Difficulty speaking in tongues

[Eternal Mindset]

Yes, I believe in God, and yes, I have been given the gift of tongues.

It's a great gift, and does wonders for edifying one's spirit, I was just pointing out that in the vast majority of corporate (pertaining to a united group, as of persons) gatherings, no one interprets the tongue and it is useless to everyone but the speaker.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Just do it.
People get offended over imaginary things all the time. You cannot let them control you. Their offence is their problem not yours. You do what you are called to do and let them get mad. Then God will deal with them instead of you. Some people will really hate you and may even attack you. They will justify it with every warped reasoning you can imagine. That is ok. You will discover that their displeasure is not as bad as you think. It is their problem... not yours.
When I was a little kid I would avoid the bullies and bigger kids all the time. Who wants to get punched in the nose??? They sensed this and would pick on me. Eventually I figured out this was partially my fault because I drew them like flies. One day I stood up to a bully and ended up in a fight. Know what? The fear and anticipation was much worse than the punch in the nose. I did not get picked on any more after that... not because of the fight.. but because I no longer exuded the fear that attracted bullies.

If you mumble your gift, the bullies will recognize your inhibitions and spy you out as an easy target.
Don't let them do that to you.

 

[Godslilgurlalways]

Yes, I believe in God, and yes, I have been given the gift of tongues.

It's a great gift, and does wonders for edifying one's spirit, I was just pointing out that in the vast majority of corporate (pertaining to a united group, as of persons) gatherings, no one interprets the tongue and it is useless to everyone but the speaker.

Oh okay, it's wonderful to hear that you have the gift, and also to hear that your saved(BTW) that part wasn't talking about you in general but a generalization(as far as I can remember pretty sure about that) of things that I have heard recently concerning speaking in tongues. I was hoping that you know/knew that didn't want you to think that I was judgind you or anything of the sort was just trying to figure out why you made the statment that you made, I also want to thank you for clarifying that


I see the point that you have made and I agree(at first i Though you were saying that tongues in general was useless and that is wasn't a gift which is which is why I made this previous statements.


I agree sometimes the speaker themselves don't even know what they are saying then it's useless to everyone there. I agree when speaking on public in tongues(other then personal/prayer tongues) then I feel it beceoms useless b/c no one benefits from it. When people publicy speak in tongues from what I have learned I feel/believe there is suppose to be a person to interpert what the person is saying.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

Hi.

Now one person you know who prays/speaks in tongues has taken this attitude. If you knew Paul, it would be at least two people.

And, notice I didn't say the gift is useless, far from it, I said that it is useless for someone to get on a mic at a prayer meeting and blabber on if no one interprets the tongue. I've been to lots of prayer meetings, and haven't seen someone interpret a tongue. It's almost as if people forgot that's what was supposed to be done when someone speaks in tongues before a group.

Prayer meetings are exactly that - prayer meetings. This is where a group of people are getting together to voice their prayers to God. Therefore it is quite right for people in the group to pray freely in tongues, because the prayers are for God's ears and not for those in the group.

Or do you go to prayer meetings that are just used for the members to lecture each other through their prayers?

I have been in a room where 200 people were praying in tongues all at the same time. It was very powerful and the atmosphere was electric. No interpretations needed to be given, because all the hearts were directed to the Lord. Every now and again, someone would pray in English, and everyone else quietened right down to give that person the dominance. Once the person had finished the English prayer, the corporate tongues started up again.

This is not the same as a public worship or gospel meeting where there would be unbelievers or unlearned people present. We would not bring outsiders to our prayer meeting. They would be bored and their boredom would quench the spirits of everyone else there.

If some people in prayer meetings had problems with the tongues not being interpreted, how do they know whether a judgemental attitude within them might have hindered the flow of the Spirit in that meeting. We have to be careful that we do not try and control the Spirit according to our own prejudices and sense reasoning.

As for me, I just accept the Word of God in 1Corinthians14 without having to read stuff into it that is not there. If I am with a group of people and we are in unity that we can pray in tongues out loud in group prayer without the tongues having to be interpreted, then who is there to judge but God Himself. I believe He enjoys it when people lift their hearts to Him using the gift He has given to enable it.

 

[steven07]

I love that there's somehow always a thread on speaking in tongues here somewhere It helps me remember that I'm not the only one that had a hard time with it and that sometimes it doesn't come so easy!

I was actually in my room when it happened to me.. after staying up all night reading a book about speaking in tongues (and reading books and forums and different sites MONTHS before that!) and when i finished the last page i finally said, "God, I want this". And I could feel my spirit burning inside so I opened my mouth and out flowed my beautiful new prayer language.. of course it wasn't fluent of course.. in fact i could only get a few reoccurring words .. but the more you practice the more you get better at it.. The best way I can describe it is that it's like learning a new language.. except it's a language you've always had access to but you're just barely learning how to use it!

Don't feel pressured to speak many words in tongues or a variety.. just feel comfortable with your tongue.. speak a few words here in there and concentrate on what you're trying to say to the Lord.. How beautiful He is.. everything He's done for you.. Or if you're praying for someone.. I find my tongue gets stronger when I pray for someone else and they have a specific need I'm praying for.. sometimes I'll even get an interpretation.. but anyway.. feel comfortable and I'm excited for your new found journey

 

[Ainuhina]

I love that there's somehow always a thread on speaking in tongues here somewhere It helps me remember that I'm not the only one that had a hard time with it and that sometimes it doesn't come so easy!

amen I'm soo glad I found this forum and this thread....

I just started thinking about tounges and the Holy Spirit about half a year ago while being on a year out in the UK...it's not something you do or even speak about in my culture so it came as a complete shock to me when I suddenly had this language going on in my head during a church members meeting (we we're discussing finances )...I was so glad I wasn't in my church in Austria during this time but staying with some rather charismatic baptists in the uk who helped me a great deal....

at first I wouldn't do it...it just came - no idea why....and as soon as I realised I was doing "it" again my brain told me to stop....it was hard work getting my brain with all the cultural background out of the way and just open up to the gift and speak it....I still can't really do it out loud but it's going on in my head and I love it

if you feel that there is something stopping you ask God to show you what it is and how to overcome it

blessings <><

 

[Daylily_Blue]

Awesome thread! I too have struggled with this and this is worth reading over and over.

 

[missprayerwarrior]

After reading all the wonderful posts here.. I would like to share a little something. Who knows, maybe it will encourage someone in some way.

I grew up in a baptist church, so speaking in tongues was unheard of. However, I began dating someone who went to a nondenominational church. I would hear them doing it all the time. I began to read and study about tongues.. and I wanted it so bad! I was just afraid of what others thought and I wasn't fully ready to surrender my all to Him in the matter. At a revival, I was filled with the Holy Ghost! But, to the surprise of a lot of people, I didn't speak in tongues at that time. A few nights later in the revival, I did end up speaking my first few words in tongues. It was simply that.. a few words. My thought on the matter is this.. a baby doesn't start out speaking full sentences. It must learn a few words at a time. In the same matter, I believe we learn more as we do it more. Something else I've also found quite interesting.. I pray in tongues all the time. When I'm going through Walmart and doing my shopping, I pray in tongues. Driving down the road.. I pray in tongues. When I start out, it may not seem like anything spectacular. I may not necessarily *feel* anything. But, it isn't about a feeling. I've actually found that if I start out in the natural.. after time, I move into the spiritual. I may start out and feel like it's just me forcing it.. but by the time I'm finished, the Lord has touched me in a special way!

Just wanted to share!!
God bless!