How to Speak in Tongues

Learn how to speak in tongues and tap into the transformative work of the Holy Spirit, leading to spiritual growth, divine encounters, and service in the Kingdom of God.

In this article, we'll explore practical steps to begin speaking in unknown languages inspired by God, while addressing common concerns. We'll also touch on the spiritual power that comes from embracing this unique gift of the Holy Spirit.

How YOU Can Speak in Tongues Today

Part 6 of 6 by Don Bell | ⏱️ 8 minute read

Concept Photo for How to Speak in TonguesLearn How to Speak in Tongues
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Rest assured, the gift of tongues is available for every believer. When you're baptized with the Holy Spirit, you receive the fullness of the Spirit complete with ALL His gifts waiting to be activated. You don't just receive part of the Holy Spirit; He descends in His fullness.

The simple reason that some believers don't speak in other tongues is that they have chosen not to activate the gift. Fears, doubts, misconceptions, false pride, and the wrong teaching can prevent believers from embracing the gift of speaking in tongues.

We all have reasons for not wanting to do something, and God never forces His gifts upon anyone. He respects our freewill and allows us to make our own choices. Ask for His help in making the right choices.

When a Gift Is Not Truly Received

To illustrate the importance of activating the gift of tongues, or any gift of the Holy Spirit, imagine receiving a valuable gift such as a genuine Rolex watch. If you choose to leave the gift unwrapped and unused on a closet shelf, hidden from sight, you have the gift, but you have not truly received it.

However, suppose you unwrap the gift and wear the Rolex on your wrist. Now, it's plain to see that you've received it, and by activating it, you can use it to tell others the time of day.

In a similar way, when believers are baptized in the Holy Spirit, they receive the gift of tongues, along with the other gifts of the Holy Spirit. Choosing to activate these gifts is crucial to fully receiving them, benefiting from them, and serving others.

Activate the Gift of Tongues

Ultimately, we have the choice to activate the gift of speaking in tongues or not. The supernatural abilities given to us by the Holy Spirit are powerful tools that benefit our spiritual growth and equip us for serving others.

By speaking in tongues, we can edify ourselves and increase our faith. We can also edify other believers and contribute to their spiritual growth when we're obedient to interpret the spoken tongue. Tongues can help us fulfill our calling in the Body of Christ and advance the Kingdom of God.

How to Speak in Tongues

Speaking in tongues can be seen as mysterious or intimidating, but it is actually meant to be a normal expression of the Holy Spirit's work within believers.

Sorry to break the news, but there are no step-by-step lessons on how to speak in tongues. Like other gifts of the Holy Spirit, it is a supernatural ability that can only be experienced and not taught. Teaching can only bring an awareness of the gift and encourage its proper use.

You do not have to wait for the Holy Spirit to start speaking in tongues. The original followers of Christ, including Mary, the mother of Jesus, waited in obedience to the Lord's command. However, once the Holy Spirit had been poured out and utterance had been given on the Day of Pentecost, there is no evidence in Scripture that suggests anyone needed to wait again.

You can be filled with the Holy Spirit and start speaking in tongues anywhere, even in the privacy of your own home. There's no need for complex rituals, specific postures, or special prayer meetings.

While some believers have received the gift of tongues through the laying on of hands, most have not. Receiving this gift does not require shaking or babbling syllables in a highly emotional state.

The key to speaking in an unknown language is to simply open your mouth, move your tongue, and make the sounds of speech. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you in producing the syllables and words. It's as simple as that.

Tongues Are Supernatural

Speaking in tongues is a supernatural ability that surpasses natural speech, and your first attempts may seem unusual and unfamiliar. Just like natural foreign languages, tongues can involve distinct sounds and syllables, sometimes leaving you wondering whether you are speaking a language at all.

It's essential to remember that heavenly languages are strange and unknown to us. We're so accustomed to our mother language that we forget how foreign languages can sound so odd.

Also, unknown tongues are supernatural and therefore confusing to our natural mind; that's normal. Our natural mind cannot begin to analyze the words of an unknown tongue and any attempt to analyze will end in doubt.

Furthermore, you might worry about repetitive words in your spiritual language. However, even in natural languages, certain words can sound alike but hold different meanings. Adding a slight inflection can completely alter a word or phrase's significance.

