9 Reasons We Need to Pray in Tongues

 

I have been speaking in tongues for many years and it has been tremendously beneficial to my spiritual growth. I would not be where I am today without the gift of speaking in tongues. 

Speaking in tongues is a real, supernatural prayer language prayed through a Christian by the Holy Spirit. This language is given to a Christian upon receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Speaking in tongues allows you to pray directly to God from your spirit.

Let’s take a look at this gift of speaking in tongues and what the Word of God says about it.

Here are 9 reasons we need to pray in tongues:

1. When You Pray In Tongues, It Keeps You From Being Deceived

2. When You Pray in Tongues, Divine Wisdom is Imparted

3. When You Pray In Tongues, You are Praying God’s Perfect Will

4. When You Pray in Tongues, You Are Giving Thanks

5. When You Pray in Tongues, You Receive Revelation Knowledge

6. When You Pray in Tongues, You Edify Yourself

7. When You Pray In Tongues, You Build Yourself Up

8. When You Pray in Tongues, You Keep in Tune with Holy Spirit

9. When You Pray in Tongues, You Recognize the Spirit Channel

What Are the Benefits of Speaking In Tongues? 

Every gift from God is good. He would never give you something that would not benefit you.  The gift of speaking in tongues is a powerful gift that will benefit you tremendously. 

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God. He knows everything and loves you with an everlasting love. The Bible tells us that as we allow the Holy Spirit to intercede for us by speaking in tongues, all things work together for our good. 

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:26-28

Many people do not realize that this verse is written in the context of allowing the Holy Spirit to make intercession for us!

For those of us who allow the Holy Spirit to intercede through us, all things are working together for our good. 

Let’s take a closer look at the 9 reasons we need to pray in tongues. 

1. When You Speak In Tongues, It Keeps You From Being Deceived 

This is huge. The Bible says that in the last days, many will be deceived. I personally know so many people who have strayed from the Word of God and been carried about by winds of doctrine. 

Praying in tongues is one way to help prevent being deceived. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth (John 16:13). The more we allow Him to pray through us, the more our spirits are accustomed to hearing truth. 

When a deceptive doctrine comes along, the Holy Spirit will not bear witness with it. Because you have spent so much time praying the truth by speaking in tongues, you are able to discern that the Holy Spirit within you is not in agreement with the error. 

The book of Jude warns us of mockers who would come in the last times who would cause divisions. Our instruction for this time is to pray in the Spirit! 

But you, beloved, remember the words which were spoken before by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: how they told you that there would be mockers in the last time who would walk according to their own ungodly lusts. These are sensual persons, who cause divisions, not having the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 1:17-21

2. When You Speak in Tongues, Divine Wisdom is Imparted

All the wisdom of God is in your born again spirit right now. Colossians 2:3 tells us that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ. Where is Christ? Inside you. 

…in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 2:3

But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. 1 John 2:20

The anointing inside you knows all things. You just need to get the wisdom out of your spirit and into your mind, where you can apply it to your life. Praying in tongues is a way to do this. 

Praying in the spirit gives your mind the ability to comprehend divine wisdom and apply it to your life. As you pray in tongues, believe that God is giving your mind the wisdom you need for every situation. 

There have been so many times in my life when I didn’t know what to do about a situation, so I asked God for wisdom and began speaking in tongues. As I prayed in my prayer language, divine solutions came to my mind. I heard a voice behind me saying “this is the way, walk in it” (Isaiah 30:21). 

Paul encourages us to pray for the interpretation of our tongues. 

Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 1 Corinthians 14:13

When you believe God for the interpretation of your tongues, the interpretation brings divine wisdom to your understanding. Solutions come, ideas come, understanding comes. Divine wisdom from above can only come from the Spirit of God. 

3. When You Speak In Tongues, You are Praying God’s Will 

Another benefit of praying in tongues is the ability to pray God’s perfect will. 1 Corinthians 14 says that when we speak in tongues, we are talking directly to God. 

For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 1 Corinthians 14:2

When you pray in tongues, you are praying God’s perfect will, directly to Him. Your mind is out of the way- the limiting thoughts, the fear, and the unbelief that come with living in this fallen world are out of the way and your spirit can commune directly with your Father.

The Holy Spirit knows the awesome plans God has for you, and is able to pray them out as you pray in the spirit. Think about this- the Holy Spirit was there when God planned your life and destiny!

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

God has really good plans for you and Holy Spirit knows exactly what needs to happen to bring you into that divine destiny. You don’t have to figure it out by yourself. Holy Spirit knows who you need to meet, the situations that need to change, and the path you need to take.  As you allow Him to pray through you, He will pray out these divine plans. 

The Holy Spirit is always praying the perfect will of God (Romans 8:26). God’s Word is His perfect will, so the Holy Spirit will always be praying in agreement with the Word of God. The Word and the Spirit are one. 

When you don’t know what to pray, the Holy Spirit is there to pray the perfect will of God on your behalf. How awesome is that!

4. When You Pray in Tongues, You Give Thanks 

Praise is a powerful force. Praise silences the enemy and releases tremendous power in your life (Psalm 8:2). 

The Word of God instructs us to give thanks always (Ephesians 5:20, 1 Thessalonians 5:18). When you speak in tongues, you give thanks well and speak the wonderful works of God (1 Corinthians 14:17, Acts 2:11). 

