I was pastoring my first small church in central Texas. My job at a manufacturing company provided Dee and me enough money to make it as we survived in our trailer house that was seven and a half feet inside and about twenty feet long. We were recent college graduates and accepted our first pastorate as a God-given opportunity. But things became worse as my vision declined and the fatigue in my eye muscles increased. Additionally, I had never heard of hypo-hypoglycemia or low blood sugar, but looking back I realize that I had dealt with that situation a long time. Low blood sugar causes your energy level to fluctuate drastically. By the end of my eight-hour work day I always had to lay down for a while until Delores brought me some peanut butter and crackers. This snack would revive me enough to make it to supper.
With all that was going on in my body and in our circumstances I became quite desperate and wondered if I was really doing God’s will. After work one day, I opened the front door of our little church building, walked to the front and knelt. Through my sobs and in spite of my grief I looked up to the Lord and asked him to “teach me to pray like Paul.” I had no idea what I meant, but I think the Holy Spirit inspired me to make that request of the Lord. During the next few months I saw lots of scriptures in ways I had overlooked before. Also, as I read Scripture I acquired a new appreciation of the human spirit as a part of separate from the mind or soul. Paul once wrote that he prayed with his spirit as well as with his mind. Then, he stated that he purposefully that he chose to pray with his spirit (1 Corinthians 14:14-15). Additionally, he stated that he spoke from his spirit, or in tongues, often (1 Corinthians 14:18).
I began using my spirit to pray in languages inspired by the Holy Spirit and what a difference this experience made in me spiritually and physically. Over the next few months the Lord taught me how to pray like Paul! I recommend using your spirit and your mind in communing with the Lord. Both you and he will be blessed!
You can read more about this life changing experience in my book Demystifying Speaking in Tongues. Click here to purchase this book
