“Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand.”
1 Corinthians 14:15 (NLT)
Paul makes it clear: praying in the Spirit and praying with understanding are not in competition—they’re companions. In verse 5, he says, “I wish you could all speak in tongues.” Tongues are a gift to ask our Heavenly Father for, because when we pray in the Spirit (v.14), the Holy Spirit speaks directly to God without the limits of our understanding.
Earlier, in verses 7–8, Paul compares uninterpreted tongues to instruments played out of tune—confusing instead of uplifting. We’ve all heard music that hurts our ears because there’s been no practice. In the same way, if the Lord wants to speak through tongues in a church setting, we should be prepared with an interpreter. That preparation happens when the church “practices” together—talking about spiritual gifts, recognizing them in one another, and learning to use them in harmony.
Praying in tongues privately builds you up; praying with understanding publicly builds others up. Both are essential. Don’t let misused verses steal the gift and power of praying in the Spirit.