How to Pray in Tongues: What It Means, What the Bible Says, and How to Start

Struggling to know how to pray in tongues or wondering what the bible says about praying in tongues? This article will answer your question and help you pray better.

Many Christians are curious about praying in tongues, what it is, how to do it, and what Scripture says about it. Some want to pray for longer periods but struggle to stay focused. If you’re asking questions like “How do I pray in tongues?” or “What does the Bible say about praying in tongues?” this article is for you.

What Is Praying in Tongues?

What does it mean to pray in tongues? Praying in tongues is a form of prayer where a person speaks in a language unknown to them, often called a spiritual language, as they are led by the Holy Spirit. It’s a divine expression that doesn’t rely on human understanding but comes directly from the Spirit of God.

In 1 Corinthians 14:2, the Apostle Paul explains it this way:

“For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit.”

This means that praying in tongues is a way of communicating directly with God, beyond the limits of your natural language or intellect. It’s not about trying to sound spiritual or mystical; it’s about surrendering your voice to the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to pray through you.

It’s more than just words. It’s a supernatural gift that strengthens your spirit, deepens your connection with God, and allows you to pray in perfect alignment with His will, even when you don’t know what to say.

Romans 8:26 also gives insight into what praying in tongues means:

“The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”

This verse highlights how the Holy Spirit steps in when words fail, guiding your prayer in line with God’s will, even when you don’t know exactly what to say.

What Does the Bible Say About Praying in Tongues?

Wondering what the bible says about praying in tongues? Here is a well-explained section for you.

Praying in tongues is often misunderstood, but the Bible gives us clear insight into this powerful spiritual gift. If you’ve ever asked, “Is praying in tongues biblical?” the answer is yes.

The first major appearance of speaking in tongues is in Acts 2, when the Holy Spirit filled the disciples on the day of Pentecost. As they prayed, they began speaking in other languages they hadn’t learned, declaring the wonders of God. This moment marked the birth of the early Church and revealed tongues as a supernatural sign of the Holy Spirit’s power.

In Mark 16:17, Jesus Himself said, “These signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues.” This shows that praying in tongues wasn’t just for the apostles; it’s a sign for all believers.

1 Corinthians 14 offers deeper teaching on the purpose of tongues. Paul explains that praying in tongues is a way to speak “not to men but to God” (verse 2). It builds up the one who prays (verse 4), and though others may not understand it, it’s a valuable form of spiritual communication.

Clearing Up the Confusion

One common misconception is that praying in tongues must always be interpreted. While interpretation is important in public gatherings (1 Corinthians 14:27 – 28), personal prayer in tongues is meant for direct communion with God, and doesn’t require interpretation.

Another myth is that praying in tongues has ceased. However, there’s no verse in the Bible that clearly states the gift has ended. In fact, many believers today testify to its power in their prayer lives, and churches around the world continue to practice it in line with Scripture. I am a living testimony that tongues have not ceased and will never cease.

So, what does the Bible say about praying in tongues? It affirms it as a spiritual gift for believers; a way to pray, worship, and grow closer to God. When practiced in love and order, it strengthens both individuals and the Church.

What If It Feels Weird or Fake?

It’s completely normal to wonder, “Am I just making this up?” when you first start praying in tongues. For many believers, the experience feels unfamiliar, almost strange, because it bypasses the mind and flows from the spirit. But that doesn’t mean it’s fake.

Remember, spiritual things often feel unusual at first. In 1 Corinthians 2:14, Paul writes that “the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him.” In other words, spiritual gifts may not always make logical sense, and that’s okay.

Here’s the truth: praying in tongues is an act of faith, not emotion or understanding. When you yield your voice to God, you’re trusting Him to speak through you, even if it feels awkward at first. Think of it like stepping into water for the first time; you may feel unsure, but the more you wade in, the more natural it becomes.

You’re Not Faking It, You’re Exercising Faith

One common fear is that you’re just babbling or pretending. But if your heart is genuinely seeking God, you can trust that He honors your surrender. Jesus said in Luke 11:13, “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

God is not trying to trick you. He’s not withholding His Spirit from sincere seekers. If you’ve asked Him for the gift of tongues and you step out in faith, even in weakness, He meets you there.

