By Sidharth Mohandas
INTRODUCTION
I’m sure most of us have heard phrases like “praying in the spirit” or “praying in the Holy Spirit”. What is it? How is it different from other prayers? What is the benefit of it? Let me first quote all the references to this kind of praying from Scripture:
“For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.” (1 Corinthians 14:14; Also read 1 Corinthians 14:2).
Romans 8:26, “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 with groans that words cannot express.”
“Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit…” (Ephesians 6:18)
“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 1:20)
THE PLACE OF REVELATION
You and I must realize that our mind is very limited–it cannot fathom the mysteries of God, nor can it comprehend spiritual truths and realities.
“…no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9)
However, the key to spiritual understanding is found in the very next verse: “but God has revealed it to us by His Spirit“ (1 Corinthians 2:10). If you have entered into a covenant with Jesus, then your spirit is intertwined with His. His Spirit moves into yours, and your spirit moves into His. And it is in this realm of the spirit where there is abundance of revelations; mysteries are hidden and disclosed, and every blessing is deposited. Why is it deposited in the spirit realm? Because it is the safest place, the only place where the devil can’t lay his hand on. They are eternal realities (so to speak) and not subject to change. The Holy Spirit takes these eternal realities and pours them into our spirits, and in turn our spirits convey them to our mind. Our mind receives them in the form of words, which I believe are poor containers sometimes. If you have been in the place of revelation where your spirit just explodes with these revelations from God, and you try your best to explain it in words, you usually find that no words can adequately explain what you have seen in the spirit.
“We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words” (1 Corinthians 2:12)
TRAVAILING IN PRAYER
You might be wondering how praying in the spirit has anything to do with this. Well, when you and I pray in the spirit, the prayer transcends the realm of the mind into the spirit realm.
A year back, I had a dream of a pregnant lady crying out and singing, “Send Revival! Send Revival!”, and as she was singing, I saw a wall break open with a fresh river gushing out of it. The explanation the Lord gave me was: “Travail in prayer as a woman in pains of child birth” He spoke to me through many verses (Romans 8:26; Romans 15:30), but the one that moved me the most was where Jesus agonized in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane before His trial. The following days and weeks, I remembered the Holy Spirit doing exactly what He spoke to me… He was agonizing and groaning through me. Those were deep and heavy groans that mere words could not express.
MYSTERIES UNRAVELED
The second (and more common) way of praying in the spirit is praying in tongues. This gift has been of great help to me personally. Whenever I’m unable to understand a Scripture, or whenever I need a revelation of some spiritual truth, I immediately pray in tongues, and the revelation flows in like a river. Mysteries are unraveled and what I once did not understand is made known.
“For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit.” (1 Corinthians 14:2)
ACCORDING TO THE WILL OF GOD…
There are other times I don’t know what to pray for in a particular situation, and I would pray in tongues following the principle of Romans 8:26.
“He [The Holy Spirit] maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26, KJV)
Most often than not, the understanding I have of the will of God in these particular situations would be insufficient, therefore, praying in tongues would help me override the realm of the mind and thus enable me to stand in the center of God’s will. This is why praying in the spirit builds us up and edifies, just like Jude 1:21 and 1 Corinthians 14:4 tells us: “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself”.
And believe it or not, a person can pray in the spirit while he or she is sleeping! While I was in college, my roommate told me that when I slept I would speak in an unknown language. I believe that the Holy Spirit was praying through my spirit, even when my mind was asleep.
There is much more to this topic of praying in the spirit that I could relate to you. But instead, I will let you relate your own experience of praying in the spirit in the comment section, and allow you to build on the topic.
So true what you wrote Siddu, I find myself praying in the spirit more than I pray in english for many times one runs out of words or the situation is so difficult that you do not know what to do and the best way to remain calm and peaceful I find is to pray in tongues, I believe no demon force can touch your prayer. I remember this groaning and grunting experience I once had when my brother had committed suicide in another part of the state, I had no knowledge of it but in my home I had this awesome experience and I was in such pain for some time and a week later I came to know what happened to my brother and how he miraculously came back to life. So I encourage my brothers and sisters to pray in tongues all the time, fall asleep while praying in tongues and see what happens… that is another story =)
Thank you, christina auntie. =)
Some time back my neighbors in the college hostel were blasting these heavy metal rock music. And I was unable to study. I was disturbed so much that I couldn’t pray. So I decided to pray in the spirit, and instantly they stopped the song. I came out my room to see what happened, and they were leaving their rooms! lol
Sidhu
well I might as well tell the other story now. I normally pray in tongues all the time for the things I go through as a born again can make you mad or want to give up on life so I pray till I fall asleep at night and there was a couple of occasions when I was fast asleep when I suddenly awoke praying in tongues loudly and rebuking spirits and I see this person (a relative) hovering over me to lay hands on my head and pray the roman catholic prayers. I was asleep but the Holy Spirit was not hence I was able to awake in time for Born Again Believers beware do not let anyone lay hands on your head and pray. That is another story.