If you find your unknown tongue challenging to speak, take a step of faith and begin speaking in another tongue, as the Holy Spirit has given us many.

Tongues and Self-Control

When speaking in tongues, it is important to maintain your natural speaking tone and volume. You can add expression to your voice, but avoid going too far and sounding over emotional, shrill, or strange. Remember, you are always in control of your voice.

While attending an out-of-town church conference, I witnessed a man delivering a lengthy message in tongues. His speaking was exaggerated, often high-pitched and approaching falsetto. It was peculiar, to say the least, resulting in muffled comments and not a few smiles and giggles among the congregation.

No interpretation of the tongue was forthcoming, nor was it necessary. This was not a genuine tongue inspired by the Holy Spirit. Instead, it was an attempt made in the flesh. Someone later informed me that they had overheard the man practicing his "tongue" in a hallway prior to the meeting.

While unknown tongues sound unfamiliar, they should not come across as weird or comical, bringing reproach on the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit does not need our help to fabricate or embellish a message in tongues. He will give us the inspired message to deliver in our normal speaking voice.

Trust the Holy Spirit to provide you with the words, but also understand that He will not force you to speak. You have complete control over your voice and manner of speaking.

Tongues and Emotions

Personal experiences are varied when it comes to being filled with the Spirit and speaking in tongues, even in The New Testament. Some Christian groups expect to see an instant fluency and much emotion, but that's not always the case. Expectations that are not based on Scripture can lead to disappointment.

About half a dozen Spirit-filled believers surrounded me in the prayer room, laying hands heavily upon me and shouting loudly in tongues. Naturally, I found it intimidating and confusing. After I mumbled a few syllables, some kept repeating… "That's it!" "You're feeling the anointing!" "You're speaking in tongues!"

I strongly desired to speak in tongues, and I accepted by faith that I had spoken in tongues, but I felt absolutely nothing — nothing! And the few odd syllables I had spoken were not at all what I had expected the gift of tongues to be like.

Arriving home later that evening, I was still trying to process everything that had happened. I spent time in prayer and kept speaking syllables by faith, and within a few days the syllables developed into sentences, and I gradually experienced a fluency.

I still had uncertainties, but after meeting with a seasoned spirit-filled believer and speaking the unknown words, he assured me that I had indeed received the Holy Spirit's gift of tongues.

The believers praying for me had been disappointed that I was unemotional, and it left me feeling disappointed and confused that I had failed to rise to their expectations. However, emotions or not, I came to realize that according to the Scriptures, I had been baptised with the Holy Spirit, and I was speaking in tongues!

Speaking in unknown tongues has no more to do with our emotions than speaking in our mother tongue has. We can speak in tongues and feel absolutely nothing. That's not to say there won't be times of emotion while speaking in tongues, as there are times of emotion while speaking in our mother tongue. However, emotion is NOT the evidence!

Simply Begin to Speak

Try not to pressure yourself or allow others to pressure you when seeking how to speak in tongues. Fellow believers might have good intentions, but sometimes they can be forceful in trying to make something happen. We should never force the gifts of the Spirit on others, as this can turn people off.

To begin speaking in tongues simply open your mouth, move your tongue, and start making the sounds and syllables of speech. Use your normal tone of voice and give expression to the sounds.

Have faith that the Holy Spirit will provide you with the necessary words. The unknown language will be formed on your tongue. Avoid trying to think up sounds; instead, let the sounds naturally flow from your mouth as you speak.

Some might suggest repeating a single word or sound, but this is generally not helpful and can lead to getting stuck with a repetitive sound, mistakenly thinking it is an unknown tongue.

Initially, you might only speak a few words in tongues, but with practice, it will become easier, and you'll be able to pray fluently in the Spirit for longer periods of time.

Don't grow discouraged. It's not uncommon for some believers to require several attempts before becoming proficient in tongues, and some choose to practice alone out of earshot of others when first learning how to speak in tongues.

Above all, don't give up! You CAN speak in tongues!

End of This 6-Part Series

If you missed it, Part 1: The Gift of Speaking in Tongues.


About the Author

Don Bell of Kingdom Anointing

Don Bell is the creator of the Kingdom Anointing website, and a dedicated follower of Jesus Christ. He shares insights from his spiritual journey to encourage ordinary believers to seek God's Kingdom and lead extraordinary lives in the Holy Spirit.


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