It’s Okay If It Starts Small

Your prayer language might begin with just a few sounds or syllables. That’s okay. Speak them boldly, and keep going. Just like a baby learns to speak one sound at a time, you’ll grow in fluency as you keep practicing in faith. Don’t rush it. Don’t compare. Trust the process.

So if praying in tongues feels weird, you’re not alone. But don’t let that stop you. Faith isn’t about waiting to feel confident; it’s about trusting that God is working, even when you don’t fully understand how.

How To Pray In Tongues for Long Hours

Now, after receiving the gift of tongues, how do you exercise your faith and speak in tongues for long hours, and what happens when you do?

When you pray in tongues for long hours, you will hear your thoughts and voice less and hear God more. Your emotions and feelings will become susceptible to God’s will.

However, I have come to realize that if you have a busy life, it might be hard to stay consistent with praying in tongues for long hours.

But it is possible. Here is an article to guide you. If you are in doubt about why you should pray and what happens when you pray, you can check my previous post on the secret to a consistent prayer life.

Anyway, if you are still here, let’s go into some tips and tricks that will help you know how to pray in tongues for long hours.

10 Tips and Tricks on How to Pray in Tongues for Long Hours.

Disclaimer: These tips and tricks were basically gotten from experience. If you’re a lazy (sometimes), easily bored person like me who has a passion for spiritual growth, you will want to know these tips I came up with that have really helped my spiritual life.

So what are they?

Listen to Spiritual Songs/Sounds while praying

If you think this won’t work, try praying in tongues without spiritual songs for the first 30 minutes, then pray in tongues with spiritual songs for the next 30 minutes, and tell me if you don’t see the difference.

The importance of listening to spiritual songs is to stir you up. Music naturally affects our mood (whether spiritual or not), so listening to a spiritual song automatically puts you in a prayerful mood or atmosphere.

You can listen to songs/sounds by Lawrence Oyor (My favorite every time), or other gospel songs that stir you up. You can also leave links and recommendations of spiritual songs and sounds in the comments.

Use Earphones

This tip sounds weird, right? Well, take it from me. Using earphones to listen to the spiritual songs I mentioned earlier is a very effective tip. There is a difference between playing spiritual songs to pray and actually plugging the song straight into your ears. 

I wish I could give you a magical reason for this tip, but as I said, try it and see.

Pace Back and Forth or Take a Walk 

This is an important one. Also, remember it is a trick. When you sit in a place, your body can get tired, and you start to get bored. Your mind will start wandering all over the place. You could even fall asleep. 

There are times I even go from sitting down to lying down, and before I know it… (My spirit is praying, but my body is asleep, Lol)

So what should you do, pace back and forth (don’t try to close your eyes (except on occasions of visions or trances).

While pacing back and forth or going for a walk (Prayer walks are really good options when praying for long hours), your body finds something interesting to do and something else to focus on, so you can focus your mind on the prayer.

Related Post: What Happened When I Prayed in Tongues for 6 Hours

6 Reasons you’re not consistent in Prayer + The Right reason to Pray

Talk to God in between or Prophesy 

This is the spice…

Yes, please. Try not to only pray in tongues for those hours. Add the spice of speaking to God in between. Most times when we speak in a language we can understand after praying in tongues, we are actually interpreting the tongues. 

If you have ever noticed, sometimes you will start making decrees or prophesying words from God into your life. Yes, that is the spice of praying in the spirit. My favorite part.

Thank God for what He has done (You can sing)

 This is a trick that has worked for me, but ensure you are not doing it just to consume time; you should genuinely give thanks. So, go into worship and thanksgiving mode. Remember all God has done for you and all he has promised to do. Open your heart and give Him praise. You can even pray in tongues as you thank him.

The Bible says, “When we pray in tongues, we give thanks well.”

“For thou verily givest thanks well…”
1 Corinthians 14:17 KJV

By the time you are done and ready to continue with your prayers, you might have spent an hour. 

There’s so much to thank God for!

Don’t Pray for Long Hours at First

This is one important tip to note.

Personally, this has caused a prayer drought in my life for months.

It happens when you pray for one hour for like a week, and suddenly you believe you are now consistent, and you should increase the hours. This can cause you to stop praying for days, weeks, or months. Because you will eventually get tired or stretch yourself more than your body and mind can bear.

So, what do you do?

