Garry spoke this morning about praying with the Spirit and with understanding (see 1 Cor 14:14-16) and the benefits of speaking in tongues.
Praying is a spiritual pursuit, and speaking in other tongues (other languages) is a spiritual gift. We read about this in Acts 2:1-12 on the day of Pentecost when the early believers were filled with the Holy Spirit and all spoke in other languages. Even uneducated Galileans could do this as the Holy Spirit enabled them, because this was a spiritual experience, not an intellectual one.
We can pray with our understanding (mind) but can also pray with the spiritual part of our being (see 1 Cor 14:5). Tongues are a useful tool provided by God; they can help individuals and through the gift of interpretation in the church this can help other believers too.
God gives good gifts, gifts that fit perfectly. We may well be given gifts which we don’t appreciate or value, gifts that do not reflect who we are or what we need. God is not like that. He knows exactly what we want and need – the gift of tongues is for us all and if we have not yet received this gift, we can seek it and ask for hep. If we have already received this gift, we need to continue to use it, not abandoning or neglecting, for we need to pray both with the spirit and with our understanding.