How to Hear God’s Voice Part 2:

How Walking in the Power of the Holy Spirit Could Change Your Life

The summer of 2010, the trajectory of my life shifted drastically when I encountered God’s healing power while at a conference. In an instant while receiving prayer, my body flooded with heat at the very core of me and radiated out. From that moment forward, I began a quest to seek out ALL that God had for me because my low blood sugar issues ceased to exist after receiving that one prayer for healing. This included an investigation into what it really meant to be baptized in the Holy Spirit, also known as the in-filling of the Holy Spirit. It is easily one of the best moments of my life because I came face to face with the goodness of God, which ultimately led to my baptism in the Holy Spirit. At first it felt strange and awkward, but now it feels natural, and I savor the beauty of it all.

A few short months later on 10-10-10, I found myself standing at the front of a church in Marion, Indiana, asking for prayer to receive the in-filling of the Holy Spirit. Up to that point, I had given my life to God but had not experienced the gifts of the Holy Spirit fully. So I nervously walked down the church aisle at the pastor’s invitation, and I received prayer at the front of the church that day. When I opened up my mouth as I was receiving prayer, I started babbling, much like a baby repeating one unrecognizable syllable over and over as I received the gift of my heavenly prayer language, also known as speaking in tongues. It felt odd. I had no understanding of what this babbling meant. I thought it was weird. I didn’t particularly enjoy standing in front of people feeling awkward, especially at such a sacred moment.

Feeling awkward and weird as I stood in front of a congregation was worth it, though. It was worth it because I was so hungry – hungry for the things of God. I was hungry to experience ALL the gifts that He had for me. Just like physical hunger, if it is intense enough, it can drive us to the fridge with no regard for what it takes to get there.  The most important thing is to satisfy the growing emptiness inside of us. There comes a point in life where desperation becomes excellent motivation to throw off comfort and walk into the unknown.

This is how I felt that day. There was an empty space inside of me waiting to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit – not in my stomach, but in my heart. And I was willing to trek the unknown path to be filled regardless of how silly I felt or looked and regardless of the uncertainty of how this in-filling of the Holy Spirit would impact me. What difference would it make, really? Would it satiate my growing hunger for knowing God? I was eager to find out because I had witnessed the difference the Spirit had made in others’ lives. In my quest to understand the power of the Holy Spirit, I observed and started to understand that my friends who had already been baptized in the Holy Spirit spoke timely words to me that they couldn’t have known I needed to hear in that exact moment. They also walked in love and power – their actions backed up their words. They prayed for healing, and God’s presence showed up to bring forth that healing. Observing their lives made me hungry to experience the gifts of the Spirit I saw in their lives.

Even though I desired the gifts of the Holy Spirit that I witnessed in others, I came to realize that the only thing that truly satisfies is the Bread of Life – Jesus. Isn’t it interesting that Jesus describes Himself as the Bread of Life several times in Scripture? He also said that anyone who drinks the water that He gives, will never thirst. He was pointing to the fact that truly, He is the only one who can satiate our deepest hunger and thirst. So I’ve learned that in our quest for His gifts, while good, it’s important to remember that the best gift is Himself. After years of pursuing Jesus first, it has become evident that so long as I stay in that place of seeking Him first, the gifts of the Holy Spirit flow out naturally.

To commemorate my tenth anniversary of being baptized in the Holy Spirit, I’ve been reflecting on the enormous impact of this one decision on my daily life. The truth is I could have easily kept living as I was, and I would have had a fine life. I just knew that there was still something missing – a space inside my heart that hadn’t yet been ignited to operate fully under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit.

While I believed in the Holy Spirit and felt His Presence sometimes prior to being baptized in the Holy Spirit, He also felt like a nebulous mystery to me. Any experience I had with Him was so subtle I barely recognized it. He often spoke to me through a sense of peace, a thought, or a simple impression. But I wasn’t always aware of His gentle nudges. I have since learned to be on the lookout for His leading. Paying attention does wonders. It wasn’t until I received healing prayer for my own body, and I felt a heat wave burning forth from my very core that I experienced the Holy Spirit in a new way. This, my friends, was a wake up call for me. After that moment, I could not deny there was more for me to experience. 

How Being Baptized in the Holy Spirit is a Game Changer

Was stepping outside of my comfort zone worth it? Happy sigh. Why yes, yes it was. Let me count the ways. These are just a few ways my life has changed as a result of inviting the Holy Spirit to move freely and fully in my life on a daily basis.

• When I don’t know how to pray…
• When I feel in a funk emotionally…
• When I’m seeking the Lord for direction…
• When I want to worship the Lord and feel closer to Him…
• When I’m lacking confidence in the task before me…

I pray in my heavenly language, also known as tongues, and this is what happens:

• I receive clarity on how to pray.
• I get out from under the negative spiritual atmosphere and come into alignment with God’s thoughts and feelings.
• I receive clear direction for my next steps.
• I connect with the Lord in a new intimate way.
• I grow in confidence and gain new courage to tackle the task at hand.

Communing with God in a heavenly prayer language is a game changer, friends. It allows me to partner with God in my prayers rather than simply praying to God. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. I do not pretend to understand the magnitude of ALL that a Spirit led life entails. But I’m excited to continue on this journey and continue learning more about operating in the gifts of the Holy Spirit as a I go.

