Health Benefits of Speaking in Tongues

Mark Virkler's picture

“He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself” (1 Corinthians 14:4). Dr. Carl Peterson, M.D. conducted a study at ORU in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Being a brain specialist, he was doing research on the relationship between the brain and praying or speaking in tongues. He found that as we pray in the Spirit or worship in the Spirit (our heavenly language), the brain releases 2 chemical secretions that are directed into our immune systems giving a 35 to 40 percent boost to the immune system. This promotes healing within our bodies. Amazingly, this secretion is triggered from a part of the brain that has no other apparent activity in humans and is only activated by our Spirit-led prayer and worship!


Glossolalia influences on stress response among Apostolic Pentecostals: The data in this study suggest that glossolalia (speaking in tongues) is associated with a reduction in stress in response to normal stressors and significantly associated with positive mood and calmness. Obviously the reduction of stress is extremely helpful to one’s immune system and entire health. Stress damages the body. Peace heals it.

One study involved nearly 1,000 clergy members of a British evangelical group. The researchers found that the 80 percent who practiced glossolalia had greater emotional stability and less neuroticism. (Study by: L. Francis and M. Robbins. 2003. Personality and glossolalia: A study among male evangelical clergy. Pastoral Psychology 51:5.)


Speaking in Tongues Medical Study Proves Holy Spirit Praying: Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania took brain images of five women while they spoke in tongues and found that their frontal lobes — the thinking, willful part of the brain through which people control what they do — were relatively quiet, as were the language centers. 

When speaking in tongues, there was a decrease of activity in the frontal lobes and an increased activity in the thalamus (ie, the "third brain", where it is believed by some that we have spiritual experiences). Language areas are in the frontal lobes. The language that emerged during the state of glossolalia was highly structured, filled with clearly articulated phrases. This is a very unusual finding, for it suggests that the language was being generated in a different way, or possibly from someplace other than the normal processing centers of speech. For believers, this experience could be taken as proof that another “entity” had actually spoken through them. (These ideas were condensed from pages 200 and 201 of Born to Believe by Andrew Newberg, MD).

The regions involved in maintaining self-consciousness were active. “The amazing thing was how the images supported people’s interpretation of what was happening,” said Dr. Andrew B. Newberg, leader of the study team, which included Donna Morgan, Nancy Wintering and Mark Waldman. “The way they describe it, and what they believe, is that God is talking through them,” he said.


Click here to watch a free video interview with Dr. Newburg concerning his research on speaking in tongues.
6+ million people have viewed this as of Dec. 2020.

Click here to discover How to Receive The Baptism in the Holy Spirit & The Gift of Speaking In Tongues


I Want to Speak in Tongues Fluently - blog with some pointers

Check out the classic book They Speak with Other Tongues Kindle Edition by John Serrill. It provides fun, enjoyable, story-formatted reading. Highly recommended!

Books by Dr. Andrew Newberg, University of Pennsylvania

  1. How Enlightenment Changes Your Brain
  2. How God Changes Your Brain: Breakthrough Findings from a Leading Neuroscientist
  3. Why We Believe What We Believe: Uncovering Our Biological Need for Meaning, Spirituality, and Truth
  4. Why God Won't Go Away: Brain Science and the Biology of Belief
  5. Born to Believe: God, Science, and the Origin of Ordinary and Extraordinary Beliefs
  6. Words Can Change Your Brain: 12 Conversation Strategies to Build Trust, Resolve Conflict, and Increase Intimacy
  7. Principles of Neurotheology (Ashgate Science and Religion Series)
  8. The Metaphysical Mind: Probing the Biology of Philosophical Thought

Go Deeper - Get Healthy!

Check out this entire blog series on Vibrant Health! - Miracles PLUS Gifts of Healings. Working through this series on health is ideal for both individuals and groups. The more we take responsibility for ourselves - spirit, soul and body - the healthier we become! Won't you join me in living to at least 100 in vibrant health?


The Treasure Chest – Spirit-Led Prayer Organizer: Devotionals to Meet Your Specific Needs


 

Related Blogs: 

Gifts of Healings   
Add new comment

Comments

Anonymous's picture

Quick comment: I speak in tongues. I am also an economist and a NT/practical theology professor. My wife is a biology professor.
Language correction - science can never "prove" or "disprove" anything. Scientific findings can support conclusions, they can draw conclusions, they can be described as making something more or less probable. But "science proves" is always a false statement.

