Praying in tongues is such a blessing for me and to me. My favorite time and place, but not the only time or place, to pray in tongues is when I'm peddling on the exercycle in the cellar. It's wonderful. I intersperse praying in tongues with praising the Lord and a lot of "Hallelujah"s.
Now some people think that praying or speaking in tongues is weird. Well, OK, they don't have to pray or speak in tongues. Salvation does not require it. It's not part of the Gospel, the Good News.
I use the word "praying" when there is no audience, and I use the word "speaking" when there is an audience. Praying in tongues is by some people called a prayer language. This is what I do.
Well, what's it worth? What's the value of praying (or speaking) in tongues? Is it just to make me happy? No, it's much more valuable than that. In 1st Corinthians Chapter 14, we can read a lot about praying or speaking in tongues.
In verse 2, this is written, "For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries." (My emphasis)
So, the Lord God knows what's being prayed but nobody else does.
Let me also say that sometimes really crazy, or really critical, or really hopeless, situations come up, and I don't know what to pray, or how to pray, because the situation is a great mystery. Then for me to pray in tongues right away is wonderful. (And it makes me happy. Just saying. OK, it makes me hopeful, too.)
Now in verse 4, this is written, "He who speaks in a tongue edifies (builds) himself, but he who prophesies edifies (builds) the church." It does not say "He who speaks in a tongue puffs himself up proudly", because that is not true! Praying in tongues builds us up in the Spirit!
Now in verse 5, this is written, "I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied;"
So, we see that both tongues and prophecy have great value in the Kingdom of God in its personal and corporate advance in this world!
Well then, if you want these spiritual gifts, just ask Father God for them!
In Matthew chapter 7 verse 11, this is written, "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!"
Gifts of the Spirit are good things!
I asked for tongues in April 1969 and finally got the manifestation of this gift in August of that year while I was driving down a California freeway, paying attention to where I was going, and not struggling hard to pray in tongues.
Let me end with this: praying in tongues is such a blessing for me and to me.
Larry Carroll
