Feeling Warm After Prayer: Why it Happens

Have you ever prayed and afterward felt warm with that feeling of comfort inside? 

Or have you been in the middle of prayer and felt like a blanket of warmth suddenly surrounded you? 

If so, you’ll be glad to know what this is — it can be both a physical and a spiritual sign. 

This phenomenon happens because there’s an often unseen process where God’s power works through us. 

Understanding this process and how we fit into it allows us to access even more powerful moments during our prayer life. 

In this blog post, I will explain precisely why we get those feelings of warmth when praying and discuss how best to take advantage of these Godly moments for personal growth or ministry outreach!

What is the feeling of warmth after prayer?

Feeling warm after prayer or during is often the Holy Spirit or angels ministering to you. Hebrews 1:7 says that God makes his ministers like flames of fire. Hot hands during prayer are often the gift of healing. Spiritual heat can mean a variety of things:

1. God wants you to keep praying and pressing in because you’re prayers are making a difference
2. You have received a personal healing
3. You’ve received a spiritual gift of healing
4. You have been delivered from a demonic spirit
5. God is marking you and taking you deeper in your journey with Christ

Heat during and after times of prayer

This feeling of warmth can happen during intense times of prayer, fasting, and worship. But, if it’s explicitly happening during or after prayer, then I would take it as a confirmation from God that your prayers genuinely are making a difference in the spiritual realm–and, in turn, the physical realm (depending on what you are interceding for).

Experiencing the Fire of God in Growth Seasons

Feelings of heat and the fire of God can also occur during pivotal growth seasons in a believer’s life. 

I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Mathew 3:11 “

In the Bible, the baptism of fire is seen as a separate event from water baptism. It is a unique experience in which believers are filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered for ministry. 

This occurred on the Day of Pentecost when Jesus’ disciples were gathered together in an upper room waiting for the promised Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4). 

Suddenly, a strong wind blew through their room, and tongues like flames of fire came and rested on each one of them. 

This was an incredibly significant moment in their lives, as it marked the beginning of their ministry and helped empower them to carry out all that Jesus had commanded. 

The baptism of fire is an experience that Christians today can still receive – it can help us feel God’s presence more deeply, equip us for more excellent service, and even bring about physical healing as we reach out to others in prayer!

Experiencing the Fire of God by Proximity to Anointing

Experiencing the fire and power of God doesn’t need to be a distant dream. It’s possible to feel it in a church service where revival has broken out or by being near individuals who have given their lives to the Gospel and been equipped with a powerful anointing. 

The presence of the Lord is tangible in these moments when we open our hearts and minds, allowing His Spirit to flow freely between us. When there’s an “open heaven,” angels can come and go freely – Jesus is holy, people come to Him more efficiently, and His power and presence are tangible in a way they usually aren’t. 

This kind of revival is usually birthed through years—even decades—of prayer and fasting, but you can still receive the fire by proximity to this anointing. So seek it out! Let your life be filled up with God’s fire!

A Variety of Different Types of Fire-Related Spiritual Experiences

The fire of God can be experienced in many ways, as documented throughout church history. The phenomena can be a light, pleasant experience or dramatic spirit, soul, and body disruption. Many believers worldwide experience the heat, warmth, and fire of the Holy Spirit. It’s been documented throughout church history in the book of Acts.

You can feel fire anywhere on your body, which can mean many different things. We are unique, and the Holy Spirit loves us and gifts us in unique ways. Often, it’s an angel sent to bring greater freedom and deliverance to a person. Other times it’s a gift of healing. So it all depends on what Holy Spirit is doing.

I’ve experienced God’s fire in numerous ways, from the center of my chest to my entire body. It usually happens during intense prayer and fasting–but not always.

The lighter warmth after prayer frequently happens in seasons when I’m not spending as much time praying and fasting. So it’s usually not as intense, but it’s a friendly reminder that God is near, His Holy Spirit is in me, and His angels are responding to my prayers.

Warmth & Heat in Prayer Documented By Early Church Fathers

This phenomenon has been frequently mentioned by the early church fathers and throughout history. It’s a reminder that the spiritual realm is real and that our prayers truly do move angels and demons, and God shapes history by partnering with his praying church. 

In the coming weeks, we will get more into the early Saints who’ve experienced the fire of God–and look at their stories.

Why Do I Feel Heat When I pray?

There is no one size fits all answer to why you may feel fire during or after prayer. God is omnipotent and supreme; the best thing to do is to ask him why you are experiencing warmth and heat. Then, trust the Holy Spirit and God’s Word to guide you. As we will explore, it’s often the Holy Spirit and angels ministering to you–it can also be God speaking to you–imparting some Spiritual gift or revelation. Maybe it’s a sign that what you are praying and doing is working–and to keep pressing in?

