Praying with the spirit means to pray in other tongues, and it's a very important kind of prayer for the believer. Some people have questions about it, but that's because they don't understand what it's all about. “Is it really compulsory we pray in other tongues?” they ask. “Does every Christian have to pray in tongues?” Usually, questions and arguments about praying in tongues come from those who don't pray in tongues. You'd rarely find a Christian who prays in tongues questioning this manifestation of the spirit. In Mark 16:17, the Lord Jesus said, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues...”
“Them that believe” refers to Christians, those who have been born again. So if you’re a believer in Christ, you should speak in tongues.
Many of those who argue against speaking and praying in tongues don’t know why it’s so important. They’re unaware of the bountiful benefits that this spiritual exercise brings. Let us now explore some of the glorious benefits of praying in tongues.
Praying In Tongues Refreshes And Revives
“For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear” (Isaiah 28:11-12).
This prophecy from Isaiah relates to speaking in tongues, and it helps us to understand one of the reasons we should pray in tongues. Paul, also accentuating the same thing, stated that “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself….” (1 Corinthians 14:4). In other words, he charges up, builds up, overhauls, or refreshes himself. Praying in tongues refreshes and revives you.
A Christian may suddenly realize he doesn’t preach the gospel as much anymore because he’s not as excited, inspired or motivated as he was when he just gave his heart to Christ. This ought not to be. You should always be motivated and excited about the things of the Spirit; and the way to continually fuel this inspiration of the Holy Spirit and keep the fire of soul-winning burning in your heart is by praying in other tongues. When you pray fervidly in tongues, the fire in your spirit burns to God’s glory.
Getting yourself stirred up in the things of God isn’t and shouldn’t be a mystery. He’s already shown the “how” to you through His Word. So it’s no use praying, “Revive me, O Lord!” You’re revived when you speak in tongues. This is the secret. So take out time on your own and speak in other tongues. When you do, you’ll be edifying, refreshing and beautifying your spirit.
Praying In Tongues Brings Forth The Leading of The Spirit