I’ve been praying in tongues for about 10 years now. In that period, as you would expect, I’ve had many experiences.
Today, I want to share with you 5 things that I learned you should never do if you desire to make your praying in tongues gift fruitful.
Getting Advice from People who don’t Pray in Tongues
Some praying in tongues believers make the mistake of asking for advice from people who don’t pray in tongues. Well, if you do that, expect a lot of discouraging advice.
Praying in tongues is largely an act of faith. With that being the case, the more encouragement you can get, the better.
If you recently got baptized with the gift, better not ask anyone for advice than to ask for advice from people who don’t pray in tongues.
Sometimes, even some tongue-speaking believers might discourage you.
If your faith in the gift is fragile, exercise the gift without asking anyone for advice. The Holy Spirit will lead you sufficiently.
Suspecting your Tongues are from the Devil
Many tongue-speaking believers who are new to the gift struggle with this. It is actually the most favorite weapon of the devil against newly baptized believers.
Try to have at least a few countermeasures against such attacks. If you get doubtful thoughts that your tongues are from the devil, remember what Jesus taught in Matthew 7:9-11.
Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
If you desired the gift of tongues and asked for it from God, why worry that the devil gave you the gift? The devil cannot infiltrate your transaction with God.
Eating too much just before Praying in Tongues
This is a very common mistake. Gluttony is real, and it will choke your gift of praying in tongues faster than you imagine.
Praying in tongues is a spiritual act. For you to grow in your spiritual gifts, you must regulate physical pleasures.
Eating is one of those pleasures that can easily get in the way of praying in tongues. If your stomach is too full when you go to pray in tongues, you’ll struggle to focus in the spirit.
On top of that, your tongues will feel dry and boring.
If possible, take fasts regularly to enhance your spiritual sensitivity. That way, your tongues will be sharp, and focusing in the spirit will be easy.
Trying to Justify your Gift to other People
Sometimes, you will come across people who cast doubt on your gift of praying in tongues. They will tempt you to defend yourself.
But as I told you earlier, your gift is largely an act of faith. No matter how hard you explain it, if the person you are talking to is carnal, he will never understand it.
Instead of struggling to defend and justify the gift, simply tell the person what Jesus said in Matthew 7:17.
Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
Tell the person you will continue praying in tongues, and if he thinks it is useless, tell him to come back after a while and see the fruit of the tongues you speak.
If he is a reasonable person, he should agree to that. If he doesn’t agree, shake the dust off your feet and go your way.
Going Long Periods without Exercising the Gift
Praying in tongues is not an artifact that you put in a museum; it is a tree that you water daily. I’ve seen quite a number of believers who receive the gift of tongues and never practice it.
Many of them wait for the Holy Spirit to prompt them to pray in tongues. What they forget is that the Holy Spirit is a helper who will step in to help you once you show the intent to act.
Set a schedule of praying in tongues and follow it religiously. The Holy Spirit will be there to add flavor to your effort and discipline.
Without a proper working praying in tongues schedule, you will struggle to grow in the gift of tongues.
If you would like a bit of help to be consistent in praying in tongues, you are very much welcome to join our live praying in tongues sessions on YouTube every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Together, let’s grow in the gift of tongues.
God bless you!
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