The Benefits of Praying in Tongues: 9 Ways to Transform Your Spiritual Life

Part 2 of 3 by Don Bell | ⏱️ 12 minute read

The benefits of praying in tongues extend far beyond what many believers realize. This powerful gift of the Holy Spirit offers practical applications for your daily life, from personal edification and intercessory prayer to spiritual warfare and divine healing. When you pray in tongues, you're speaking mysteries directly to God in a language that bypasses your natural understanding and connects you with His perfect will.

This article explores nine transformative ways you can experience the benefits of praying in tongues, including receiving revelation, achieving breakthrough, deepening intimacy with God, and preparing for supernatural ministry. Whether you're new to this gift or seeking to grow in its application, you'll discover how praying in the Spirit can revolutionize your relationship with God and empower your spiritual walk.

Discovering the Types of Prayer in Tongues

Rainbow Over the MountainsThe Benefits of Praying in Tongues Can Transform Your Life
Source: ©DarkBird/Depositphtos.com

The Apostle Paul advocates, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints …" (Ephesians 6:18).

Don't expect to understand the exact meaning of the words spoken while praying in an unknown tongue. However, you can often sense the focus of the Holy Spirit's prayer, and it will sometimes affect the tone and intensity of your spoken delivery. Also keep in mind that you might find yourself speaking in a different tongue depending on the spiritual focus. Remember, it's the gift of tongues, plural.

Msgr Peter Coughlin

Monsignor Peter Coughlin says, "Only God understands what we are praying, since the Spirit within us is praying — although we know the sense of the prayer, whether it is praise, intercession, deliverance ministry, or addressing the spirit of another when praying over another." (Coughlin, 1998, p. 73)1

You will start to sense whether you are shifting from edifying yourself to interceding for a particular person or circumstance. You will recognize when you're engaged in intercession, breakthrough, spiritual warfare, or worshiping God.

For example, if your prayer is focused on spiritual breakthrough, you'll sense a growing confidence, and a strengthening in your faith. If your prayer is one of praise and thanksgiving, it's not uncommon to find yourself becoming elated and eventually expressing praise in your natural language.

There's no need to interpret your prayer in a heavenly tongue. After all, it's a prayer directed to God and not to you. However, on rare occasions the Holy Spirit might reveal the gist (condensed interpretation) of your prayer to encourage you.

While exploring the different types of prayer, you'll discover that praying in the Holy Spirit can benefit in so many ways. And, all the while you're praying in the Spirit, you'll be building yourself up in the most holy faith (Jude 1:20).

1. Praying for Daily Needs and Intentions

Jesus recommends, "'When you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him'" (Matthew 6:7–8).

Avoid vain repetition when praying. God invites us to pray with confidence and faith, knowing that He hears us the first time we pray. It's not the length of your prayer that brings results; rather, it's earnest, sincere prayer coupled with unwavering faith in God Himself that truly makes a difference.

Praying in the Holy Spirit builds up your faith to know God's will. Then, as Jesus says, "'Whatever things you ask in prayer, BELIEVING, you will receive'" (Matthew 21:22, emphasis added).

How to Overcome Difficult Circumstances

Pray in the Spirit when facing difficult circumstances. Either your innermost being and emotions will be strengthened to accept the circumstance with peace, or you will be given God's wisdom on how to best handle the situation.

A Personal Anecdote

I knew a concerned mother who prayed for her daughter to remain at their church, and she also prayed in tongues about this matter. Meantime, her daughter was praying to have greater freedom in the Spirit, and God was leading her to a Spirit-filled church where she would be fed spiritual truths.

Since the mother's prayers in tongues were in the will of God, those prayers won out over her self-motivated prayers, and her daughter was blessed in her new church, while the mother received grace to accept the result.

2. Praying for Intimacy: Abiding in Your Heavenly Father's Love

Praying in the Holy Spirit through the gift of tongues strengthens our intimate relationship with our heavenly Father, allowing us to experience a closeness and belonging that surpasses our human understanding.

Paul emphasizes, "You received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God" (Romans 8:15–16).

Paul underlines the close connection between our human spirit and the Holy Spirit. You'll experience the benefits of praying in tongues as your sensitivity to the Holy Spirit sharpens and deepens, and as your spirit links with His. It heightens your ability to hear His voice clearly, and discern and understand His leading and guidance.

3. Praying in Worship: Letting Tongues Flow Into Adoration

Worshiping God in tongues leads to a supernatural connection where your spirit communicates with God beyond earthly limitations, expressing a deep flow of reverence, gratitude, and love, leading to worship.