Take it slow. If you are just starting out, you can start with 30 minutes or one hour. Ensure you pray every day consistently for 30 minutes or one hour. 

Consistency is important because God trusts a child who prays for 30 minutes every day more than a child who prays for 5 hours, once a month.

How so? 

In building a relationship, there has to be constant and everyday communication, which is why praying every day is important. 

God always speaks to us; this is why we must set out time to hear Him every day. Because if you don’t listen to or talk to him today, you might miss what he has for you today.

God will not stop loving you just because you don’t pray every day, and the Holy Spirit will not leave you either. The main problem is that you will not grow as He wants you to. You will not do His will for that day (because you won’t know it), and you will not make His will for you come to pass on that day.

Prayer is fundamental!

So take it slow and be consistent. When you notice you are strong and consistent enough to increase the timeframe of your prayer. Do so! Gently! Maybe by 30 minutes or one hour.

Trick Your Mind with the Time

A funny trick that works for me. This is what I do when I want to pray. You might have a particular time you go to God. You might not. But, what I do is, if I plan to pray for one hour, instead of praying from 8:00 am to 9:00 am, I will start from 8:30 am to 9:30 am.

You still don’t get the trick?

Your mind sees 8:00 – 9:00 as long but your mind sees 8:30 – 9:30 as short.

When you start praying by 8:30, before you know it, it’s 9:00, and then it’s 9:30, which is a different scene for 8:00 – 9:00.

Try it and let me know if it worked. Lol.

You can also pray from 8:40, 8:45, etc. This is not limited to 8/9; you can try it anytime.

Write Down Words from God as you Pray

 We must go to God with a heart ready to receive. Like I mentioned earlier, God speaks to us every time.

So, when you pray, get your pen and paper, or if you prefer, use your phone’s notepad.

As words drop in your heart, write them down. As you prophesy or decree into your life, write them down.

This not only helps you enjoy your time with God and know His will for you, but it also takes your mind off the time.

Don’t Give in to the Voice

There is that voice (I don’t know if it’s the devil or our weak flesh, but I know there is a voice).

That voice that whispers things like this into your head just a few minutes into the prayer:

“I’m tired.” Why can’t I just find something else to do right now? I will mumble in tongues as I do it, “I will pray later,” and many others.

Shut your mind off that voice and say NO to it and keep praying. 

A post was made on The Avid Planner that gives us a little glimpse of the voice that speaks in our head. It was not a spiritual post, but it gives us a clear explanation of the reasons we procrastinate, stop halfway, and leave things undone.

Is this you?

The only solution is to silence that voice and keep praying. By ignoring the voice, you gain power over it, and you will eventually be happy you made the decision to pray!

Understand that it will Get Tiring

This is one thing we are not often told when we are encouraged to pray. It is made to seem like we will always enjoy it. Well, not every time.

Sometimes, your prayer for that day might be boring and exhausting, and another day, it will be very powerful and ground-shaking.

There are even times the first 30 minutes will be fiery, and the next hour will be dry, and vice versa.

But remember, what matters to God is not how ground-breaking your prayer is, but the relationship you form with Him as you pray and His will is done. So even if you’re not feeling it, still pray.

The bible says, “For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.”

1 Corinthians 14:2 KJV

You will get bored. You will yawn. Your eyes will get misty. You will feel like sleeping.

It is your body simply reacting to the absence of comfort.

At that moment, all you need to do is understand that praying is important. Also, be determined to keep praying, no matter how tiring it is.

If it gets hard, don’t forget to go over the tips and tricks above again. The point is, we are trying to trick our comfort-loving body into becoming subject to our praying spirit. And it is possible.

We have heard of ministers of God with like passions like us who have prayed for 12 hours or above consistently. We can do it too. Remember, you are not doing it to show off but to build yourself spiritually.

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These tips and tricks are progressive, so there might be more. If you have more, please share with us in the comments. I will be checking there for some tips for myself, too.

Also, another disclaimer, these tips and tricks were based on my experience, so there might be differences in how they turn out for you. But I hope you try them and find out which works for you, and also discover new tips and tricks for yourself.

I look forward to a generation of praying men and women, young and old, who are unashamed about Jesus and are prayer warriors.

Leave a comment, share your tips and tricks, and let me know what you think about how to pray in tongues, and if your questions about praying in tongues and ‘what the bible says about praying in tongues’ have been answered.