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He who prays in an unknown tongue does not only speak mysteries unto God; he also edifies himself. There are moments when you must deliberately strengthen your inner man through prayer in the Spirit.
“For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.” — 1 Corinthians 14:2 KJV
“He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself…” — 1 Corinthians 14:4 KJV1
To edify means to build up, strengthen, and develop. Life can drain you. Battles, responsibilities, disappointments, temptations, and constant demands can leave you spiritually weary. Paul reveals that praying in tongues has a personal edifying dimension: as you speak unto God in the Spirit, your inner man is being built up.
There are mysteries beyond your present understanding and situations for which you may not know exactly how to pray. Do not allow the limitations of your understanding to silence your prayer. Make room for prayer in the Spirit. Jude similarly exhorts believers to build themselves up in their most holy faith, “praying in the Holy Ghost” (Jude 20).2 Pray with understanding, and as part of your spiritual practice, pray in the Spirit.
Do not wait until you feel spiritually empty before strengthening yourself. Develop a consistent prayer life. Set aside time to worship, meditate on Scripture, pray with your understanding, and pray in tongues according to your faith and practice. Edify yourself! Build spiritual stamina before the battle comes, and remain sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Today, I will build myself up in faith and prayer. I refuse to remain spiritually weak, dry, or distracted. I will pray with my understanding, and I will pray in the Spirit. As I fellowship with God, my inner man is strengthened, my faith is stirred, and my heart becomes increasingly sensitive to the Holy Spirit. I will edify myself and remain strong in the Lord!
Referenced Scriptures
- 1 Corinthians 14:4 (KJV) — “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.” ↩︎
- Jude 20 (KJV) — “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,” ↩︎