My parents' was a love marriage- dad CSI and mom Hindu Brahmin. Dad was not strong in the LORD. Mom, been to convent for schooling, had the habit of going to Catholic Church and praying to Mary as well after marriage. But they regularly go to CSI church on sundays.
She had 2 abortions and then I was formed in her womb. She had prayed to Mary that if this child is born healthy, she would come every year with the child to Veilankanni church. It happened and we all used to go every year.
Though I had been saying that JESUS is the LORD, I didn't have the personal relationship with GOD until I came to college. I gave my life to GOD during college days wherein I also came to know about the idol worship. That year, I was called to come to veilankanni for that vow.
It was a great challenge for me and I stood strongly saying that I wouldn't. I explained my mom all that I understood about idol worship. She was scared that something might happen to me if the vow she made was not fulfilled. I told her that the idol is nothing, it can neither speak nor hear nor see nor do anything and above all GOD is almighty and HE would protect me. We stopped going there from that year.
But my mom didn't experience the gift of salvation until few years back. But GOD has HIS own plans and time for each. Though the seed was sown earlier, she didn't accept it then. It took many years for her to come out of the idol worship.
If Mary helped me to be sustained in my mom's womb, why didn't it happen in the first two abortions she had as she was praying to her even then? So, obviously it is the LORD's plan.
Once I got saved during college days, I had spent hours and hours in prayer, fasted (no water and food) the whole day just to receive spiritual gifts especially speaking in tongues.. I was mad for it. I used to question like why to them and not me. Waited for many years but it didn't happen. After few years, the LORD taught me that HE gives gifts as per HIS will. Not only tongues is a gift..
I suggest that you sit in HIS presence with all your heart and talk to HIM believing with no doubt. HE definitely talks. It differs with each and not the same with everyone. HE might talk to you directly or through HIS word or through the songs.
Prayer - we talk to GOD
Bible - GOD talks to us
