What Does It Mean to Pray in the Spirit?
What does it mean to pray in the Spirit, and how is it different from ordinary prayer?
The Bible tells us to pray in the Spirit, but many Christians aren’t sure what that actually means. Does it mean speaking in tongues? Being led by the Holy Spirit? Or experiencing a deeper level of prayer?
I believe praying in the Spirit involves allowing the Holy Spirit to help us pray beyond the limitations of our natural understanding and develop a more intimate relationship with God.
But there’s something important I’ve learned over the years.
The purpose of prayer isn’t simply to become better at praying. It’s to become more sensitive to the Person we’re praying to.
Let me explain.
What Does the Bible Say About Praying in the Spirit?
Ephesians 6:18 tells believers to pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.
Jude 20 says:
“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost.” — Jude 20 (KJV)
And the apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 14:15:
“I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also.”
These passages reveal something important about our relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Prayer is not limited to what we can understand, formulate, or express through our natural thinking.
The Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. Romans 8:26 explains that there are times when we don’t know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit helps us.
You can read the full passage in Romans 8:26–27.
The wonderful truth is that God hasn’t left us to develop a prayer life through our own strength. He has given us the Holy Spirit to help us.
Praying in Tongues and Praying in the Spirit
One of the questions people frequently ask is whether praying in the Spirit means speaking in tongues.
In 1 Corinthians 14:14, Paul says:
“For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.”
Paul describes a kind of prayer that involves his spirit even when his natural understanding doesn’t comprehend the words.
From my Pentecostal understanding of Scripture, praying in tongues is an important expression of praying in the Spirit.
But that doesn’t mean every prayer led by the Holy Spirit must be spoken in tongues. Ephesians 6:18 speaks broadly about prayer in the Spirit, while 1 Corinthians 14 specifically explains praying in tongues.
The distinction matters.
Praying in the Spirit is not merely a particular sound, language, or spiritual experience.
It involves depending upon the Holy Spirit.
And praying in tongues is one of the ways I have personally learned to yield to His leadership.
The God Factor: Prayer Is More Than a Spiritual Exercise
Years ago, I began to understand something about prayer that changed my relationship with God.
We know that we’re supposed to pray.
We know that fasting, worship, reading Scripture, and spending time in God’s presence are important.
And they are!
But there’s a danger in placing more confidence in what we’re doing than in the God we’re seeking.
I call this the God Factor.
We can become so focused on praying for a certain number of hours that we forget why we’re praying in the first place.
Suppose you’re spending an hour praying in the Holy Spirit.
You’re determined to finish that hour.
But halfway through, you sense the Lord prompting you to call someone who needs encouragement or pray for a neighbor who’s struggling.
What do you do?
Do you respond to His leading?
Or do you say, “Lord, I’ll do that later. I need to finish praying first”?
Think about that.
We’re praying because we want fellowship with God. But what happens when He begins directing us and we’re too occupied with our routine to respond?
Prayer should help us recognize His presence, understand His leadership, and become willing to obey Him.
The goal isn’t to accumulate prayer hours.
The goal is to know Him.
Grow in Prayer With Us
If you’re hungry for a closer relationship with God, I’d love to invite you to pray with our ministry.
Every Tuesday at 7 PM Central, Burning Truth Africa gathers online for biblical encouragement and prayer.
Join the Family and receive your Tuesday Night Prayer Zoom invitation.
You’ll also receive weekly prayer reminders and updates from our ministry in Africa.
Learning to Recognize the Holy Spirit in Everyday Life
I remember a situation that illustrated this lesson to me.
Teresa and I had been traveling. We were tired, our flights had been close together, and by the time I reached the rental car counter, I was ready to get out of the airport.
The person helping me started asking questions, and I began getting frustrated.
I just wanted the keys!
Later, I sensed the Holy Spirit challenging me with a question:
If I had wanted to tell you something during that moment, would you have heard Me?
That got my attention.
I wasn’t necessarily doing something terribly wrong. I was simply tired and frustrated.
But my attention was so occupied with my circumstances that I wasn’t particularly sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
That’s why I believe praying in the Spirit is so important.
As we spend time yielding to Him, we become more familiar with His presence and more responsive to His direction.
Sometimes God wants to speak to us about something significant.
Other times, He simply wants to correct an attitude, encourage someone through us, or redirect our attention.
You can explore this subject further in my teaching, How to Hear God’s Voice: Learning to Recognize When God Is Speaking.
How Can You Begin Praying in the Spirit?
Start by recognizing that the Holy Spirit is not a religious technique. He is the Spirit of God, given to help and lead believers.
Begin with a simple desire to know Him.
Spend time in Scripture. Ask the Father for the Holy Spirit’s help. Learn what the Bible teaches about praying in tongues and the gifts of the Spirit.
If you’ve received the baptism in the Holy Spirit and pray in tongues, make room for that prayer regularly.
But don’t make the mistake of trusting in how long you’ve prayed.
Place your confidence in God.
And as you pray, remain willing to follow the direction He gives you.
Sometimes the most important part of your prayer time may be what happens after you finish praying.
Will you recognize His prompting?
Will you respond?
Will you allow Him to interrupt your plans?
That’s where spiritual growth becomes practical.
The Real Purpose of Praying in the Spirit
I have spent many years ministering in Africa, and one of the greatest joys of that ministry has been watching believers receive the Holy Spirit and begin praying in tongues.
During my first trip to Kenya in 2009, I witnessed people responding to prayer for the baptism in the Holy Spirit in churches and everyday settings.
Those experiences were wonderful.
But receiving the Holy Spirit is not the end of our spiritual journey.
It’s an invitation to grow.
I want believers to understand that the Holy Spirit desires to lead them beyond an occasional spiritual experience into an ongoing relationship with Jesus Christ.
At Burning Truth Africa, our mission is simple: to help believers develop an intimate relationship with Christ.
And that’s what I want to encourage you to pursue.
Don’t just learn how to pray.
Learn to know the One who helps you pray.
Join the Family — Let’s Pray Together!
Are you ready to grow in prayer, recognize God’s voice more clearly, and develop a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit?
You don’t have to pursue that journey alone.
Join us for Tuesday Night Prayer at 7 PM Central on Zoom.
When you Join the Family, you’ll receive:
- Your Tuesday Night Prayer Zoom invitation
- Weekly prayer reminders
- Ministry updates and stories from Africa
- Opportunities to stand with us in prayer
JOIN THE FAMILY — GET YOUR PRAYER INVITATION
After signing up, confirm your email so we can send your invitation.
Help Us Take This Teaching Across Africa
This message of knowing God through the Holy Spirit is at the heart of our ministry throughout Africa.
Through the generosity of our monthly partners, we’re able to disciple believers, encourage churches, and train pastors and ministry leaders.
Would you prayerfully consider helping us continue that work?
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