Dude, I Even Sing In Tongues

"Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but even more that all of you would sing in tongues". (1 Corinthians 14:5) Revised Bob translation (RBT)

When I was a young teenager my dad put in an 8' high steel gymnastics bar behind our garage. He informed me that "When I was your age I could do one arm chin ups". After some months of working on chin ups, either with palms facing forward or with palms facing back, I was able to do some one handed if my other hand was gripping my wrist. I never was able to accomplish a complete unaided one arm chin up, but that was OK. The bar was great fun, not only for working out but also for swinging on, or hanging upside down from my knees. And all of that effort produced some large, nice looking arm muscles, which I was never shy to show off. Now, my natural tendency when alone while playing on that bar was to sing. I remember thinking one day, while hanging on that bar and singing some pleasant tune, that I loved to sing, and what would I ever do if for some reason singing was no longer possible? I would also sing while using the power mower while cutting my parent's grass, or years later on while cutting my own, not aware that anyone would be able to hear me over the engine's noise. Evidently I was mistaken at both locations, as I would find out somewhat to my embarrassment some years later.

"And do not get drunk with wine . . . but be filled with the Holy Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord". (Ephesians 5: 18-19)

When I surrendered my life to Jesus, confessing Him as my Savior and my Lord, I stepped out in faith, opening my mouth to speak in an unknown language. That was almost 36 years ago, and I think I have spoken or prayed or sung those tongues just about every day since. I make an effort to speak in tongues everyday because I believe it is spiritual exercise, building up the muscles of my spiritual man. (Not for show, but because I need the wisdom and guidance that the Holy Spirit provides). Yet without thinking and with less effort it has been a natural thing for me to sing in tongues when I am alone, especially when driving. I think some people that pass me on the road must wonder what CED I am singing along with.

"What is the outcome then? I shall pray with the spirit and I shall pray with the mind also; I shall sing with the spirit and I shall sing with the mind also". (1 Corinthians 14:15)

In my times of prayer I will usually begin in English, and when I have exhausted knowing what to pray or say and I still feel a burden, I may continue on in the language the Lord has given me until the burden lifts. I may not have an understanding as to the exact words my heart has expressed to God, but the exercise seems to unite my heart to the Lords.

"And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts kows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God". (Romans 8: 26-27)

When I am in situations where I am with someone for the purpose of praying for them, I will usually begin by praising God in English, and then softly pray in tongues until I have a clear direction as to how to intercede out loud in English. In all those instances, tongues operates in my life as a private prayer language, given to me by the Holy Spirit to build me up, and to help my spirit express to the Father much more than what I could do with just my natural mind.

Sometimes when praying for a person, or in a prayer meeting where the group is in an attitude of prayer or intercession for someone or something, and if I feel a prompting from the Holy Spirit, I may speak or sing out in tongues. In those instances the gift from the Spirit is a form of prophecy. The Father, through the Spirit, has a word of encouragement or direction for the group or for an individual. Now, when I am alone in a time of prayer and worship, I have boldly sung out to God in tongues and have then followed the unknown words with choruses in English, perhaps interpreting what was given to me in the spirit. But not being confident to do that in a group I will not speak or sing out in prophetic tongues unless there is someone there that I know has the gift to interpret.

Psalm 100: "Shout joyfully to the Lord all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before Him with joyfull singing. Know that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture"

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him; Bless His name. For the Lord is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting. And His faithfulness to all generations".

In our prayer meetings with the extented family we would often spend the first hour singing our favorite religious songs that had made their way into a songbook that one of us had compiled. The last couple of songs were always good worship tunes, usually ending with the 8 fold Alleluia, and then singing in tongues to that melody, or to a melody that would develop from that. I have sung in tongues in churches where hundreds are also in worship in the spirit, the voices and various melodies combining to make a beautiful sound of worship. And I have been in Charismatic conferences where thousands of voices are singing in the spirit, the overall effect being quite amazing and uplifting. I have been made by God to love Him, and to be loved by Him. He has put a song in my heart which declares that although He is too awesome for me to comprehend, yet still I will praise Him. I cannot begin to understand His mercy. I cannot find enough words to say thanks. At times I don't know even what my needs truely are, or how best to continue on in prayer when Ive said all I could say and I still feel the burden. Yet the Spirit helps me in my weakness, and in joy I praise Him with my mouth; In word, and in song, and in the spirit.