Re: God provides

HI all,
I am so enjoying our exchange, but I know that others may not be comfortable with these topics, and I want to be sensitive to that.

On speaking in tongues, I do not agree that it is a necessity to being spirit filled. I think that is a old legalistic thing that people thought early in the charismatic movement. That said, I do think that it is a wonderful gift that allows the spirit in you to pray and intercede both for you and for others. It can be very powerful.
Growing up, I was saved at the age of 6 and then baptised in the spirit at 7 or 8. And that was the expectation that if you were spirit filled you would manifest tongues. I felt a lot of pressure around this and really conflicted. It sounded crazy, first of all, and it sounded like if I didn't do it I would be failing. This is what happens when you have one parent who is all into being spirit filled and another who thinks its nuts. Anyway, I had to work through that much later in life and now speak in tongues not out of a need for approval but out of a desire to connect with God. At first is seemed unnatural, but then as I persevered my "Prayer Language" as it is called suddenly started to flow. Mamacat, waht do you think of the relationship between emotions and tongues. When I am all up in my head it is not as natural but when I am letting my feelings flow it flows too. I am pretty emotionally reserved. Do you think people who are more emotionally expressive have an easier time with Tongues?
When I have a sudden rush of feelings during meditation on God or prayer, then it flows very quickly and powerfully and brings a sense of comfort and connection that is above reason. What I mean is beyond my limited understanding of the problem or of God and what is needed. I have the sense that whatever needed to be prayed, confessed, requested or declared, has been said, even if I don't know what that might be. I feel it is the holy spirit in my talking to Jesus or to God himself on my behalf or the behalf of those I am praying for.

So, absolutely yes you are spirit filled, you asked, and your prayer was answered. Hallelujah. Sometimes the gifts fall quickly and sometimes they have to be walked in faith to develop. And not everyone has to have tongues, but it is helpful.

My mother's spiritual father, or the man who helped her pray to be born again, at first did not get a flow of language and his spiritual father told him just open your mouth during prayer and let what comes out, come out. He did, and what came was, "chick" and he went around for some time in faith and all he got was chick over and over. He then received his own beautiful prayer language in a nice flow. This man brought thousands of people to Christ and he clearly demonstrated a Christ like nature.

Refreshed you have such a nice presence as well, God does show through in your posts and I am so grateful for your presence here.
Refreshed,thanks for being real and vulnerable to tell us about your spirit filled walk. Every one here is a real blessing for me, no exceptions. I hope we can all be vulnerable to say how we feel without judgement of others and without being condemned.
in sisterly devotion,
grace