Speaking in tongues: To do or not to do?

“Speaking in tongues is so weird. People look kinda crazy doing it!” Speaking in tongues is a controversial topic but people need to know what the Bible says…not their pastor, youth leader, etc. I learned so much from my Bible with the help of a man of God, Frank Hank, and some of my findings to set a basic framework. I hope what I am learning helps you. I do not want to mislead you *nervous*, so I've backed my questions with verses. Here goes.

Speaking in tongues:

1. What is it?

1 Corinthians 14:2 says “for he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries” (secrets divinely revealed).

2. What are the purposes of speaking in tongues?

(a)   Personal use: It is used for personal prayer and give thanks to God (1 Corinthians 14:14,17). It’s a ‘private self-edification’ (1 Corinthians 14:4) that is for spiritual strengthening. It is a vital part of your spiritual growth.

(b)  Corporate use: Tongues cannot be understood but there is such a thing as interpretation of tongues (which is equivalent to the gift of prophecy). It is used to ‘edify, exhort and comfort’ those whom the interpretation is for (a person, the church, etc.) (1 Cor 14:3).

3. Do ALL believers have the gift of speaking in tongues?

Yes, its in the Great Commission. Mark 16:15-18 says “¹⁵ And Jesus said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. ¹⁶ He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. ¹⁷ And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; ¹⁸ they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover”. Its for all for we are all called to speak the Good News.

Note that in verse 5 of 1 Corinthians chapter 14, ‘I wish you all spoke with tongues’….we must realize that this was for a ‘carnal church’, Corinth was a city that was involved in sexual immorality. It does not mean that they cannot have the gift but they have not received it and Paul (who writes it) wishes they would.

4. Is there an Old Testament mention of speaking in tongues?

Yes! It is first mentioned in the Bible in Isaiah 28:9-13. First it talks about how men of God learnt by memorizing scripture (Old Testament) “Precept upon precept, line upon line….” then it introduces the ‘stammering of lips and another tongue’ as a way that men of God will learn directly from God in a state of rest and it will be refreshing. Tongues was introduced as a way of being taught by God. This is a New Testament revelation when the Holy Spirit was sent. Instead of sending His angel to teach us, the Father sent the best teacher….His Holy Spirit. How can you doubt His love!

I believe in the using the gift of tongues as it unlocks the mysteries of Christ. Its not something you understand with human intellect. You may ask me, ‘Isn’t it weird saying things you do not understand?’. At first it was odd. After seconds of doing it, it felt so right. It actually felt perfect. It is only when you open yourself to the Holy Spirit can you be filled by God. The gift of tongues connects the spirit of man to the Spirit of God….that is where He fills you supernaturally. There is so much more to this….I just skimmed the surface.

So yes, speaking in tongues.....a should do. You will never regret it :). Note: just cause you are unable to speak in tongues, doesn't mean you do not believe in Christ! Speaking in tongues is a tool to search and communicate the deeper things of the Spirit therefore everyone is able to receive this gift.
Hope it helped you as it helped me. 

My 6 secrets to enjoying singlehood

‘Look at you, being all awesome as a single’. I must say it was really nice to hear that from a close girlfriend of mine. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still hoping this season ain’t forever and no, I do not have all the answers. A blog I wrote a few months ago will give you some background (Being single....a gift?). ‘Singlehood’ to so many means that a person ‘lacks something’ (whatever that may be). Its like that line from Jerry Maguire (1996), “you complete me”. Its this notion that there is a guy (or girl) that would complete you as a person or make you whole. I totally disagree. Everything I say is based on my own life experiences and what the Lord is teaching me through my own singleness. These are my secrets to enjoying singlehood:

1.   Resolve to enjoy your singlehood.

I made a decision to enjoy my singlehood. Be content. It all began with God dealing with my issues on a personal level (insecurities, rejection, etc.) and one day….after many prayers and lots of honest dealings with my issues….something snapped within me. There was an indescribable joy from within. I made a decision that I will be content in whatever season. It was my time to enjoy the Lord (just me and Him) and enjoying where I am at now on the way to where I am going – for I will not get this back. It was a true realisation that it is God who completes us and not a human being.

