Just as we have to balance grace and faith in our walk with the Father, we are encouraged to mix praying with the spirit(tongues) with prayer in the understanding(mind) in our private prayer time spent with the Father.
Romans chapter 8 v 26-27 reads, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weakness.(singular)For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”
Our weakness is that when we are requested to pray for others who have a need, we really don’t know the thoughts and intentions of their hearts unless revealed to us by the Holy Spirit. The need they profess may not be the need that is required to be supplied. Only the Father knows.
To remedy this weakness we ask the Holy Spirit to search the heart of the individual concerned. He will identify the root of the problem. He will then make the intercession for us, to speak out in tongues(groanings) to the Father, according to the will of God, knowing the mind of God.
We are to thank and ask the Holy Spirit to get involved. He never intrudes upon our God-given free will. Thus we initiate the process by prayer and thanksgiving in the understanding (mind). As we begin to speak/pray in tongues the Holy Spirit will give us the utterance. We will speak out in tongues the required intercession that will benefit the individual/s to our Heavenly Father.
It is all about Him. He supplies the need having listened attentively to the Holy Spirit’s intercession, vocalised by us in tongues. How about that? The result of this spiritual combination is seen in Romans 8 v 27: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Hallelujah!
Ephesians chapter 6 v 18: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit(tongues), being watchful(literally – sleepless) to this end with all perseverance (persistence) and supplication(prayer with the understanding) for all the saints.”
Here we have that dynamic mixture again, tongues and prayer using the mind.
Why are they so effective when used together? I believe 1 Corinthians chapter 14 v 14 unlocks the mystery: “For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding(mind) is unfruitful.”
As we pray out the Holy Spirit’s intercession for individuals in tongues, our minds are bypassed. We speak as the Spirit gives us the utterance, not as our minds dictate.
If we allow ungodly thoughts to fill this vacuum, slowly but surely our motivation to bless others decreases, and our tongues grind to a halt. The solution – Ephesians 6 v 18- pray in tongues for a while and then pray with the understanding. Our minds are refreshed as we lovingly perceive them, healed, delivered and blessed. Then back to tongues, lifting that spiritual intercession to the Father. We pray in the spirit and our minds are full of joy and thankfulness. We do not wish to stop. We can “pray always in the spirit”. Persistently and literally sleeplessly as we intersperse with prayer in the understanding.
There is a balance between prayer in the spirit and prayer in the understanding. We have to keep adjusting until everything flows smoothly.
Isn’t this just the greatest time to live? to work in tandem with the Holy Spirit and our Heavenly Father so that others can be blessed.
Can I encourage you to entwine tongues with prayer in the understanding so that others may enjoy our Father’s goodness and grace?
Have a glorious day!