’s Word in faith-filled lips can commission angels, stop demons, and bring about God’s perfect will in our lives. Doesn’t it make sense that he would provide His own language to His children so that they could bring about His will? What a miracle we have in God’s marvelous plan!
Over the years, there have been many times when I would feel the call to pray not knowing why. Other times I have known someone who needed prayer, but I would not know how to pray for them. Then there were times when I would need to draw deeply from the Spirit for wisdom or direction. All of these answers have come as I would allow the Holy Spirit to pray through me in my heavenly language. It’s truly one of God’s great miracles!
Right now is a significant time for you. I want you to think about what we have been discussing. Do you have the baptism in the Holy Spirit – with evidence of speaking in tongues? If so, never take it lightly or despise it. Never be ashamed of your precious Holy Spirit. He is your best friend in the earth. He knows you better than you know yourself. He knows every mistake, every flaw, every hurt, every disappointment, every desire. And He loves you more than you can comprehend – more than anyone on earth is capable of loving you. His perfect prayers for you can only bring you good.
If you have never received your prayer language, you may be a little nervous about this. Read Luke 11: 9-13.
If you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.Pray and ask for this gift. He wants to give you all that He has. My prayer for you is that you will truly seek His best.