2.   Loving who you are and discovering the love of God (that cannot be earned).

I cannot emphasize this more. Love who you are. You are beautifully and wonderfully made. If you do not believe it, ask God to help you with it (I did). He loves you - imperfections, chubby, warts and all. He loved you before you loved Him. He is NOT waiting for you to be perfect or for you to love Him first before He loves you. Sometimes His love allows hard times to come, to turn you from evil to His loving arms. It is in those arms that you will know unadulterated, pure love. Not through any man or woman. Until you have discovered the love that laid down His life for you….you will always have an emptiness that cannot be filled by any other. The person you marry should complement you but he or she will never fill the void that only God can fill. 

3.   Enjoy discovering or knowing who are you.

Being single, does not mean you sit and wait for a guy or go on the prowl looking for a man. Do things you love, meet people, learn to give your time and things your hold dear to others (it does not come naturally, but it sure does teach you a lot) and most importantly, be where God wants you to be. Your focus should not be a man or woman but Jesus Christ. I’m enjoying my profession, travelling, meeting people and doing ministry. Ladies, please find out what you love and do not base it on what your (future) guy likes. Have your own set of friends (other than the ones you have in common), know how you like your eggs cooked and do not constantly say “I’ll have what he is having”. 

4.   Realising that your issues will not disappear when you get married or when someone else (esp the opposite gender) validates you. 

Deal with the baggage now (of course not all will be dealt with). Even if we do not get married, dragging your baggage is not a healthy thing and that weight you carry makes you unhappy. We all come with our own issues. Insecurities, rejection, bitterness, etc. Bring your issues before God…..do not worry He will not fall off His throne if He knew what is exactly is in your heart! Honey, He already knows ALL things. Even before you did. Through Him there is freedom. So let it all out. Tell him exactly whats in your heart. “Lord, I’m jealous of …..because …..”, “Lord, I keep having impure thoughts when I……”. Anything that is contradictory to His ways is not good. ‘Its normal’ or ‘its what everyone else does’ is not a good excuse to continue in sin. Once you are convicted (and it includes that still, small voice telling you to walk away), ask God to work with you. Once He starts working with your issues, your thought processes begin to change and you will begin to love who God created. Sometimes it happens overnight….most times, it’s a process. Sometimes we are the reason for the delay. Obedience makes the process a lot shorter.  

5.   Counting the blessing that comes in this time of singlehood. Forget the “if onlys”.

Seriously, count your blessings. So much is given that we are not thankful for, yet we want more. Every time I want something I do not have, I literally count my blessing one by one and hand all my ‘shoulda, woulda, coulda’ and ‘if onlys’ to the Lord. No turning back.

6.   Most importantly, pray.

Prayer is vital in the happy, sad and in between times. I constantly remind myself to put God on my first ‘go-to’ in whatever situation (it’s a struggle to make it a habit, but I strongly suggest that you do it). You will always need prayer to help you through the times when you feel the pressure of being in a relationship or settling down. It is not easy, I know. Prayer is not just a time for you to let your frustrations out but most importantly, to hear from God and His voice guiding you. The strength and joy is from Him.

The Lord is your strength and fortress. Do not fear.

Me :)

Confessions of a ‘Recovering Perfectionist’

My perfectionist-self finds comfort in order and makes little space for spontaneity. This is based on self-analysis and thankfully its something that is changing. As a ‘Recovering Perfectionist’, part of my remedy is confessing and asking God to heal and save me from this ‘condition’ especially when I get upset when someone (even myself) messes with my ‘perfectly-planned’ schedule or if my plans for my future do not turn out the way I want it to. I have a goal I am working towards. My aim in life is to seek to put Christ first in EVERYTHING and ANYTHING in my life (inspired by Matt 6:33(a)). Had to use the capitals to get the message across, in case you missed it. Letting go and trusting God is my word in season. As I told someone the other day, it is a sin not to trust God because it proves our lack of belief in Him.

Time is of the essence. Everything points to the second coming of Christ. But I must always remember that the way God does things is different from me and therefore I must align my will, emotion, heart and mind to His will for my life. I must do it everyday cause sometimes I can go pretty off tangent. I feel things must move at a certain pace (usually fast) when most times in the Kingdom of God, growth is slow. Notice how the bible uses the growth of a seed to a plant/tree as an analogy. That process is not overnight. A farmer plants the seed and waits. In that season of waiting, the farmer waters and cares for the plant in faith that the little seed will produce a beautiful plant that bears much fruit. During the growth, the plant needs to be pruned, trimmed and in some cases cut down, totally uprooted or it just dies. I’m sharing all these things cause even though I have known this, I need to be reminded not to go ahead of God but walk with Him through life. Trust Him as there is a time and season for everything. I’m learning not to take matters into my own hands. I find comfort in the scripture in Ecclesiastes.

