Praying In The Spirit

1 Corinthians 14:14-15 (KJV) - For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.  What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.

     In this chapter Paul is writing to a church that was enthusiastically Spirit filled.  These Christians were not ashamed of the Holy Spirit or speaking in tongues.  Their church services were marked with lots of people using the gift of tongues and Paul was writing to give them some instruction and bring order to their services.  With this in mind it is important to remember verse 18 where Paul, the Apostle that wrote thirteen books of the New Testament, states “I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all.”  Paul then explains that in church he would rather speak five words with understanding then ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.  Paul practiced speaking in tongues.  He prayed that way and wasn’t afraid to say that he did it more than the fanatical tongue talkers in Corinth.  It is safe to say that Paul prayed “in the Spirit” during his private prayer life and he prayed that way a lot. 
     This brings us back to verse 14 where it is explained that when we speak in an unknown tongue our spirit prays but our understanding is unfruitful.  In order to allow our spirit to pray in tongues we must yield control of our minds to the Holy Spirit.  This means that the mind is not receiving understanding from the activity that is taking place.  The Holy Spirit is in control and from out of our inner most being (our spirit) is flowing a language that speaks directly to God, not to us.  I believe this is an important step in living a life “Led By The Spirit”.  Paul was clear that he practiced speaking in tongues in his prayer life.  Perhaps that is why he was so used by the Holy Spirit in speaking, writing, and preaching God’s Word.  Paul learned to be yielded to the Spirit to become a spirit being first and keep the flesh under subjection.  But we are Spirit, soul and body so bringing the flesh or body under subjection to the Spirit is just half the battle.  We must bring the soulish nature under the authority of the Spirit.  Our soul is defined as the mind, will and emotions.  This brings us back to praying in the Spirit.  Many struggle with this spiritual gift but in it we must clear our mind, yield our will, and submit our emotions to the Holy Spirit and that is exactly what we must learn to do in order to walk in the Spirit.