Praying in Tongues to Fulfill the Mandate of Christ

Praying in tongues is a gift of the Holy Spirit. When the Lord Jesus left this world and returned to the Father, He sent the Holy Spirit to be our helper just as He had promised. The Holy Spirit came bearing spiritual gifts, including the gift of speaking in tongues.

Having originated from the same Holy Spirit promised by Jesus, praying in tongues is therefore not a random spiritual experience. It is a means by which believers fulfill what Christ requires of them.

It came in line with Christ’s own promise, and because of that, it must be taken seriously.

Praying in tongues is not simply a gift given for personal enjoyment. It is meant to help us fulfill the mandate and assignment Christ has for us.

Praying in Tongues is Obedience

When Jesus spoke to His disciples about continuing His work, He was not making a suggestion or asking for a favor. It was a command.

Jesus also made it clear that those who deny Him will also be denied before the Father. This tells us that obedience to His calling is not optional.

In the same way, praying in tongues is not something we casually choose whether to do or not. It is part of the obedience Christ expects from us.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, we are instructed to pray without ceasing. Fulfilling such a command by our own effort is impossible, and that is exactly where the Holy Spirit comes in.

Praying in tongues enables us to pray continuously. It is easy to run out of words when praying only in understanding, but tongues empower us to pray beyond natural limitations.

A Personal Lesson on Divided Focus

While reflecting on Luke chapter 9, I began to see more clearly how Christ defines a life that pleases God. Jesus spoke plainly about denying oneself, taking up one’s cross daily, and following Him.

He also said that those who are unwilling to deny themselves for His sake are not fit for the kingdom of God.

While this may seem like a basic scripture, when you deeply think about this, you realize how many people are affected by this reality. Many believers slowly shift their focus away from Christ without realizing it by prioritizing the cares of life over fellowship with God.

I personally experienced this. Before 2017, I spent a lot of time in church attending services and fellowships. But as I entered my later teenage years, I became increasingly concerned about building my life.

I began thinking about finding a job, earning money, and planning for the future.

I loved God, and I feared abandoning Him for worldly pursuits.

I remembered the parable of the sower, particularly the seeds that fell among thorns. The seeds grew, but the thorns choked them. Jesus explained that this represents those who receive the word but are later distracted by the cares of life.

To avoid that, I reasoned that I should first get my life in order and then dedicate myself fully to serving God. On the surface, this seemed wise. I followed this plan for about two years.

The Emptiness of Worldly Pursuits

By around 2020, I began to feel a sense of emptiness. I dedicated a few weeks to intense prayer. During that time, the Lord revealed to me that although my intentions were good, the path I had chosen was unwise.

The Lord showed me that pursuing worldly things is endless. Once one goal is achieved, another comes up.

I had observed this pattern in others as well. People would ask for prayer to get a job. Once they got it, they asked for a promotion. After the promotion, they wanted more. There is always something more to chase.

This shows how the world’s wealth is deceptive. It slowly pulls the heart away from God without people realizing it.

God’s Way of Provision

As a way of answering my prayer, the Lord helped me understand that serving Him does not lead to lack. He led me to Ecclesiastes 2:26, which explains that God gives wisdom, knowledge, and joy to those who please Him, while those who reject Him gather wealth only to hand it over to others.

This gave me peace. I began to understand how it is possible to dedicate myself fully to God and still live a comfortable life.

Joseph is a clear example. He was a slave, yet God orchestrated everything to elevate him at the right time.

Joseph was faithful long before he was promoted. When God finally raised him, everything fell into place without struggle.

Learning to Let Go Through Prayer in Tongues

The next question at this particular point was how to let go of my worldly desires. That was when the Lord directed me to pray in tongues.

At the time, most of my prayers were centered on asking God for things; marriage, finances, and direction. But God wanted me to pray without asking and simply draw closer to Him.

This was not easy. It went against expectations from family, friends, and society, where the norm is to pursue work first and serve God later. But God was calling me to serve Him fully.

One time while praying in tongues, the Lord revealed to me the importance of building a relationship with Him early in life. He helped me understand that people who invest only in worldly things often reach old age feeling empty and afraid, realizing too late that they never built a relationship with God.

Yet, God desires that we build intimacy with Him while we are young and strong. As the relationship grows, the attraction to worldly things slowly fades away.

When many people feel unhappy and abandoned during old age, those dedicated to God get to continue to enjoy a fulfilled life, as they look forward to meeting Christ

A Call to Surrender

Giving up earthly desires and pursuits to carry out God’s will can sound scary. However, it is possible, and it’s important to remember that it’s a journey.

It doesn’t happen all at once, but step by step, as you learn to let go of one thing at a time. Over time, Christ becomes our main focus above everything else.

Praying in tongues is the vehicle that gets you on the other side of intimacy and total surrender to Christ, as you fulfill your divine assignment.

God bless you.