There is no answer I can give you that will 100% fit your situation. So take what I am saying with a grain of salt and ask the Lord.

Don’t be afraid to ask God for more; allow God to use it in your life. It’s happening for a reason.

Is it always the Holy Spirit ministering to you?

When it comes to feeling warmth and heat during and after prayer, many Christians assume it is always the Holy Spirit ministering to them. While this can certainly be the case, it’s also necessary to consider other sources.

First, it could be God’s angels ministering to you. 

Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?

Hebrews 1:14

Angels are God’s messengers and can bring guidance, protection, and healing. They can also be present during prayer and can be felt through a sense of warmth or a tingling sensation.

However, it’s also possible that this feeling of warmth or heat could be a demonic counterfeit. 

Satan and his demons can mimic the work of the Holy Spirit to deceive us. 

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 John 4:1

So, how can we know if it’s the Holy Spirit, angels, or a demonic counterfeit? 

The answer is to take everything to the Lord in prayer and cast all our questions, fears, and anxieties on Him. 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Feeling warmth and heat during and after prayer can be a sign of the Holy Spirit, angels, or maybe a demonic counterfeit (especially if you are not a believer in Jesus). 

Ask For Discernment & Stand On God’s Word

It’s essential to approach these experiences with discernment, using the written Scriptures as the standard by which we are to judge spiritual encounters. Ask God to reveal to you what’s going on–ask him to show you in the Word. 

We can ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and for the peace of God to guard our hearts and minds so that we can understand and discern whether it is from God or not. 

And remember, even if it is a counterfeit, we can take comfort in the fact that God is more significant than any enemy we may face, and He is the one that will deliver us from the evil one.

He will ultimately triumph over all evil. But, as Romans 8:37 says, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” So, let’s approach these experiences with faith and trust in God, who is always working for our good.

Why do I have hot hands during prayer?

It is likely the gift of healing. You need to find out from God and ask Holy Spirit what to do when it happens. He might have you pray for someone if you are around other people. If you are alone, it could have different meanings–it’s essential to ask God –and to step out in faith if he leads you to. 

John G. Lake frequently felt electricity and heat when he would minister under the power of God. We will talk about him in a minute.

Hot Hands & Gifts of Healing 

As Christians, we have been blessed with a remarkable ability to serve God in ways many don’t often think about – the gift of healing! We have Jesus inside of us through the Holy Spirit. Christ in us the hope of Glory. If you belong to Christ, you have Glory and power in you!

This gives us access to something unique: praying for those who need physical healing and seeing them get healed! 

What an incredible way for each of us to ensure we use all abilities bestowed upon us by the Holy Spirit–who chooses who to give the gifts to–and when.

Praying for another person can create a fantastic phenomenon known as “hot hands.” Maybe you’ve felt it before—an almost fiery warmth radiating from your palms that just won’t quit! Considered a supernatural manifestation of God’s healing power.

The Bible contains incredible stories about people with remarkable gifts of healing. We can look to examples like Jesus’ apostles in Acts, who healed the sick, raised the dead, and literally shook the earth while praying. 

Whether restoring sight to the bling or raising someone from the dead, they did miraculous things that are still within our reach today.

John G. Lake Healing In His Hands

John G. Lake was known for having quite the gift during his ministry! He could feel a great heat and electricity emanating from his hands during prayer and pinpoint where physical ailments were in peoples’ bodies. This led to many miraculous healings that would often occur instantaneously.

The following is a quote from John describing what it was like being used by the power of God to heal a woman.

“The power of God flashed through me like a burning fire until sweat burst from the woman’s face.

Then, taking her by the hands, I said, “In the name of Jesus Christ, put your arms up!”

The right arm went up.

Then I said, “In the name of Jesus Christ, put the other arm up, too.” She instantly obeyed. Her arms had become free!

As I moved her arms, making the shoulders rotate, I heard a grinding sound in the joints. I said to the two men from the audience, “You have never heard a dry joint in your life. Come put your ear to this woman’s back while I make her arms move.” As they did, I moved her arms and the shoulder joints ground because the oil had not yet returned to them.

In the woman’s delight at being healed, she threw up her hands, praised God, and started for the door. The crowd parted for her, and she disappeared. I did not see her again for some months.” 

John G. Lake

Final Thoughts 

The next time you feel warmth after prayer, consider what it might mean. 

Is the Holy Spirit ministering to you? 

Is God confirming that you are praying for His will and you are to press in? 

Could it be a sign that you have the gift of healing? 

Ask the Lord what He is trying to tell or show you through this experience. And when He gives you an answer, ask Him how He wants you to use it to serve His body. 

Have you ever felt warm after prayer? Share your experiences in the comments below.