Times of pure worship can enable a seamless transition between praising God in tongues and praising Him in your natural language. Praying in the Holy Spirit benefits us by providing an authentic, personal means to communicate with and worship God on the deepest spiritual level.

4. Praying to Overcome Discouragement: Receiving Strength, Joy, and Insight

The heavenly tongues we speak are transformative spiritual languages that bypass our natural understanding, connecting directly with God's healing power. This divine communication strengthens your inner man, rebuilding your spiritual resilience, and washing away the residue of discouragement.

How to Overcome Discouragement

Praying in the Holy Spirit offers an effective way to overcome discouragement and depression. One of the most immediate benefits of praying in tongues is how it transports you into a realm of divine encouragement and strength. We're not just earthbound beings, but seated together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:4–6), with direct access to supernatural peace.

The Holy Spirit knows exactly what your soul needs, and praying in tongues allows Him to intercede with perfect wisdom. When spiritual attacks attempt to discourage and overwhelm you, this heavenly prayer language becomes a powerful weapon, dismantling the enemy's strategies and restoring your joy.

Since depression can have non-spiritual causes as well, remain open to the Holy Spirit's guidance as you pray. Sometimes, tongues will initiate the Holy Spirit's cleansing process to remove habitual weaknesses that have been holding us back from blessing. Trust God to always answer prayers motivated by the Holy Spirit, knowing the answer will be according to His perfect will and in your best interests.

Words of knowledge and wisdom invite divine insight that can reveal underlying causes and dynamics and help chart a course to complete healing. The gifts of the Spirit work together harmoniously, helping us assess and navigate life's challenges with supernatural grace and power.

5. Praying for Revelation: Accessing God's Future Plans

Praying in tongues enables believers to tap into revelation directly from the mind of God. It gives us access to those hidden truths that would otherwise remain inaccessible. Only God knows with certainty what our future holds, and His plans for us. And only He knows how to best prepare us for whatever lies ahead.

It is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of 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: 9–10,12)

Among the most profound benefits of praying in tongues is how it serves as an open conduit between us and God, enabling us to receive divine revelation that can transform our lives by expanding our awareness, unlocking new areas of spiritual growth, and preparing us for God's plans and the future.

6. Praying for Intercession: Carrying Burdens to Breakthrough

Paul explains, "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" (Romans 8:26).

An intercessory tongue carries profound spiritual weight and depth. It can deeply resonate within your inner being. Its words can be accompanied by sighs, groans, and even tears, depending on the intensity of prayer.

Your spirit might feel burdened and even grieve at times. It's not uncommon for burdens to arise while praying in the Holy Spirit, and specific individuals and circumstances to come to the forefront of your mind.

Although we may not always know with certainty what we are praying for in an unknown language, we can have complete confidence that our prayers align with God's will, and we can persevere until we can sense the burden has lifted.

Never give up in the midst of interceding. Continue to pray in the Holy Spirit, and when you sense the breakthrough has come, praise God for the prayer victory. You might never know what amazing things God accomplished through the prayer.

Examples of Intercessory Prayer

The power of intercessory prayer in the Spirit extends far beyond our natural understanding or abilities. When we yield ourselves to pray in tongues for others, we become vessels through which God's perfect will can flow.

A Personal Anecdote

While interceding in tongues for individuals with mental impairments such as dementia or Alzheimer's disease, I have sensed a profound connection with their inner spirit. Despite their cognitive limitations, I believe their spirit remains open to the influence of the Holy Spirit.

Whether we see immediate results or continue faithfully without visible evidence, we can trust that every Spirit-led prayer accomplishes God's purpose.

A Personal Anecdote

On one occasion, during profound intercessory prayer in tongues, the Holy Spirit enabled me to minister encouragement to someone at a distance in person, in a supernatural way. I only understood what had occurred when I later heard their testimony of receiving that timely message. Intercessory prayer in tongues can be remarkably powerful, as you pray in God's will and remain available to minister on His behalf.

Remember, our role is simply to remain available and faithful in prayer, allowing the Holy Spirit to pray through us according to the Father's perfect wisdom and timing. The results, often more amazing and far-reaching than we could imagine, rest securely in His capable hands.

7. Praying for Spiritual Warfare: Standing in Supernatural Authority

The Holy Spirit will use the gift of tongues to build up our faith in preparation for spiritual warfare, as adequate preparation is vital for waging an effective battle, and seeing a victorious result.

How to Prepare for Battle

Paul urges, "Be ready in season and out of season. …" (2 Timothy 4:2). Building your faith consistently through praying in tongues prepares you for whatever lies ahead. Jesus encourages us, "'Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass…'" (Luke 21:36).

