How To Pray In Tongues? this question is asked by many individuals every day. Do you know the gift of tongues is a powerful gift from God?
When we speak in tongues, we talk to God by supernatural means. The amazing thing is that when we are baptized in the Holy Spirit, we receive this gift from God—the gift of tongues.
If you are asking: What is praying in tongues? What does the Bible say about praying in tongues? Does speaking in tongues mean anything? What is the purpose of praying in tongues? Keep reading, and you will discover the answer to these questions and more.
What is the Purpose of Praying in Tongues?
1. Spiritual Edification.
Spiritual edification refers to the process in which a believer is built up to stand firm in Christ. Apostle Paul encouraged the Corinthian Christians to keep to the practice of speaking with other tongues in their daily worship of God.
He also encouraged them to speak in tongues in their individual prayer lives to build themselves up (See 1 Corinthians 14:14). When we pray in the spirit, we are being built up spiritually by the Holy Spirit, who gives us utterance. We also receive a supernatural boost.
2. Praying According to God’s Perfect Will.
Romans 8:27 (NIV) – The Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
Prayer becomes powerful when we move into the realm of tongues. When we pray in tongues, although we are talking, the Holy Spirit is the one giving the utterance (See Acts 2:4).
Since the Holy Spirit is the one who gives utterance when we pray in tongues, we can be sure that we are not praying amiss. But according to God’s perfect will. This eliminates self-centeredness in our prayers.
3. The Stimulation of Faith.
Jude 20 (NIV) says – But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit.
We need to stimulate and stir up our faith continually. Along with studying God’s Word, listening to sermons and teachings about faith, praying in tongues is another way to stimulate faith.
Stimulating your faith by constantly praying in tongues will help you to be spiritually strong.
4. Divine Revelation.
1 Corinthians 14:2 (NIV) – For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.
Through praying in tongues, God reveals deep secrets and mysteries to us. Even when we do not understand the mystery revealed, God unveils it as we persevere in prayer.
5. Spiritual Strengthening.
Praying in tongues helps us with our weaknesses. That’s why Romans 8:26 (NIV) says – In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
As we pray in tongues, the Holy Spirit strengthens us where we are weak. He makes us strong in the Lord and the power of His might. So, each time you feel weak, downcast, or defeated, pray in tongues, and the Holy Spirit will strengthen you.
Also See: How To Pray According To The Bible: 12 Best Ways.
Here Is How to Pray in Tongues
1. Immerse Yourself in God’s Word.
One thing that stirs up our spirits the most is to launch into the realms of the supernatural, where the Holy Spirit gives us utterance. When I need a time of refreshing and renewal in God’s presence, I pray in tongues for as long as possible.
However, I do not just begin blasting in tongues; I often begin with spending quality time studying God’s Word. By studying Scripture, you draw closer to God. You also allow God to speak directly to your heart.
These set the tone for you to begin praying in tongues.
2. Approach God’s Throne With Thanksgiving.
Just as Psalm 100:4 (NIV) says – Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Before launching into the actual act of praying in tongues, it is important to thank God.
Hence, you should come before Him with thanksgiving. This should be a combination of praise and reverent worship from a grateful heart. Songs of worship and praise from a heart full of gratitude bring down God’s presence. And in His presence, you can pray in tongues uninhibited.
So, go ahead and thank God for who He is and for what He has done for you and everyone connected to you. You should ensure you do this from the depth of your heart and not to fulfill all righteousness.
Open up your heart, visualize God seated on His throne, ready to receive your worship. Go into worship and praise mode. You can even sing and pray in tongues while at it. Sometimes I worship God, and I get so overwhelmed that I find myself singing both familiar and unfamiliar songs in tongues.
3. Invite the Holy Spirit to Search You.
Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV) – Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Like David, invite the Holy Spirit to search your heart and thoughts to see if there’s any known or unknown sin in you. Whether we know it or not, sin hinders us from receiving from God when we pray.
But more importantly, it places a barrier between God and us. Isaiah 59:2 (NIV) – But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you so that he will not hear.
So, to truly pray in tongues that are effective, you need the Holy Spirit to shine His spotlight on those sins you may not even know you have committed.
4. Confess Your Sins and Ask God for Forgiveness.
1 John 1:9-10 (NIV) – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
10: If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar, and his word is not in us. Confess your known and unknown sins and ask God to forgive you anywhere you have fallen short.
Seeking God’s forgiveness over your sins with sincerity will open heaven over you. This is important as unconfessed sins bring about a closed heaven. Closed heaven means that you will simply be praying ineffectually, even if you are in tongues.