Speaking in tongues is a wonderful way to praise God. Maintaining a thankful heart is a powerful weapon that always causes us to triumph in life. 

Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. 2 Corinthians 2:14

The power of living a thankful life has benefits too numerous to list here. A thankful person is always a happy person. Speaking in tongues releases the power of thanksgiving and praise in your life. 

5. When You Pray in Tongues, You Receive Revelation Knowledge

For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 1 Corinthians 14: 2

When you speak in tongues, you are speaking the mysteries of God. The more you do this, the more your mind is given the capacity to understand these divine mysteries. Your mind is given the ability to understand spiritual truths. Spiritual truths have to be spiritually discerned. The natural mind cannot comprehend them.

But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14

As you speak in tongues, spiritual truths are imparted to you by revelation. Revelation knowledge is the ability to understand spiritual truths. It takes revelation knowledge to understand the things of the Kingdom. The natural mind simply cannot comprehend spiritual things. It must come by revelation. 

The Holy Spirit is given to you in order to reveal the things freely given to you by God. 

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 1 Corinthians 2:12

As you speak in tongues, the Holy Spirit gives you understanding of everything that was accomplished for you at Calvary. The finished work of Jesus has provided everything you could ever need (2 Peter 1:3). The Holy Spirit imparts revelation of these things as you pray in tongues.  

Recommended: What Does it Mean When God Gives You a Revelation? 

6. When You Pray in Tongues, You Edify Yourself

To edify is defined as to instruct someone in a way that enlightens them or uplifts them morally, spiritually, or intellectually. When you speak in tongues, you edify yourself. 

He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, 1 Corinthians 14:4

The Holy Spirit is the power that has been sent to help you out of your weaknesses and lead you into all truth. Holy Spirit is your Teacher and is always ready to encourage you and help you. 

Sometimes you know that something is holding you back from your destiny but you don’t know exactly what it is. The Holy Spirit is the One who can search the innermost parts of your heart to find the root of the problem. Holy Spirit goes for the root, then the bad fruit just falls off. We don’t have to do this alone! 

Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:27

Allowing the Holy Spirit to pray through you by speaking in tongues will take the limits off your life and edify you to the point where you can live out the wonderful plans God has for you. 

Speaking in tongues is part of your spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:18) and can be used all the time! The Holy Spirit knows the plans and schemes of the enemy and will protect you. You have the perfect prayer partner with you all the time. 

7. When You Speak In Tongues, You Build Yourself Up 

The Bible tells us that praying in the spirit will build us up in our faith and keep us in the love of God. 

But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,  keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Jude 1:20-21

When you speak in tongues, you are strengthening your faith and keeping yourself in God’s perfect love for you! His love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18). 

A 2005 article from the New York Times entitled :”A Neuroscientific Look at Speaking in Tongues”  said that studies done on the brain suggest that people who pray in tongues rarely suffer from mental problems. The article talked about a study that was done among nearly 1,000 Christians. Those that prayed in tongues were more emotionally stable than those who did not! Wow. Thank you Jesus for this amazing gift! 

There have also been studies done on the brain that show an increase to the immune system while praying in tongues. A brain specialist named Dr. Carl Peterson, M.D. did a study to look at what happens in the brain when people pray in tongues. He found that the two chemicals are secreted while speaking in tongues that boost the immune system by 35-40%. That is incredible! 

When you speak in tongues, you not only build yourself up spiritually, but physically and emotionally as well. 

8. When You Speak in Tongues, You Keep in Tune with Holy Spirit

When you speak in tongues, you are yielding to the Holy Spirit who dwells in you and acknowledging your need of Him.  You are acknowledging your dependence on Him and thereby strengthening your relationship with Him. 

As you allow Holy Spirit to pray through you regularly, you develop a deeper fellowship and train your soul to keep in tune with Him. Holy Spirit truly becomes your Counselor, Helper, and Teacher in everyday life.  

As you walk in tune with the Holy Spirit, you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh that are contrary to you. 

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Galatians 5:16

As you walk with the Holy Spirit, you will be kept in the wonderful grace of God and protected from going back under the law, into bondage. Holy Spirit is all about your freedom. It is for freedom that Christ set you free. 

The Holy Spirit knows exactly what needs to be prayed. He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God (Romans 8:27). 

When you are speaking in tongues, the Holy Spirit is able to make intercession for others as well. You may not know that one of your relatives is in danger, but the Holy Spirit does and will pray what is needed as you allow Him. 

9. When You Speak in Tongues, You Recognize the Spirit Channel

When you pray in tongues, it is your spirit praying, inspired by the Holy Spirit. The language comes from the Holy Spirit, not from your brain. 

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania Healthcare System took brain images of people that were speaking in tongues, and discovered that while the participants were praying in tongues, the language center of the brain was quiet, despite the fact that a language was streaming out of their mouths. This shows that the language is coming from somewhere else other than the brain. 

The language is coming from your spirit. The more you speak in tongues, the more you are able to isolate this channel where the language is coming from. This is important because this is also the channel through which you hear God most of the time. When God speaks, He speaks to your spirit, and the message travels up from your spirit through this same channel. As you learn to isolate this channel, you can tap into what God is saying more frequently and with greater ease.