From the Buddhist and Hindu we learn that anyone serious about encountering God will experience the Gifts of the Spirit.  They come for brief moments and as we learn to handle them in peace, they increase.  Some have been known to fall for a particular gift and cease to continue their search for God because they are so in love with the gift of the Spirit they’ve been given. 

I was surprised a few years ago when I visited a religion that was completely focused on the Gifts of the Spirit.  Daily they would pray and ask for the gift of tongues and prophecy.  I had never focused so on the Gifts and this was very new to me.  I prayed about it and was shown that the gifts are there for the asking, but only through humble seeking.  It became clear to me that if the scriptures mentioned the ability to play the piano but I had never put my hands on the keyboard I would never have learned the piano.  The Gifts of the Spirit are the same.  We have to allow them to come in peace by focusing our attention on them and practicing them.  They won’t work well at first, but if we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us, we will find the one meant for us. If we practice it and nurture our relationship with the Spirit, it will grow into a beautiful part of our lives. 

I have experienced some but one or two have definitely been offered to me.  I have been asked to exercise one in particular.  I just don’t really want it.  Nor do I see how it will help much.  I need to trust God and just discipline myself to do it.