5. Open Your Mouth and Begin to Pray.
It is okay to begin your prayer with the language you are used to when praying. Sometimes, especially when experiencing spiritual dryness, it may be difficult to delve right into your prayer in tongues.
So, for a beginner, start your prayer in your language. Even if you are not a beginner, starting out with praying in a known tongue is also okay.
6. Pray in Tongues As the Spirit Gives You Utterance.
God speaking in Psalm 81:10b said – Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it. If you start your prayer in a known tongue, stay sensitive and switch to tongues the moment the Holy Spirit begins to give you utterance.
Sometimes, someone who is a beginner can begin their prayer in tongues. But whether you are a beginner or advanced in prayer and supplication, you must be sensitive to pray according to the Holy Spirit’s utterance.
7. Do Not Allow Distractions.
As prayer progress, when praying in tongues, sometimes a flimsy thought might creep into your mind. Dismiss it immediately. The devil uses such thoughts to distract us when we pray.
Remember that the devil does not like praying Christians. So, he will try to distract you with one thing or the other, primarily through your thoughts. But do not pay any attention to any thought unrelated to your conversation with God.
8. Pray Scriptures from Time to Time, Then Switch to Tongues.
Mixing Scriptures with tongues when praying is a powerful combination. It can move your prayer to a higher realm spiritually. So, pause from time to time to quote Scriptures the Holy Spirit drops in your mind.
You can also pick up your Bible and pray directly from it as you pray. Switching between tongues and praying Scriptures is a powerful mix you need to try out the next time you pray.
9. Slow Down At Intervals.
You might need to slow down as you pray to catch your breath at intervals. But you must keep yourself from getting distracted when you slow down or stop to catch your breath.
There is no fixed amount of time you should spend catching your breath before you begin again. But it would be best if you made it as infrequent as possible. This will help you stay more focused on your prayer.
10. Listen to the Holy Spirit As You Pray.
Listen to the Holy Spirit, especially through your inner thoughts, as you pray in tongues. Often, the Holy Spirit interprets the supplications we are making in tongues through our thoughts.
More so, He can drop a Scripture in your heart that might be the answer to your prayer or what you seek. He may also be leading you to pray for a specific thing.
So, do not ignore the thoughts that are not distracting but rather are leading you to pray more or look into God’s word as you pray.
11. Spend Some Time Being Quiet After Praying.
Many believers, including me, rush out of God’s presence after praying. But the truth is that it is wrong to do that.
Sometimes we pray, and God gives an immediate answer, but many of us miss it because we are not patient enough to listen to God speak to us after He has been listening to us pray.
So, from now, when you pray, especially in tongues, spend some time in God’s presence afterward. Listen attentively. He will speak to you in a way you will understand.
This might be a simple feeling of assurance that prayer is answered. It might also be the answer you need that He will speak to you about.
Benefits of Praying in Tongues.
1. Praying in Tongues Allows You to Speak Directly to God.
1 Corinthians 14:2 (NIV) – For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.
When you pray in tongues, you speak directly to God, who understands you perfectly. This allows your mind to give way so your spirit can commune with God.
2. It Keeps You in Tune With the Holy Spirit.
When you pray in tongues, you yield to the Holy Spirit who dwells in you. You are also allowing the Holy Spirit to pray through you. This aligns you with Him.
3. It Allows You to Pray Even When You Do Not Know What to Pray.
When you are weary or do not know what or how to pray, you can still pray in tongues because God gives you automatic utterance to pray anytime from the moment you got baptized in the Holy Ghost.
In other words, you can pray according to God’s perfect will, regardless of the situation. Romans 8:26 (NIV) – In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
4. It is a Potent Weapon Against the Enemy.
Mark 16:15-18 (NIV) – He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16: Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
17: And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name, they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
18: they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.
5. It Empowers You to Live a Spirit-led Life.
Praying in tongues, especially consistently, empowers you to live joyfully and in a way that pleases God. It aligns your heart with God’s so that you naturally begin to want what God wants, like what God likes, and hate what He hates.
Jesus proclaimed many things that would happen to anyone who follows Him and continues His work. The gift of tongues is one of those things. It is one of the incredible spiritual gifts that makes us strong against the enemy.
Conclusion
Praying in tongues is a gift God has made available to every believer. It allows us to pray according to God’s perfect will. Praying in tongues aligns our hearts with God and strengthens us against the devil.
So, I urge you to leverage this powerful gift from God. Desire it if you are not yet able to pray in tongues. When it comes, embrace it and relish the strength it adds to your spiritual life.
