When I needed to make an important decision last year, Yinka Olaito, my friend in Nigeria suggested that we start doing 30 minutes of ‘tongue-praying’ once a week. We repeated it two or three times. Please blame me for our inability to continue. Shortly after that, Remi Adetunmbi, another friend of mine who lives in Canada, invited me to join the WhatsApp prayer group he started. Members of the group pray in tongues for one hour every day, with Remi concluding by praying in understanding (in English Language). I’ve been joining Remi’s group six or seven times a week. I admire my two friends’ ability to pray in tongues for 30 minutes to an hour nonstop. I don’t currently do this, though I do pray in tongues. Whether we pray in understanding or in tongues, we should endeavour to get better at it. This comes with practice. The Bible instructs us to pray at all times. We should pray even when we are not in the mood. “A prayerless soul is a Christless soul.” Writes Charles Spurgeon. “Prayer is the lisping of a believing infant, the shout of a fighting believer, and the requiem of a dying saint falling asleep in Jesus. It is Christian’s breath, watchword, comfort, strength and honour. If you are a child of God, you will seek your Father’s face and live in His love. This year’s motto must be ‘Devote yourselves to prayer.’”