I recognize this can be a controversial topic. I’m not interested in arguing. I’m not interested in having a theological debate. I simply want to share how inviting the Holy Spirit to be a part of my daily life truly has changed the way I live. He has empowered me to live a life that is honoring to Him as a witness of His goodness, and has provided guidance, encouragement, wisdom, and understanding in my darkest and brightest of times.

I think we can all agree that we are in desperate need of wisdom at every turn of life these days. In a world where everyone has an opinion and shares it boisterously and adamantly, I’m interested in heaven’s perspective. I want to be so in tune with what God is saying that I don’t get distracted by any other voice. Praying in tongues is one powerful avenue to seeking the Lord and praying His will above all others. Whether you’re navigating the volatile political landscape, the myriad of complexities around COVID-19, or singleness and dating in this exceptional time, I’m convinced more than ever having a direct line to heaven is imperative. And this is why I’m sharing my experience, because you too can have this connection with God. It just takes a bit of investment of time spent with God on your part. He’s waiting and willing, desiring your company and communion with Him.

Answering a Few Questions

Now if I were sitting on the other side of the blog reading it, I imagine I’d have several questions. I likely won’t answer all of them, but here are a few that come to mind:

Q: Do you know what you’re saying when you pray in tongues?

A: No. It’s a mystery to me, but not to God. Because I’m praying through the power of the Holy Spirit though, I know that I’m praying in alignment with God’s heart which is what I want more than anything. In the book of Romans, chapter 8, we see that the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf – what a beautiful gift.

Q: Do you practice or talk much about your prayer language publicly?

A: No – for the most part it’s a very personal thing between God and me. In fact, it’s likely very few have even known this about me up until this point. On occasion I may pray quietly under my breath when in the presence of others, or out loud when everyone present agrees we want to join together in prayer this way. Otherwise, it is a deeply personal experience between me and God. The point of praying in tongues is not to put it on display. That can be rather distracting and detrimental to others. Rather it is a gift to be stewarded well and to aid in living a life empowered by the Holy Spirit. There’s a time and place for it. The fruit of the Holy Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, self-control, gentleness, and long-suffering) are meant to remain while utilizing the gifts of the Holy Spirit. If you’ve experienced anyone who has abused the gift of tongues in the name of Jesus and the fruit of the Spirit was clearly not evident, I’m really sorry. That’s not okay, and that’s not God’s heart for the Church.

Q: Do you feel out of control now that you’ve given yourself over to the power of the Holy Spirit?

A: No – I gave Him access to me in the first place. My desire is a posture of surrender to Him because I know His character. He is exceedingly, abundantly good. At any point, I can say I’m not interested…but I have no desire to do that when clearly our partnership is beneficial.

An Invitation to a Life of Boldness Led by the Holy Spirit

My friend, do you long for more? Are you hungry for wisdom and knowledge of how to navigate life? Do you desire to abide with God in a new way that empowers you to live a life of boldness, peace, self-control (or fill in the blank here with a specific fruit of the Spirit that doesn’t come easily to you) for God’s glory and the good of His children? If so, I invite you to ask The Holy Spirit to fill you up. This doesn’t have to be a grand presentation as if you were on stage at a Broadway show. It can be simple and in the privacy of your own home. Go ahead – find a place of solitude, and invite the Holy Spirit to fill you with His presence and power.

Here’s a simple prayer to get you started including a prayer of salvation incase you have not yet given your life to Jesus but want to:

Jesus, I thank you that you died on the cross for me. I thank you that you did not stay dead, and that you have made a way for me to live in freedom and to be a new creation in you through your death and resurrection. I ask that you forgive me for all my wrongful acts, cleanse me from the inside out and transform my mind and heart to be like yours, Jesus. Thank you for taking my sins, and giving me the gift of eternal life! Thank you, God, for giving your only Son, so that I can experience life to the fullest.

I receive your forgiveness and invite you, Jesus Christ, to be Lord of my life, to live within me, and for your transforming power to be at work in and through me all the days of my life. I invite you, Holy Spirit, to fill me up, encounter me with Your love, teach me Your ways, and be my guide. I ask you to baptize me in the Holy Spirit and power. Let the gifts of the Holy Spirit come alive in me. It’s not by my own strength, but by Your power that I can live a life that is pleasing to You. May I be a reflection of Your goodness, Jesus, and a beacon of light that points back to You. In Jesus name, Amen.

Now in the privacy of your own space, begin to speak or sing and let the gift of your heavenly language come forth. It likely will feel odd. That’s normal. It may not come immediately. That’s okay. Just keep spending time doing this in private and over time take note on how things shift for you. Just like any language, your heavenly language will develop with practice. And you’ll better understand the impact of it as you pay attention. It should be noted that there will always be an element of mystery here. God is simply too big to understand fully. But He is certainly trustworthy – this I do know. Welcome to life in the power of the Holy Spirit, friend. You’re in for a beautiful adventure!

Do you have a friend who would be interested in walking in the power of the Holy Spirit? Share this blog with them today.

If you missed my blog on How to Hear God’s Voice Part 1, you can read it here.