It started off as a conversation, sparked by a simple question.
I walked into the girls room and my teammate Shania and squad mate Liz were having a conversation about prayer, intrigued I listened in. Shania soon asked me how many times a day I pray. I answered saying I really try to pray throughout the day but usually just end up praying at night before I fall asleep. I soon shared with them that for awhile I have been in a dry season making it really hard to pray. I felt that not matter how much I prayed, worshiped or read the Bible that I didn’t feel The Lord nor hear Him, which is super frustrating when you are trying to live for Him fully. I expressed that I was mad at the Lord for “leaving me” and just angry in this dry season. So after talking about valley seasons and why we go through them sometimes, Shania asked if she could pray for me, and hesitantly I said yes. So the three of us sat down and held hands. Shania opened in prayer, and soon after starting to pray I could feel Him. I knew the Lord was right there with us while we pray. As Shania continued to pray His presence grew stronger and stronger. Shania finished her prayer and Liz went right into prayer. During Liz’s prayer I opened my eyes, why? I have no reason, but when I opened them Shania began to speak in Tongues.
Instantly I felt fear but I also knew what was happening, the Holy Spirit was right there praying through Shania. I looked around in awe at the power of His presence. I could feel the Holy spirit in such a powerful way I didn’t know what to do, goosebumps were rising all over my body, the thunder outside began to grow louder and the lighting was so incredibly bright. God was with us. Calmed by His Spirit I closed my eyes and began to pray after Liz.
We soon ended and I wonder if I could ask Shania if she knew she spoke in tongues.
“Shania can I ask you a question?” I said, and she smiled and simply replied “Yes, I spoke in tongues.”
She instantly shared that the Holy Spirit has spoken through her before, and that she has been given the gift of speaking in tongues. HOW COOL IS THAT?!?!
Shania told us how the first time she spoke in tongues that she didn’t believe that it actually happened and that she was just making words up, but after hours spent in prayer the Lord had confirmed to her that the Holy Spirit was indeed speaking through her. Speaking in tongues is such an amazing experience Shania shared, it’s simply the Holy Spirit entering into the prayer you are praying and using you as a vessel to pray. She told us how she does not know the words she is praying but she knows what she is praying about. For example, whens she spoke in tongues during our prayer time she did not know what she was saying, but she knew that the prayer was for me.
Our God is just so unique and powerful. I love it.
I leave you with Mark 16: 14-20 “The Great Commission”
“Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]]”
