My Prayer Journey!

I remember when it first began; I woke up early one morning to screams. My young cousin had gotten sick to her stomach and was throwing up blood. I was newly experiencing what we call being "spirit filled". I began to praying with such ease after I had had a wonderful encounter with the Holy Spirit only months before this incident. I remember after she was taken to the emergency room, the doctors were not able to determine what was wrong with her. The doctors on our tiny island exhausted all of their knowledge and had her airlifted to the United States for further treatment.

After receiving the phone calls on what the status of her condition was, I remember fear gripping me. She was only 12 years old and was near death.

I could recall vividly going to bed that night praying in what is known as a heavenly language (or speaking in tongues). This was very new to me. Several months prior I was seeking God vigorously, because I felt as though something was missing from my Christian experience, I did not know for sure what that something was. Then through a series of events he led me to a tiny book in the local Christian bookstore called, "God's Will Is the Holy Spirit" by Gloria Copeland. I remember being alone and drinking up every word from those pages. I didn't fully grasp all that it was trying to relay. However, I knew that what was on those pages was something that I didn't have; but I desperately needed. I needed more than just the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. I needed the fire and power of the Holy Spirit. I prayed the simple little prayer at the back of that book, and my life has never been the same again. That prayer has set the course for my Christian experience as I know it today.

Let's rewind, I prayed that night for my cousin in that heavenly language and I would rollover in the night and hear myself still praying. I remember the boldness, and authority that I now had in my prayers that I had never possessed before. I knew that there was a force at work in me, which I had never experienced before. There was a knowledge and assurance that was beyond my natural ability to just acquire. I had encountered the Holy Spirit on an entirely new level. This was different, a bit scary, but exhilarating, amazing and glorious. Well, my cousin survived, but for many years she had more close calls with death. This experience is what set me on the course of being schooled in prayer by my teacher, friend and mentor the precious Holy Spirit.

I am not even remotely implying that I have arrived in the area of prayer. I have only touched the surface on what there is to know. I am hoping that every day I would draw closer to my sweet Lord and enter into his chambers where he is waiting to bestow upoun me the many treasures that are locked up in the area of prayer.