I don’t speak in tongues nor do I have a prayer language. (gotta check up more on this ‘prayer language’ thing) But this is what happens to me at times.
When I diligently seek the Lord on something, and IF I’m walking closely with Him daily, then He answers me with several things all at once but they are not chaotic or confusing. It’s like I just get this knowledge on a couple of things all at the same time!!! The answers are very short and direct. And it’s always something I’ve never considered so I know it’s not me that came up with it. (and of course I test everything so it lines up with Scripture) Then sometimes, I get confirmation of what I just ‘learned’ from other sources and that’s really mind blowing!!! (like I turn on a Christian program and the preacher says the exact same thing the Lord said, or the same thing happens with the radio or I read a Bible passage.)(sometimes it’s 1 or 2 confirmations)
So this is when I started keeping a notebook handy, ready to write these things down immediately before I forget them.
There are times when I’m all “prayed up” so to speak and I’m at a loss for words. So I ask the Lord for the Holy Spirit’s help in my prayers and then suddenly, the words are flowing from my mouth like a river! And it’s good stuff too! I mean things that I SHOULD have prayed for but they didn’t come to mind. I go from an empty head, to a mind filled with essential and necessary things to pray about. This happens very often btw – even as recent as two days ago.
I’ve analyzed this (of course) and I’ve noticed a pattern – two basic themes when the Holy Spirit helps me in prayer.
1. Prayers having to do with me. (unconfessed sin, revealing my heart and motives to me, my lack of spiritual fruit in certain areas which leads me to pray for them, chastisement of something stupid I said etc.)
2. Praying for other people.
And at the end of these prayers, I find myself praising Him for any and everything (and I list them specifically) and I recall events from the Bible (like the Exodus crossing) and praise Him for that and it’s just wonderful!!! In fact the best devotionals I’ve had with Him is when I ask for the Holy Spirit’s help. My prayers are more heartfelt, if I’ve confessed something I find myself in deep sorrow, and when I praise Him at the end sometimes I cry. And I’m not an emotional type of person so to get me to cry is a feat in itself! Also, my devotionals last much longer – I mean the time flies. But it’s not about the duration but the quality.
But these things He does for me ONLY when I spend time with Him daily and I cling to Him. There have been times when I just stop doing everything, and I don’t know why I do this, but I don’t feel like praying or reading the Bible and I feel a distance which is my own fault. During this time the only time I pray is for giving thanks before I eat a meal. But He always brings me out of this ‘funk’ I put myself in and he uses various methods. (which is another topic) All I know is what the Bible says – ‘if we draw nearer to Him, He draws nearer to us.’ This is something I’ve experienced time and time again. Praise Jesus!!!
Thank you for sharing that, Carol.
I’ve experienced everything you’ve said too. It’s awesome how He speaks to us and makes us in awe of Him! =)
Praying in tongues is just one way in which we can pray in the spirit, it’s not the only way.
I personally don’t believe in a “prayer language” as the Charismatics teach. Praying in tongues is just one of the functions of the manifestation of tongues.
Paul gives clear instructions how we must use this “gift” when in a public setting [only with the operation of the sister gift of interpretation of tongues]. Many Pentecostals and Charismatics get carried away and they do the very thing that Paul instructed the Corinthians not to do.
While among other believers or in church we should speak and do only things that will edify others. Speaking in tongues without the Gift of interpretation in such a setting does not profit withal.
Sidharth
I once had an experience when I was mugged and I felt the Lord lead me to start speaking out in tongues very loudly (if you knew me you would know this is totally out of character). As I did this my muggers handed back all my belongings and left me alone. I still do not understand what exactly happened but I believe that there is wonderful power in this prayer language that we do not understand.
Thanks you Sidarth for the encouragement to keep using this gift that the LOrd has graciously blessed us with.
Wow, Mike, that’s very interesting and powerful one! There indeed is power in praying in the spirit! =)
Hallelu Yah!
Hey Jon and Titto, share with us your experiences too
Sidhu
Very good post, I enjoyed reading and I too pray in the Spirit and always ask the Lord to show me what He wants for the person, not my own perception.
Be blessed,
Yvette
i still remember the first experience I had. Years back, as a very young christian, I was weighed in my spirit. I didn’t understand any of this then. As I came home, I didn’t know what to do(There was just this heaviness in my spirit). My father was on a journey and I thought maybe something was wrong with him.(no mobile phones then to check out!). Even after i prayed for him I felt I needed to pray more.
Then God reminded me to speak in toungues. I kneeled down on my bed and started speaking in tounges. A couple of hours later my father returned. I asked him how the journey was and he said it was fine. Anyway I thought it was just me having a heavy lunch! But a week later I came to know that at that same time(as God led me to pray!) My grandmother(who I was very very close to) had taken some wrong medicines and her blood had diluted. God’s grace Her youngest daughter accidently came into the house at that very same moment and was able to rush her to hospital. Had my aunty been a few minutes late, my grandmother could not have been saved. I came to know of this only a week later!
Its amazing how God guides us!
