The benefits of praying in the Spirit (in tongues) are many. I pray in the Spirit daily and it’s not because I’m super spiritual, it’s because I am weak without the power of the Spirit and can’t survive without this advantage in my life. I Corinthians 14:4 says that, “He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself…” This means that when we do this, we are building ourselves up in the Lord and growing stronger in our faith..

There are a plethora of benefits I receive from praying in the Spirit, and I thought I’d share just a few today. The first way it helps me may be an unorthodox thing you’ve never heard of before. (Don’t worry,  you’re not about to hear anything that’s heresy.).

Praying in the Spirit helps me deal with complicated situations.

Have you ever been asked to pray for something you don’t agree with? Have you been asked to bless something you don’t personally approve of? I have, several times. It doesn’t happen a lot, but there are rare times it does. There are moments I even get publicly called out (in front of an audience)  to step up and do it. In fact, this happened to me last year. I was asked by a leader to come to the front of the room and pray over something I didn’t personally support. I know some people will think this is hilarious, but I don’t mean it to be funny. I came forward, prayed entirely in the Spirit, without one word being spoken in English, then sat back down.

I know, I know. There are people who will think I’m crazy for what I just admitted to doing.

I’m okay with you thinking I’m crazy.

Whenever we pray in the Spirit, we pray in accordance with God’s will. In praying in the Spirit I don’t have to worry about what I agree with, or don’t agree with., All that matters is that I come into line with what GOD agrees with. And when I pray in the Holy Ghost, I am in 100% accordance with God’s will. So I pray this way, a lot and I can be assured, God is totally cool with whatever I just prayed.

“And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:26-28 (NIV)

It doesn’t matter how I feel about something. All that matters is what God wants.

Praying in the Spirit helps to build up and strengthen my faith. Jude 20 says: “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit” (Jude 20). When I am down, this is my first go-to. This comes before anything else — before soaking my sorrows away in a bath, before calling a friend, before talking to my husband about it, before retail therapy, before ANYTHING comes praying in the Spirit. And many times when I pray in the Spirit I don’t need to do any of the other things. This is one of the reasons I choose to pray in the Spirit in my mind throughout a majority of my day. It fuels me for whatever I’m facing, moment by moment.

Praying in the Spirit helps me to win battles I could win in no other way.

I am not smart enough to win the battles I face on a daily basis. No matter how much I strategize or analyze or even call on my friends (I am surrounded by smart people) it’s still not enough. I have learned the more you do for God the fiercer the battles get. To win, you have to be properly armed.

Ephesians 6:11-13 says: “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”

In addition to putting on the armor of God, I pray in the Spirit not only to get through my day but to win battles and wars. They are not won by any natural means.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

People often say, “I’ve read the back of the book, and we win!” That’s true but on the way to getting to the finish line the game gets fiercer. The enemy doesn’t play fair. We need the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives more than ever before. Don’t miss this advantage God has provided for you. He will help you through complicated situations, strengthen your faith, and give you the winning edge to triumph.