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-14

"There is a time for everything,

    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

    a time to be born and a time to die,

    a time to plant and a time to uproot,

    a time to kill and a time to heal,

    a time to tear down and a time to build,

    a time to weep and a time to laugh,

    a time to mourn and a time to dance,

    a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

    a time to search and a time to give up,

    a time to keep and a time to throw away,

    a time to tear and a time to mend,

    a time to be silent and a time to speak,

    a time to love and a time to hate,

    a time for war and a time for peace.

What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear Him."

I will end this with the Word to minister to you. Prayer is essential as it moves the hand of God. As a recovering perfectionist, my advice to you is not to control everything in the known universe. Time is in His hands. Seek Him and let Him lead and guide you. All moves according to His time.

Shalini x

Confronting the lie: God won’t give you more than you can handle

     

“God never gives you more than you can handle”. I remember someone telling me that….heck, I have even used that!! It is not true though. If He allowed or gave me what I can handle, when will I not rely on self and rely totally on Him. The article below is so honest and true. How do you explain that to the little girl who is raped by the father she trusted, the citizens in war-torn countries that are not sure if they will live another day, the prisoner that was judged unfairly, etc. I pray this article by Nate Pyle blesses you.

Confronting the lie: God won’t give you more than you can handle

Me :)

My Gratitude List!!

With a tissue box as my best friend and pills as my hope for relief, I was stuck in bed two days before my birthday. It was between bed and school for most part of the week. Not the way I hoped to spend it but thankfully I felt much better on my birthday….not in the physical condition that I anticipated but guess what! It was one of the best birthdays I have ever had. Not just because I got really nice/special presents and delicious dinner with my amazing family but because there is such an excitement within me about the year ahead and enjoying the journey that I am on right now to getting there. I know this year will be better than any of the years before cause everything within me cries “No one could have done this work within me except Jesus!”. If I began listing all the things I am thankful and happy about on paper….you might just get bored but to me….its my testimony.

A brief list to my actual extensive list (like a macro to my micro list):

1. First and foremost, that I have grown in my love for and knowledge of Jesus. That I encountered Him in an amazing way in my despair.
2. My Father in Heaven has blessed me tremendously in ways I cannot express in words. There is a joy and peace within me that was never there before (my stubbornness to His will was the cause of the delay *yikes*).
3. He is more real and involved in my daily life than ever before. The best part is….the more involved He is….the more blessed I am personally, financially, professionally, etc. He is so interested in every detail that it boggles me just how interested He is in my life.
4. That I have a roof over my head (which is a beautiful house), clean water, good food and a healthy/functioning body.
5. The amazing inventions that make my life comfortable/ make things fast and easy such fans, air-conditioners (for really hot days), taps/shower (I do not need to get water from a well), the internet, my new iPhone (I love it!), my laptop, etc. Got to love these inventions!
6. My family that have always been my support system and so patient when I have not been the best person to be around.
7. My close friends that are grounded women and men with amazing hearts.
8. My job that gives me so much joy and tests my character every day! It shows me the kind of person I am and molds me to the person I want to be.
9. The gifts I have or have developed over time.
10. The person that I have become from the shy, awkward, geeky little girl that I was.

Sometimes things do not work out the way you want it to be. In my case, I prayed about the things I want in life. Jesus has been part of my decisions from a very young age. Many of the times, I do not get what I want. Honestly, I get a much better thing that I expected. Its ALWAYS been like that and I am soooooo grateful for that cause His ways have always been much, much better than mine. That’s why I ask for what I want and I trust God to either grant me my request or a much better thing. Sometimes that much better thing leads to hardship for a greater purpose….but I know He sees me through it all. He sees me through every season and I have no lack.

If life is empty for you or if it is not working for you, I want to introduce you to Jesus. Trust my Jesus and your life will be forever changed cause He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. All you need is a little faith. Nothing can be more right than allowing Him into your life. 

