Spiritual Warfare: Praying in Tongues

Spiritual warfare takes place in a realm that cannot be seen with the physical eye. The enemy often works through circumstances, symptoms, and distractions, making it difficult to recognize the true nature of the conflict. To be effective, we need the spiritual tools that God provides. One of the most important is the gift of praying in tongues—sometimes called praying in the Spirit. This mode of prayer allows us to speak according to God’s wisdom and timing, even when we do not fully understand what we are praying.

Not all prayer is led by the Spirit of God. Prayers that arise from our own fears or desires can be ineffective if we are not praying according to God’s will. Spirit-led prayer, on the other hand, aligns with God’s will. It is guided by what God reveals, and not by our circumstances. One mode of Spirit-led prayer is to pray as we are given divine revelation. We understand what the issue is because God shows it to us. The other form is praying in tongues. When we pray in tongues, we move beyond the limits of our own understanding and allow God to direct our prayers. The words spoken are not chosen by our intellect, but by the Holy Spirit, who knows exactly what needs to be addressed. In this way, we agree with God’s will, even when we do not know the details. If this seems like a cheat code, it is. God is rigging our prayers for the best outcome. When you begin to pray in tongues, you may notice a change in effectiveness. Obstacles that seemed difficult to overcome begin to shift. You may not always see immediate results, but you may sense that something has changed in the spiritual realm.

Because praying in tongues is so effective, there is opposition to its use. The enemy may try to create confusion or controversy about the gift, or suggest that it is unnecessary or embarrassing. However, when you pray in the Spirit, you are speaking things that the enemy cannot understand or interfere with. This is not just a defensive advantage; it is a way to take back ground that has been lost.

Praying in tongues also builds up your spirit. It helps you remain strong in situations that might otherwise overwhelm you. You are in communion with God. Your spirit is connected to His, and your will is aligned with His purposes. When you feel weak or do not know what to pray, praying in tongues can renew your strength.

Sometimes, praying in tongues leads to deep, wordless expressions that cannot be put into human language. Romans 8:22–23 describes this as groaning, both in creation and in believers who are waiting for God’s promises. These are not simply emotional reactions. They are utterings prompted by the Holy Spirit. Such prayer can result in breakthrough in deliverance or mark the completion of an assignment. This kind of prayer cannot be forced; it happens as the Holy Spirit leads, and it is important to cooperate with Him when it occurs.

As you continue to pray in the Spirit, you may notice that your focus shifts. You might begin by praying for a specific person, but the Holy Spirit may lead you to pray for a larger issue or region. Sometimes, you will sense that the burden lifts quickly, indicating that the prayer assignment is finished. At other times, you may need to continue praying until you sense that the breakthrough has come.

When Paul instructs us to pray at all times, he is not referring to a schedule of set prayer times. Instead, he is encouraging us to maintain ongoing communication with God throughout our daily activities. You can pray quietly while driving, working, or even when you do not have words to express your needs. For me, prayer is simply keeping my connection with God open throughout the day.

Praying in tongues is sometimes followed by a sense of understanding about what was prayed. This interpretation is usually not a direct translation, but may come as a thought, a scripture verse, or a sense of direction. It is helpful to ask God for understanding after praying in tongues and to take time to listen. Writing down any impressions or instructions can help you recognize what God is communicating. This makes your prayers more focused and effective.

Praying in the Spirit requires a willingness to let go of control and to trust that the Holy Spirit knows more than we do. It’s acting in faith when the details are lacking. Those who practice this kind of prayer move forward as God leads, trusting that He will accomplish His purposes through their obedience.

After praying in the Spirit, you may not see an outward change. However, you may sense inwardly that something has, indeed, shifted. Some victories are not visible right away, but they are real.

Receiving the Gift

Receiving the gift of tongues begins by asking and then receiving it by faith. This statement may cause confusion, because we are accustomed to having something tangible in our hands when we are given a gift. The spiritual gifts do not leave us with a tangible item. We believe we have received the gift, and we act accordingly. Luke 11:13 says that the Father delights to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. Set aside a quiet time to pray and invite the Holy Spirit to lead you. Ask for the words you are to speak. Praise God in your native language, then yield your voice to syllables or sounds you hear in your mind that may feel unfamiliar. You do the speaking, but the Spirit inspires the flow. He doesn’t override your will.

At first, you may feel awkward. Your mouth may form sounds that seem strange. That’s normal. You might begin with only one or two syllables. Repeat them and let the language grow as you use it. Sometimes you will feel a rush of emotion or deep peace. Other times, you may feel nothing at all. You’re not faking it or making it up. You are acting in faith, partnering with the Spirit.

Like any language, your prayer language will develop with use. Pray in tongues daily—during worship, on a walk, while driving. Sing in tongues, allowing melodies to rise spontaneously. Read a passage of scripture and then pray in tongues over it to receive further revelation. Use the gift often. Let your spirit speak what your mind cannot.

My wife, Denise, has prayed in tongues for so many years that it has become her default prayer mode. When she tries to pray in English and it feels labored, she naturally switches to tongues. This changed how we pray together. When we pray each day for our personal needs and the people and situations on our hearts, I lead our joint prayer in English. I pray according to what God has revealed to me—through visions, dreams, or what I sense about the situation. This prayer is based on information He has given me about what needs to be addressed and how. Denise prays in agreement, but not in tongues, in those moments, because the prayer is specific and targeted. She agrees with what I have already articulated.

But there are other times when I will pray in English according to what I see—and Denise will pray in tongues alongside me, led by the Spirit. In those moments, she may address aspects of the situation I cannot see. Her prayer in tongues may be picking up dimensions of the problem that my English prayer has not addressed. The two modes complement rather than compete. Targeted English prayer and Spirit-led tongues each do something the other cannot.

This is an excerpt from my book, Spiritual Warfare Made Simple