By being prepared ahead of the battle, we align ourselves with God's knowledge of what lies ahead. Without proper readiness, we might lack the necessary faith and knowledge to endure and minister effectively.

Among the benefits of praying in tongues is how it strengthens our faith and prepares us for battles whether they're days, weeks, or months ahead.

Satan's Understanding of Tongues

Satan and his demon followers can understand human languages and directly influence our thoughts when praying in our natural language; however, Paul says, "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, emphasis added).

The word "mysteries" implies something hidden and secret, something confided only to participants in the conversation. It's possible that God enables us to speak in heavenly languages that are unknown to the forces of darkness.

One of the powerful benefits of praying in tongues is that it provides direct, unhindered communication with God that Satan cannot interfere with or corrupt. Though he attempts to discourage us through doubt and apathy, our Spirit-empowered prayers pierce through every spiritual barrier, reaching God with perfect clarity and supernatural effectiveness.

Satan's Strategy

Satan's strategy is to spread misinformation about tongues, trying to convince uninformed believers that this powerful gift is no longer active or relevant today. He deliberately works to distort the Church's understanding of tongues and other spiritual gifts because he knows their tremendous power. By praying in the Spirit, believers activate supernatural strength that directly confronts and defeats the forces of darkness. This is why Satan strives to prevent Christians from fully embracing and exercising this amazing gift.

As Satan sees his rule over the nations crumbling, he desperately tries to keep believers from discovering the full potential available through praying in tongues. He knows that Spirit-filled prayer releases divine authority and advances the manifestation of God's Kingdom. This is why he works to keep Christians dependent on natural abilities instead of embracing the supernatural power that comes through exercising the gifts of the Spirit, including the gift of tongues.

8. Praying for Increased Faith: With or Without Fasting

Scripture says, "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God…" (Jude 1:20–21).

The benefits of praying in tongues are amplified when combined with fasting, significantly impacting our spiritual lives by inclining our hearts to receive revelation and strengthening our faith. While we subdue the flesh to reveal the Kingdom, it's important to understand that beneficial results may manifest during or long after the fasting period ends.

For example, after the Holy Spirit had descended upon Jesus, He fasted for 40 days while resisting the devil in the wilderness. It was only after this time of fasting ended that He began His earthly ministry with great faith in the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus spoke clearly about the need for prayer and fasting:

And when they had come to the multitude, a man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water. So I brought him to Your disciples, but they could not cure him."

Then Jesus answered and said, "O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him here to Me." And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour.

Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?" So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." (Matthew 17:14–21)

Jesus identified the disciples' issue as having little faith or lacking confidence in God. He prepared them for future encounters when they would need to minister in seemingly impossible situations by encouraging a combination of prayer and fasting to increase their faith and confidence in God.

9. Praying for Healing: Experiencing Wellness and Restoration

One of the most profound applications of praying in the Spirit is for physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. This practice allows the Holy Spirit to intercede directly by addressing root causes of infirmity beyond our natural understanding. By praying in tongues for healing, we align ourselves with God's perfect will for wellness and restoration.

To further explore this vital application of tongues, see the detailed guide: Praying in Tongues for Healing.

Embrace Your Spiritual Prayer Language: Enjoy the Benefits of Praying in Tongues

The benefits of praying in tongues touch every dimension of your spiritual life. From meeting daily needs and interceding for others to engaging in spiritual warfare and deepening your intimacy with God, this gift provides supernatural access to the Father's heart and purposes.

As you've discovered throughout this article, praying in the Spirit builds your faith, prepares you for challenges, releases divine revelation, and creates an unhindered communication channel between you and your heavenly Father.

Each time you pray in tongues, you're being edified, aligned with God's perfect will, and positioned for supernatural breakthrough. Whether you're worshiping, interceding, or seeking wisdom, this heavenly prayer language empowers you to pray beyond your natural limitations and partner with the Holy Spirit in ways that produce eternal results.

One of the most powerful applications of this gift is for physical, emotional, and spiritual restoration. To explore how you can specifically apply praying in tongues for wellness, inner healing, and wholeness, continue to the next article in this series: Praying in Tongues for Healing.

Endnote

1 Coughlin, Peter B., Understanding the Charismatic Gifts, Hamilton: C.C.S.O. Bread of Life Renewal Centre, 1998.

In This Series


About the Author

Don Bell of Kingdom Anointing

Don Bell is the creator of the Kingdom Anointing website, and a dedicated follower of Jesus Christ. He shares insights from his spiritual journey to encourage ordinary believers to seek God's Kingdom and lead extraordinary lives in the Holy Spirit.


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