Today is Pentecost Sunday for western Christians. We observe the remembrance of the Holy Spirit’s coming 50 days after Easter. Today, I want to encourage everyone to not just remember but to seek God.
It was early October 1979. I was born again in September 1978. My pastor had been teaching about the Holy Spirit and so many of us asked about it that he announced he would pray for us to receive the fullness of the Spirit in a meeting for Sunday after church. I attended. I knew from my friends at church and in my private time with God that there was more for me. I believe all Christians receive the Holy Spirit’s indwelling at salvation, but I experienced an overflow that Sunday afternoon that changed my life and my view of myself forever.
The pastor and an elder began at the front of the group, laying hands on them and praying. I was near the back. One of my friends stood next to me, praying in the Spirit, and I heard in my heart to say out loud “glory” so I did. Then I heard to say it again and I obeyed. The third time I said it, my prayer language flowed from my lips. When the pastor got to me, my friend said I’d already received the fullness and that she’d never heard it flow so quickly and easily. He sealed what had happened with prayer. My prayer language has been one of the cornerstones of my life since then and grows with use.
My question today is do you pray with a language given to you by God in addition to those you’ve learned from people? If you do, using it as often and for as long as possible builds your spirit because you pray knowing it is the Holy Spirit. If you do not as yet, I encourage you to seek God for the fullness He has for you. It is a gift He longs for you to have and use to bless yourself and others.