Strengthen Yourself

But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. (1 Corinthians 14:3-4)

Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 14 to teach about spiritual growth. Prophecy builds others, while tongues build you. Both are important for believers, but they serve different functions. Edification means to build up. When you pray in tongues, you are strengthening your inner self and reinforcing your spirit. This is not selfish; it is preparation. You cannot give effectively if you are running on empty.

Many believers want to encourage others but neglect their own spiritual growth. Then they wonder why they feel drained, discouraged, or inconsistent. Paul clarified that praying in tongues strengthens your inner self. Conversely, prophecy builds up the church by delivering encouragement, exhortation, and comfort in understandable language. Both gifts work together, but Paul never dismissed the value of tongues. In fact, he says he prays in tongues more than anyone in his churches.

Praying in tongues should be a vital part of a believer's life because your faith needs to be built up. Weak faith will produce inconsistent results, but strong faith leads to steady obedience.

Practical Application

Commit to daily spiritual strength training. Do you feel weak? Pray in tongues. Do you feel tired? Pray in tongues. Make it a habit to pray in tongues regularly. Keep yourself strengthened.

1 Corinthians 12:10; 1 Corinthians 14:13