I have noticed a strange occurrence where I lose track of time when I soak deep into praying in tongues. It’s as if time disappears from my mind, causing me to mistakenly believe that I have only been praying for a few minutes, when in reality it has been over 20 minutes.
To address this, I have developed a habit of setting a timer on my phone when engaging in long prayer sessions.
By setting a timer for an hour, I ensure that I remain time conscious. When the timer eventually goes off, it often surprises me, as I feel like it has rung too early. Sometimes, I even question whether a full hour has truly passed. This peculiar experience always leaves me puzzled.
Foreshadow of eternity
The Holy Spirit revealed to me something quite interesting. I learned that this experience is a foreshadow of eternity.
It is a test of our understanding that when we are glorified with Christ, we will ascend to heaven where there is no concept of time. This state of timelessness is what defines eternity.
On the other hand, those condemned to hell are tormented by the constant awareness of the time they spend there. The slow, agonizing passage of time serves as a form of punishment, as it reinforces the idea of an endless existence in suffering.
Supernatural peace
Our fallen nature as human beings is bound to the constraints of time that impose limits in our lives. As a result, our peace is affected. However, in the glorified state, these limits are lifted, offering a sense of peace that time itself cannot provide.
Another observation I made was that whenever I begin praying in tongues, I often find myself lacking the motivation to continue. It’s not that I struggle to pray in tongues, but rather I struggle to initiate the act of praying in tongues.
It feels like an activity that I can easily do, but I simply don’t feel inclined to do. This lack of motivation persists for approximately the first 45 minutes of my prayer session. However, I remind myself to persevere, knowing that taking this initial step will ultimately lead to deeper dimensions in the spiritual realm.
Eventually, around the 45-minute mark, things begin to change. The tongues flow more effortlessly, and the power of the Holy Spirit within me intensifies.
At this point, I am filled with a strong desire to continue praying, not wanting to stop. It becomes a battle of conflicting emotions; at the beginning, I don’t want to start, but at the end, I don’t want to end.
Nevertheless, I have come to realize that if I persist in praying in tongues, regardless of how I may be feeling or how discouraged I may be, it almost always brings me an abundance of joy and peace after the initial 45 minutes.
The book of Philippians talks about a kind of peace that surpasses human understanding that is granted to those who cast their worries to God.
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
The peace referred to in this scripture is achieved when we delve deep into our faith and detach ourselves from the earthly concerns that often trouble us.
As these concerns are stripped away, we are able to experience a profound sense of peace that surpasses human understanding. The more we immerse ourselves in our faith, the more profound this peace becomes.
Heavenly encounter
Finally, I’ll share an incident that took place on the first day I prayed in tongues longer than usual. On that particular day, I had a lot of time to myself so I decided to dedicate at least 20 minutes to prayer.
As I began praying, I couldn’t help but wonder what I would do once those 20 minutes were over.
In that moment, I made the decision to continue praying. I continued to pray, and after approximately an hour and fifteen minutes, something remarkable happened.
Suddenly, everything became easier, as if weight had been lifted off my shoulders. There was a noticeable shift in the atmosphere, one that I had never experienced before. Along with this shift came an overwhelming sense of joy that was completely unfamiliar.
I was so captivated by this new experience that I didn’t want it to end. I assumed it was a one-time occurrence, unaware that it is a common outcome when one engages in prayer in tongues for an extended period.
From then on, I made a conscious effort to prolong my prayers, hoping to recreate that same experience, and indeed, I did. It became a habitual practice for me to strive for longer prayer sessions in order to encounter that heavenly sensation once again.
If you are yet to reach this dimension in prayer, I urge you to desire and seek out this extraordinary encounter. Allow yourself to delve deeper into prayer and surrender to the Holy Spirit, for it is through this surrender that you may truly experience the depths of spiritual connection. Peace!