I know that I have been awakened in the night and led by the Spirit to pray. It happened a little over a week ago and I was led to pray for my daughter. IT was the middle of the night so I just prayed and trusted HIM. The next day I relayed to my daughter how I was awoken to pray for her and told her the time. SHe said I know why you were awoken and she told me she had been at the hospital with her roomate at that time. I don’t always understand, I just hope that I will be obedient in His promptings. I would love to hear more about your “speaking in tongues” sometime. Thanks Sidhu for your teachings!
Well said Sid, I’m starting to really appreciate speaking in the tongues lately, thanks for being there for me!
Prayer language is the doorway to the supernatural.
Most people pray in the Spirit not realizing it’s not a one-sided prayer gift. It’s literally like a pipeline created by the Spirit between the Believer and the Creator. G-d transmits through that pipeline things out of the heavenly realm and the Believer transmits through that pipeline words out of the earthly realm. Yeshua/Jesus is the High Priest over our “confession”. Not only can we pray in the Spirit to G-d, G-d can prophesy to us through that same Spirit. There are MANY times I will start speaking outloud in tongues or singing in tongues, only to be able to translate it to English and find it is the Father speaking to ME
This is how G-d communicates with us in a two-way fashion without the ability of ha’satan/satan to interfere. Try it…it willl amaze you that you can actually have the Father speaking through you to you. You will cherish this gift a lot more.
Sid, you’ve encouraged me to delve deeper into the things of the Spirit.
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I walk with God about 5 miles a day. This time alone with Him is nourishment. There is an ebb and flow in our conversations together; as He speaks for a while and I listen and then I speak for a while and He listens. And then, of course there is beautiful silence. Often times I will pray or sing in tongues as I walk and I do so with intention because I acknowledge that my spirit understands what to pray as my soul does not. Many times as I do this, my mind becomes filled with pictures from Him or thoughts from Him that are like His whispering the very joy of His heart. Such communion and unity is too wonderful to express.
A brilliant post Sidharth. In fact I have just heard from an English lady who converted to Islam asking me to tell her all about praying in tongues after she read my last post. I think I will direct her to your post as you have said it all and so clearly.
Congratulations on an Excellent Blog.
Ditto what Barbara said, very well done! This is my first time visiting. I found you via Mike.
I will share my story. After I got saved, a year later I went to a charismatic church and they prayed for me to “receive my prayer language.” I had never heard about it, or even understood what in the world they were talking about. I went home, read some scriptures they shared with me. I asked God if this was from Him, I wanted to receive more of what ever God had to give me. I remember as I fell asleep feeling frustrated with my inability to praise God enough with mere English words. I woke myself up later speaking in tongues. I was surprised, but thanked God and went back to sleep. Then I woke myself up again, speaking in tongues. I was like, great God, thank you so much. Fell back asleep, (it was very late) and woke up a third time speaking in tongues. Now I am like OKAY God I get it, thank you very much. At that moment I heard God clearly speak to me, “Well then use it!” Ohhhhhhh, I was a little dense, this was all so brand new to me. So I spent the next hour or so, just praising God with my prayer language. I have never doubting that gift since. I too have found my self in all the ways shared above God using this gift in my life. It has proven to be an indispensable way of communicating with the King. Very interesting blog. I recognize some friends on here. I will be back, I’m sure.
dear brother,i have been experiencing God’s grace and guidance daily in my life.He has led me out of many trials and critical situations.i praise HIM for everything.when i pray at times i have not able to control or stop. it flows out of me.BUT I AM SAD I DONT HAVE THE GIFT OF TONGUES.could you please clear me. is it essential that all be blessed with this gift. BIJO ABRAHAM . MUSCAT
Awesome post! Keep it up!
I thank God for giving us the Comforter and also the infilling of the Spirit. There are so many incidences where i have found the answers by praying in the Spirit. I’d cite two of them, one was during my brother’s illness, there came a point when everything was just going haywire and all his blood results where just worsening at that point i could pray in my understanding but when the Spirit took over the burden was lifted and the healing took place. What was seen as impossible the Lord made it possible He opened the heavens that nothing could come in the way and shut it.
The second incident was when i had to spend time consoling a family, they were just new in faith and had lost one of their members. During that time i myself found it hard to accept reality but when i was standing with this family, the sorrow they were going through was so much that even words were uttered out of pain. Al that point i knew that nothing could calm them unless the Lord touched them. One of the members found it so hard to even sleep, the person described the pain as a chain bound to the heart..as i started praying this person was getting all the more restless that’s when the Spirit took over and peace just came upon the person.It was like the chain broke loose and the person just slept off.
Even in my studies i’ve noticed that though i might have read a chapter over and over again nothing retains. At that point, shutting my books and praying in the Spirit gave me memory that till then i was just reading over and over for hours but once the Spirit took over it didn’t take much time to recollect and learn the rest.
So i encourage each one of you no matter what it may be whether an exam a sickness or even praying for someone, praying in the Spirit breaks does wonders. All glory to God…May God bless you all
I enjoy every bit of the word from this site.