Your friendly blogger :)

Exciting times ahead :)

“Madam, you are getting old!” my beautiful bright-eyed 16 year old student said as a comment to yet another mistake I made as I scribbled the solution to a very long and tedious mathematics question on the board. It was just one of those day where I was so spaced out. A primary school student could have pointed out the mistakes I was making hence her smart-alec retort. And yes, my students call me ‘madam’ instead of ‘miss’. I’m young and single…of course I’m not thrilled about being called madam (haha!). Anyway, going back to my story. My student had this glee on her face obviously very pleased with herself. For a while I thought, ‘oh yikes, I’m getting older’….but the more I thought about questions like ‘am I doing what I like?’ and ‘what I’ve achieved to date?’, I actually felt good! This is new cause I’m usually quite critical of myself. It is definitely a positive sign for a ‘Recovering Perfectionist’ such as myself :). By the way, note how we have those reflective thoughts when its our birthday or the start of a new year. This birthday is different – I feel good, excited even.

This year for my birthday, I am doing something different. I started my own short fast for 7 days (7 as it biblically represents perfection) before my birthday. Fasts are never easy for me (for others too…but for different reasons) cause I have sudden cravings….and its random! Like a pregnant woman (laugh). Plus, due to health reasons I am not able to take a full fast. Due to the health reasons, I took a liquid fast. The reason I am saying this is because as I have been fasting I realise that it is no good if I fast without spending time with God. The point of the fast is to seek God as I celebrate my 28th year and move into the next. I do not want to fast for the sake of fasting but with the purpose of seeking and surrendering my life to God. To rely on Him as my source of strength and hear from Him. As much as fasting may categorise me as a ‘religious person’, I do not want to be a religious person but a person that is seeking a deeper relationship with my Saviour. I need Him. I’m nothing without Him. He makes me a better person. On my own….I’m full of sin. As I seek Him, He reveals the secret of my heart that He needs to 'renew and regenerate' (Titus 3:5). I’m sharing this because I know this fast has helped me and perhaps you might want to do the same for your birthday as a consecration.

I’m a list maker. This year my aim is to make Him my priority – in my personal life, family, job, etc. I do not know where this year will take me but its never been a bore with Him by my side. My soul soars as I look into this coming year and I am full of hope and faith.

‘The Recovering Perfectionist’

Choosing joy

The words that was once spoken over my life sometime back was that I would have “joy, joy more abundant”. Believe me, I am still praying for that to be a reality! Joy comes from knowing that God is always in control. I’m not sure about you but I think you can tell when people try/pretend  to be happy from those who have genuine joy. The reason I use ‘try’ or ‘pretend’ is because some try out of their own will to be happy to cover their unhappiness, some want to give people the idea that their lives are perfect (I guess it is so that people might want to be like them or it covers the emptiness they feel on the inside), while there are others who do it to please other people. I can relate to this cause I have tried to mask my insecurities and loneliness with a smile. But there was always a glimmer of sadness if you looked closer. It is probably why I can spot a person who battles this (most of the time). The lack of joy in my life stemmed from many deep rooted issues. It was like a spiral moving downwards. It was one of my toughest battles but through healing especially in the area of insecurity, I now know and experience the joy of the Lord. Christ helped (still helps) my overwhelmed heart by being my source of strength to overcome.

One of the things I was led to do in my healing in a particular season in my life was to study the word ‘joy’ using the Word of God. No resources other than the concordance. I spoke the Words I read from the Bible out loud. A few verses that will help you:

Phil 4:4 - Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

(note: this is a choice)

1 Thes 5: 16 – Rejoice always

(that’s all the verse says! Only those two words!)

Psalms 30:11 – You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness.

Psalms 30:5- For His anger is but for a moment,
His favour is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning.

Psalms 16:11 – You will show me the path of life;
In Your presence is fullness of joy;
At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Isaiah 61:3 – “To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

As I began dealing, I knew I was not battling against flesh and blood but against powers, mights and dominions that are contrary to God. It was a choice to allow the Lord to ‘put off my sackcloth and cloth me with gladness’. I had to put on the ‘garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness’. To praise God even when I did not feel like it cause praising and worshipping God is a weapon against the evil one. It would not seem in the natural realm to work but it so does! If you do not take my word, trust in His Word. So when you walk out the door everyday, begin by praising and worshipping Him for all that He is and then choosing to put on joy. Again, you make the choice to put on joy and He will do the work. The time it takes for you to know that true joy will be based on your obedience (from the heart) to His voice as He works with you.

Be blessed and be a blessing x