Written by Danny Woodhead

About 4½ years ago, on a cold, windy night, I experienced the love and kindness of God in a way I never had before.

A friend invited me to a revival night where people had gathered expecting the Holy Spirit to move through healings, prophecy, tongues, and other expressions of God’s presence. Although I believed in the gifts of the Spirit, I was hesitant to go because of some past experiences. I looked for every excuse to back out, but eventually I decided to attend. I am so thankful I did.

That night, God met me in a powerful way. Through prophecy and surrendering my insecurities about the gifts, I experienced the peace and love of Jesus more deeply than ever before. As I surrendered, His presence overwhelmed me, and I found myself weeping continuously.

Near the end of the night, a pastor asked if I had a prayer language. I told him no, but that I had always wanted one. He prayed for me, and within minutes I received a prayer language. It completely changed my life.

At that time, I had recently retired from football and was struggling with anxiety, fear, and panic. I needed encouragement and strength. As I began praying in my prayer language, I noticed my anxiety would calm and the uneasiness would leave. I realized this gift was a powerful weapon God had given me. It felt like a sword to help me fight spiritual battles.

Since that night, I have continued to use the gift of tongues. It continues to build me up, bring me peace, and help me through difficult times/seasons. In the Bible it says to eagerly desire the gifts. If you desire the gift of tongues, you can simply ask the Lord for it.