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Originally Posted by ILG
I definitely have a wall up. The psychobabble I was raised on says having a wall up is bad but I am not so sure. Sometimes it's just a wall that helps you discriminate between certain types of people.
No one could jazz me up either with rah, rah stuff pre-UPC. However, I fell for it hook, line and sinker in the UPC.
I want to share a weird experience that has me downright disconcerted. About a month ago, I felt them "God-bumps" and a need to pray "in the Spirit" like I used to do on a regular basis. I don't do it often now. So, I went ahead and did it. I spoke in tongues and gave myself over "to the Spirit". It felt good for the present moment but afterwards and especially the next day I was majorly depressed, the way I used to feel all the time when I was in church.
Okay, so this got me to thinking......when I first got into the church, I had an amazing experience with no depression attached. However, after being in the church for a year or so, I became depressed in a way I had never been before. I stayed that way for 10 years and then lessened all the fasting and praying I had been doing and I became less depressed and more able to stand up for myself and think for myself. Now, I generally feel much better than I did emotionally at any time in the UPC........except after I prayed "in the Spirit" last month.
I thought "Yikes!" What is this thing that is called "praying in the Spirit"? It reminded me of this guy I used to know who called his wife and mother and a couple other women who prayed all the time the "depression crew". I seriously wonder now if there is some biological attachment between "praying in the Spirit" as it is called in Pentecostal circles and depression. This is just based on my experiences. I was very surprised by how depressed I felt the day after giving myself over like that after not having done it in such a long time. So much for the "joy of the Spirit".
It makes me wonder if some praying is not a mere counterfeit of the real experiences but a person can't really tell because it is so encouraged and hyped. Scary.
What if there is a very rare real experience (that I know I have experienced) and a fake, hyped, counterfeit experience that people manufacture? This experience is like a drug.....makes you feel good for the moment and then depression comes afterward.....so you then feel like you must pray again to get that good feeling.
I think there may be something to it....
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Originally Posted by Sam
Praying "in the Spirit" or praying "in tongues" or praying "in our prayer language" is to edify or build us up. That is my understanding of Jude verse 20, 1 Corinthians 14:4, Ephesians 6:18, Ephesians 5:18-20, and Romans 8:26-27. I realize not all Christians believe all these verses can be applicable to praying in tongues. In Matthew 16:18 Jesus promises to build up/edify His church and I think that one of the ways He does this is through our praying in tongues.
As far as depression and an attack from satan after a session of praying in tongues--notice the sequence in Matthew chapter 3 and chapter 4.
In chapter 3 we see the dove descending upon Jesus and in chapter 4 we see the devil descending upon Jesus. In chapter 3 we see the power and presence of God's Spirit coming upon Jesus and in chapter 4 we see the power and presence of a satanic spirit coming against Jesus. In chapter 3, heaven opens up and then in chapter 4, hell opens up.
I don't want to sound like some of the preachers who talk about satan stealing our blessing, but, he is the thief who comes to steal, kill, and destroy. |
Quote:
Originally Posted by ILG
Sorry, but I just do not agree with this answer. The answer you give is the very reason I kept doing the same thing over and over for so long. Thank God I have stopped. Praying can be very good and edifying, but I think there is something else going on here.
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Did you pray til the burden was lifted? Was their praise and worship? I've never stayed depressed after such an experience and I've been involved with it almost 15 years. It strengthens me, it builds me up. However, I also usually read the Word and meditate on His Word and His Spirit, listening to Him. There is a strength there. As Isaiah said, "they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength."
Also, it's written "In His presence is fulness of joy", and elsewhere it's written "the joy of the Lord is my strength". If you pray in the Spirit and don't pray it through until whatever is broken, yeah, you'll stay depressed. if that's ALL you do, then you will definitely have issues. Balance is key.
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