Mark Virkler's picture

I totally agree with your comment so I have changed the word proves to "affirms."
It is also noteworthy that it is estimated that 95% of all scientific studies are flawed. So our confidence does not rest on scientific studies, but on the Bible and Holy Spirit revelation. Thank you.

Add new comment

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Results

Results 161 - 170 of 484

Pages

Contributing Strands Worksheet

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 8 Pages

An extremely easy-to-use prayer counseling worksheet to use yourself or for a counselor to use as he works with a client. It guides you through the seven prayers, ensuring that you are asking the right questions, covering all the key bases, and recording what the Lord is saying and revealing through vision. Download free here.

Price: $0.50
Overcoming Blocks and Hindrances to Hearing God's Voice Tract

Overcoming Blocks and Hindrances to Hearing God's Voice Tract (10-pack)

by Mark Virkler | 1 Page Tract | Bundles of 10

A one-page review of how to overcome some of the main stumbling blocks to hearing God's voice. Normally the four keys of stillness, vision, spontaneity and journaling will allow you to daily hear God's voice (plus, of course, submitting it to your spiritual advisors). However, if this is not working, then these are the most likely causes, and the things to do to overcome them.

(This tract is sold in bundles of 10 for $1.00.)

Price: $1.00
Prayers That Heal the Heart Cards

Prayers That Heal the Heart Cards (100 pack)

Wallet size cards for hand outs

Sometimes you just want to put something into someone's hand that will point them in the right direction. You know they are hurting, and you want to help. This Prayers that Heal the Heart wallet size card is perfect to leave for people to pick up, or to hand to people.

To receive up to 25 free, do not add to your cart! Just choose a quantity of "Free Gift #2" at checkout. To purchase more than 25, add to cart here.

Price: $5.00
You Can Hear God's Voice Tract

You Can Hear God's Voice Tract (10-pack)

by Mark Virkler | 1 Page Tract | Bundles of 10

A simple review of the four keys to hearing God's voice, on one single page, front and back. Easy to hand out to another to get them interested in hearing God's voice. Nice for your own personal review.  This tract can be downloaded freely, or purchased for 10 copies for $1.00.

Price: $1.00

7 Step Healing Model Cards (100 pack)

by Mark Virkler

Request up to 25 of the 7 Steps wallet cards FREE with every order you place! (Excluding download-only orders.) Just specify how many you would like when checking out in the shopping cart. 

To receive up to 25 free, do not add to your cart! Just choose a quantity of your "Free Gift" at checkout. To purchase more than 25, add to cart here.

Price: $5.00
Hear God Through Your Dreams cards

Hear God Through Your Dreams Cards (100-pack)

Wallet size cards for handouts

Request up to 25 of the dreams cards FREE with every order you place! (Excluding download-only orders.) Just specify how many you would like when checking out in the shopping cart. Spread the good news that God is still giving wise counsel through dreams at night, and His counsel is free!

To receive up to 25 free, do not add to your cart! Just choose a quantity of your "Free Gift" at checkout. To purchase more than 25, add to cart here.

Price: $5.00

LEARN How Do YOU Know?

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 40 pages

This Life Enrichment And Review Notebook follows the audio/video series exactly, allowing you to see the key points being made and fill in answers as you go along. Writing notes always deepens the learning experience. In addition you will be encouraged to write out key Scriptures and hear what the Lord wants to say to you personally through two-way journaling exercises.

Price: $5.95
LEARN Overflow of the Spirit Workbook Cover

LEARN Overflow of the Spirit

50 Pages | by Mark Virkler and Charity Kayembe

This 50-page LEARN Workbook is designed to be filled in while listening to the audio/video teaching on Overflow of the Spirit. Mark and Charity have teamed up again to create a training series on how to easily manifest the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit. It took us several years to break through all the confusion and present a clear, simple understanding of how to release the nine-fold manifestation of the Holy Spirit everywhere you go and with everyone you touch. It is not hard! It can’t be since these are gifts of the Holy Spirit, not things you have to work for.

Price: $6.95

LEARN Rivers of Grace

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 20 Pages

This LEARN notebook is designed to go along with the CD series on Rivers of Grace and it offers you the following four benefits:

Price: $1.95
LEARN Spirit-Anointed Teaching

LEARN Spirit-Anointed Teaching

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 23 Pages

This 23-page Life Enrichment And Review Notebook is designed to go along with the CD/ DVD series and/or PowerPoint presentation. If receiving training in a group, we highly recommend that EVERY member of the group have their own copy. It offers you the following four benefits:

Price: $4.95

Pages