In the year 2000 approximately, a girl from church asked if I wanted to share a flat. I was newly saved, about a year, and she a little longer. I didn't know her very well, and she was being obedient as she felt it was from the Lord to ask me. I was living a fair distance from church at the time, so was considering the option.
I asked her when, and she said 2 weeks. I said 2 weeks, I was thinking more in 2 months... but she said that time frame wouldn't do in her current circumstances, and so, within a short while we were flat hunting. We found a place in Ashfield, NSW.
The day we moved in she was all excited and walking up the front steps she told me that she got engaged last night. Initially I thought, 'oh great' - without the exclamation mark, as I knew I would have to find a new flat mate in about 9 months time. But, after that initial moment, I was genuinely happy for her. Rejoicing with her all the way to her wedding day! (I was honoured to be asked to sign her marriage certificate).
In all, this strange duo, me 11 years older than her, were a great combo!!
We were blessed with many many hours of talking, sharing, encouraging. We helped each other through the current season we were both in. She getting ready for marriage, me getting sorted in life after big changes :). I had so many self -esteem issues, and she really encouraged me.
Move ahead ... she got married, she fell pregnant.
One day, I was at home and I felt such a burden to go into my room, shut the door, and pray in tongues. It was a real desperate, deep praying time. I was there for quite a while, I was keeping a slight eye on the clock, but was remaining led by the Spirit.
During the praying I asked the Lord, "why am I praying like this?" and I had the thought of my ex-flat mate, and I said, I think [my friend] is having her baby!
After praying deeply, groanings, tongues, for quite a while, all of a sudden peace came. I looked at the clock and felt to note the time, especially as I wanted an indication to know it was for my [friend]. I then went about my day.
Later that day I received a phone call from the husband of my [friend]. He said that he and his wife are the proud parents of a new baby boy. I was so excited for them and I asked how it went. He said that it was touch and go for a time, as the baby's head was too big for the birth process and at one point it looked like the baby would not get past the cervix as his head was stuck. He explained that the Doctor and medical staff were working hard, trying to decided what process to take, but then all of a sudden his baby boy was finally born naturally, and that, although a stressful birth for mother and baby, they were both OK. I asked, what time was he born? The new dad said --:--
I was so surprised as that was exactly the time (to the minute) that I had made a special note to look at the clock, when I felt to stop praying in tongues, when the peace came.
I shared my story with the new Dad, what had been taking place that afternoon and the time I recorded as to when the prayer specifically stopped.
He was encouraged, I was encouraged, and in all, with this new baby boy, everyone was rejoicing.
I felt blessed that the Lord would prompt me to pray for them at this crucial time of the birth. I felt so honoured to be a part of it in this way. I was blessed that mother and baby were ok, and dad rejoicing.
The following is a exert from a Smith Wigglesworth writing regarding Tongues in Chapter 18 - book title - unknown?:
On this line I want to tell you about Willie Burton, who is laboring for
God in the Belgium Congo. Brother Burton is a mighty man of God and is
giving his life for the heathen in Africa. He took fever and went down
to death. They said; "He has preached his last; what shall we do?" All
their hopes seemed to be blighted, and there they stood, with broken
hearts, wondering what was going to take place. They left him for dead;
but, in a moment, without any signal, he stood right in the midst of
them; and they could not understand it. The explanation he gave was
this, that, when he came to himself, he realized a warmth going right
through his body; and there wasn't one thing wrong with him. How did it
come about? It was a mystery until he went to London and was telling the
people how he was left for dead, and then was raised up. A lady came up
and asked for a private conversation with him, and arranged a time. She
asked, "Do you keep a diary?" He answered, "Yes." She told him, "It
happened on a certain day that I went to pray; and as soon as I knelt, I
had you on my mind. The Spirit of the Lord took hold of me and prayed
through me in an unknown tongue. A vision came before me in which I saw
you laid out helpless; and I cried out in the unknown tongue till I saw
you rise up and go out of that room." She had kept a note of the time
and when he turned to his diary he found that it was exactly the time
when he was raised up. There are great possibilities as we yield to the
Spirit and speak unto God in quiet hours in our bedrooms. God wants you
to be filled with the Holy Ghost so that everything about you shall be
charged with the dynamic of heaven.
