Reflection on the book “Why Tongues?”
Reason #7— Praying in Tongues Enables Us to Pray for the Unknown
Discussion Day 8 by Deola Akin-Cole
ROMANS 8:26-27
26 Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we don’t know what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
Praying in tongues provides a way to pray for things for which no one thinks to pray or is even aware of. It is practically impossible to know every detail of things and people around us except it is revealed to us. Also, there are things we don’t even know we should pray about.
1 Corinthians 2:10-13 New Living Translation (NLT)
10 But[a] it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.
The Spirit of God is all-knowing and knows the limits of our human mind. He is also everywhere.
Jeremiah 23:24
"Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?" declares the LORD. "Do I not fill the heavens and earth?" declares the LORD.
Psalm 139:1-10 (NLT)
1O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. 2You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. 3You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. 4You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. 5You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. 6Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! 7I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! 8If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. 9If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, 10even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.
Therefore, when we pray in tongues, we engage the HolySpirit who knows everything and who is everywhere- including our inside; to pray through us for things our limited mind knows nothing of.
Praying in the spirit provides a way for things to be prayed for that we wouldn't know anything about in the natural.