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…. Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret…. 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. I Corinthians 14:2, 13, 15 (KJV)

Today we’re going to discuss what I call prophetic praying. It is prayers that pray about the future. This kind of praying brings the future into today. Tongues is one way to pray prophetically. Praying in tongues and getting the interpretation is equal to prophecy, according to the Bible. In prophetic praying we pray today about the future and prophesy how it will be.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. John 16:13 (KJV)

John 17 is an example of a propehtic prayer. Jesus prayed that we be one. He was praying out the prophetic to decree and birth it into existence for the future.

 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. Romans 8:26-27 (KJV)

One form of prophetic prayer is praying in tongues and when we pray this way we can prophesy about things that have not yet happened. Praying prophetically releases God’s will to come to pass.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 (KJV)

Propetic prayers establish God’s will in the earth- as it is in heaven. Through prophetic prayer, we establish the King’s rule now so we have days of heaven on earth.

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. Mark 11:24 (KJV)

This speaks of prophetic praying. When we pray under the direction of the Holy Spirit and believe now what we will see in the future, it is prophetic. We have to take it in prayer then birth it in prayer. As we pray God’s promises, we are praying prophetically. The promises of God will be fulfilled through faith and patience (Hebrews 6:12-15). We pray in faith and wait patiently for the fulfillment of God’s Word. That’s how we obtain God’s prophetic promises.

Nothing is automatic. God does His part. He works and fulfills His prophetic promises, but our part is to pray prophetic prayers based on God’s Word. Then, we can see God bring them to pass. Some people call this type of prayer a prophetic decree. Like Joshua and the children of Israel when they crossed the Jordan, we must step in the waters, then God will part them. Stepping is our act of faith, and parting the water is God’s act of power. We work with God by praying His prophetic promises, and God brings them to pass.