How do you pray in tongues, and what are the benefits of doing so according to the Bible? Praying in tongues is a spiritual gift given by the Holy Spirit that allows believers to communicate directly with God in a heavenly language beyond human understanding. It is both a powerful form of personal prayer and a means of spiritual edification.
What Is Praying in Tongues?
Praying in tongues is speaking to God in a spiritual language that is not learned or understood naturally by the speaker. It is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
“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.” 1 Corinthians 14:2 (NIV)
How Do You Pray in Tongues
1. Desire and Ask for the Gift
The Bible encourages believers to desire spiritual gifts, including tongues.
“Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy.” 1 Corinthians 14:1 (NIV)
“If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts… how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:13 (NIV)
Pray and ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit and to give you the gift of tongues.
2. Be Filled with the Holy Spirit
The early believers began to speak in tongues when they were filled with the Holy Spirit.
“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” Acts 2:4 (NIV)
Yield your heart in worship and allow the Holy Spirit to move in you. Speaking in tongues is often a natural overflow of Spirit-filled worship and surrender.
3. Speak by Faith
The Holy Spirit doesn’t force you to speak — you cooperate by faith and open your mouth to speak, even if the sounds seem unfamiliar.
“They spoke in tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:4
You start speaking, and the Spirit provides the words — often syllables or sounds that you don’t understand.
4. Understand Its Purpose
Tongues edify you, not others (unless interpreted).
Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.” 1 Corinthians 14:4 (NIV)
“For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.” 1 Corinthians 14:14 (NIV)
Tongues is prayer in the Spirit, allowing the Holy Spirit to intercede beyond your own understanding.
5. Pray Regularly in Tongues
Paul said he prayed in tongues often.
“I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.” 1 Corinthians 14:18 (NIV)
It’s a personal, devotional prayer tool — not just for public use.
Praying in tongues is also a form of deep intercession when you don’t know what to pray.
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness… the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” Romans 8:26 (NIV)
5 benefits of praying in tongues:
- Spiritual Edification (Building Yourself Up)
Praying in tongues strengthens your inner person — your spirit.
“He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself…” 1 Corinthians 14:4 (NKJV)
It builds you up spiritually, like charging a battery — giving you strength, boldness, and spiritual vitality. - Praying Perfect Prayers Through the Holy Spirit
When you don’t know how to pray, the Holy Spirit prays through you — perfectly aligned with God’s will.
“For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us…” Romans 8:26 (NKJV)
Tongues bypass your limited understanding and allow the Spirit to pray God’s perfect will into your life and circumstances. - Spiritual Strength and Warfare
Praying in the Spirit is part of putting on the full armor of God.
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit…” Ephesians 6:18 (NKJV)
It activates your spiritual armor and keeps you alert and strong in spiritual warfare. - Deeper Intimacy with God
Speaking mysteries to God deepens your connection with Him in worship and prayer.
“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.” 1 Corinthians 14:2 (NIV)
It creates a deep, personal, and intimate line of communication with God — spirit to Spirit. - Spiritual Refreshing and Rest
Tongues bring spiritual rest and renewal to a weary soul.
“For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, to whom He said, ‘This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest,’ and, ‘This is the refreshing…’” Isaiah 28:11–12 (NKJV)
Tongues can bring supernatural peace, calm, and refreshing in times of stress, fatigue, or pressure.