Devotional - 12th June 2026

THE MYSTERIOUS PRAYER – PART 1

Praise God for another wonderful day to be alive. I tell you the truth, only the living can praise God on this earth. There are many people that we know today but tomorrow they are gone — just like the parable of the rich fool in the scriptures, which tells of how a man was planning for his future without God, whereas he didn’t know that today was his last day on earth. We need to appreciate God every day for giving us another opportunity to see another day.

Today I want to share with you how your prayer can be more effective. Many of us have already heard about what I am about to share with you, but I don’t think many Christians know the power of it nor the mysteries of speaking in tongues. Speaking in Tongues is a special language given only to Christians. But I think only a few Christians have tapped into the immense power of speaking in tongues, either because they don’t value it or don’t think it is for every Christian. However, speaking in tongues is for every Christian because when Jesus was giving His last charge to His disciples, He said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; … And these signs shall follow them that believe; … they shall speak with new tongues” (Mark 16:16-17).

This happened on the day of Pentecost, which was just about fifty days from the day Jesus charged His disciples. The disciples were gathered in one place and praying in unity. When the power of God came into that place, all those who were in that room spoke in tongues (Acts 2:1-4).

In other words, all of Jesus’ disciples spoke in tongues. Therefore all Christians can and should speak in tongues. There is so much misunderstanding about speaking in tongues which has hindered many Christians from benefiting from this powerful gift. Some Christians believe that it is for a selected few. Some think they must understand its meaning first by getting the gift of interpretation of tongues. Some feel it must first sound like another language known to mankind, and some just feel it is not important. But if it was not important, it would not have been one of the first spiritual gifts God bestowed on the Church.

I just think this is a game of the devil’s lies to make sure Christians don’t speak in tongues, because speaking in tongues is a prayer the devil can’t understand — a prayer that unleashes God’s power against the devil. The devil is really terrified of it. I have seen the impact of speaking in tongues on my life as a whole, and the difference when I was not. This is why I want you to understand why you should speak in tongues.

First of all, let me deal with some of the misunderstandings that have stopped many Christians from desiring or using this gift even when they have it. As long as a Christian doesn’t believe in it, they will not be able to receive it from God, nor use it effectively because they will not value it. There are many Christians who already have the gift of speaking in tongues but seldom use it. But I can say that the more you use this gift, the more effective your prayer becomes.

“He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.” (1 Corinthians 14:4-5)

Most of the misunderstanding many Christians have comes from 1 Corinthians 14. But when you carefully study this chapter, you will see that Paul was talking about two kinds of tongues: one for self-edification, and the other for public edification.

The first kind does not need interpretation because your spirit actually understands what you are praying even though your mind does not. But for the second kind of speaking in tongues, interpretation is required because this kind is a message to the body of Christ that needs to be understood. This kind occurs when a person who already speaks in tongues is inspired by the Holy Spirit to speak in another dialect of tongues as a message to others. Thus, the gift of interpretation of tongues will be required to decode the message for others to understand.

This kind of speaking in tongues is just like a prophecy, except the message has to be given using two spiritual gifts. That is why Paul said that even though a Christian has a manifestation of this kind of tongues but there is no interpreter, it is best not to speak that kind at that time. However, many Christians think that means Christians should not speak in tongues without having the gift of interpretation, or not speak it in public. Nevertheless, if you read through 1 Corinthians 14 with the understanding that Paul was talking about two kinds of speaking in tongues, you will have a better understanding. Paul never said we should limit the use of speaking in tongues. In fact, he even said, “I would that ye all spake with tongues” (1 Corinthians 14:5).

Others have different reasons why they don’t like speaking in tongues. For example, some say they don’t like the way it sounds. But even though you might not like the colour or taste of a drug, it was given to you for a good reason. Some people also don’t want to speak in tongues because they expect the Holy Spirit to start it for them. But the Holy Spirit only gives us utterance — it is we who hold the control to start it or stop it. That is why Paul could say we should not speak the second kind of tongues in public.

Speaking in tongues has so many advantages that I will be talking about in the next discussion. But you can receive this gift right now.

Before I got married, my wife had been praying for the gift of speaking in tongues for a while, and many ministers had prayed with her, but she still didn’t get it. One day, she was reading one of Kenneth Hagin’s books. She saw a prayer about how a person could receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. One thing she learnt that was different was that once you pray, you have to believe that you have already received this gift and give thanks, even though you see no physical evidence. As she did that, she started to speak in tongues for several hours. And since that day, she has been speaking in tongues.

This can also happen to you today if you can just do the same thing, because the only criteria for receiving the gift of speaking in tongues is to be born again and to have faith to receive it. So if you are already born again, then pray the prayer below in faith and start giving thanks that you have received it. The scripture says, “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” (Luke 11:13)

Prayer for the Gift of Speaking in Tongues:

Dear Lord, Your word says that if I ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit, You will give it to me. I ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit so that I can speak in tongues, and I believe I receive it right now. Thank you Father for giving me this gift. Help me make it manifest. In Jesus name, Amen.

Today’s Reading:

1 Corinthians 14, Acts 2, Proverbs 4

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Nevertheless, if you are not born again you can do so today by saying this simple prayer below out with your mouth in faith, believing that Jesus Christ died and rose again for your sins.