Number 88:  December 30, 2006

If you do not live in Colorado and have been watching the Food Network instead of the Weather Channel, you may have missed the fact that there has been a tremendous amount of snow there recently. Flights have been cancelled and many have had to readjust their plans. My family and I were included among the many. As we readjusted for the third time, we found ourselves sitting in a Chicago airport waiting for an earlier flight to beat the next round of accumulated snowflakes that was about to descend on our home state.

As I looked around at what people were doing to pass the time until they could get on an airplane, I noticed many activities. Children had many varied video game devices that could occupy them for hours. Sudoku, a numbers game, was being played extensively by many. Computers had some passengers buzzing. People were reading, others sleeping, eating, or just plain sitting there looking uninterested at life as a whole.

Since I had received the gift of holy spirit and knew how to operate it, I thought a more valuable way to pass the time would be to build myself up spiritually by speaking by the spirit of God via speaking in tongues.

I Corinthians 14:4a:

He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself…

When you speak in tongues it is the spirit in you which is in direct communication with your heavenly Father, and thus your spirit is edified. Could you think of anything more wonderful than having a direct communication with God to pass the time at an airport?

            I Corinthians 14:2:

For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth [omit him]; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.

The word “mysteries” may be translated “divine secrets.” Thus, at the airport while waiting for a flight, I could speak divine secrets directly with God. I could also give thanks well as I prayed in the spirit by speaking in tongues.

            I Corinthians 14:15b, 17a:

…I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also…

            For thou verily givest thanks well… 

With being able to pray in the spirit for all the passengers, my family, the flight crew, the airplane itself, the weather we were about to encounter as we drove home from the Denver airport, suddenly waiting in an airport became much more than simple drudgery. I could make intercession via the spirit for many things. I was in direct communication with my heavenly Father blessing with the spirit and building myself up spiritually at the same time. My wait at the airport could be put to good use, and it was.