Article: The Joy of Soaking Prayer

“Jesus says, ‘Ask and you will receive’. We’re very good at the asking part but how about the ‘receiving’? If we are the ones who are dong all the talking, it’s a pretty one-way conversation. Soaking is the listening part of our conversation with Him. It’s laying aside time to lie down and receive from Him.” CTF Ministries

The holidays are over and if you were absolutely honest, many of you would say, “I’m really tired.” All the festivities, shopping for presents, visiting family, Christmas and New Year’s parties and celebrating the birth of Jesus through Christmas church programs, New Year’s Eves services and a host of other things can take a huge amount of energy. Now it’s January and time to get back to a normal routine. But why not add something to your schedule that will simply re-energize your life and lead you into a deeper and higher dimension with God? If you integrate this into your lifestyle for 2007, it will be one of the greatest Christmas presents you can possibly give to Jesus for the New Year. It’s simple and it doesn’t cost anything, except your time. And your time will actually increase as you learn to listen to God in this special way because you will eliminate the unnecessary things from your schedule. This special gift you can offer Jesus is adding the dimension of soaking prayer into your daily life. A wonderful transformation occurs as you do this.

“When we discipline ourselves to behold Jesus in every circumstance, a transformation occurs. We learn how to sit, wait and watch for Him every day. The Holy Spirit teaches us about face-to-face, personal adoration; it comes from a worship that flows from a place of rest. When we sit at Jesus’ feet and just be, as Mary did, we behold Him. Worship cannot come out of striving, but out of stillness. Spending time with God gives us a touch from Him – this touch is such a pleasure that it will cause a spirit of adoration to well up in us, and overflow.” Graham Cooke

There is joy in the life of those who practice soaking prayer. It’s time to lay your burdens at the feet of Jesus. It’s time to find rest for your soul in 2007. It’s time to be still and know that He is God. It may take a little effort to quiet your racing thoughts, but it’s well worth the effort. Let Him lead you beside still waters. Take time to meditate on the following Scriptures:

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

“Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul” (Psalm 23:1-3).

How to Soak in God’s Presence

”When it comes to real devotion, come with nothing to do except to sit and learn how to wait, rest and be. Be still. Fill your mind with Jesus. Faith and stillness are sustenance for your spirit, so learn to focus on Jesus. When your mind wanders off, bring it back. Retrain it; it’s had years of having its own way. Renewing your spirit and your mind is exciting and has incredible fruit. Worship becomes natural for you, and the peace of God wells up in your heart. God’s perspective can be seen more quickly.” Graham Cooke”

· Find a quiet place – A peaceful environment helps you to become peaceful on the inside.

· Listen to worship music – You may want to use quiet instrumental or quiet worship music. There is so much good soaking music available (www.soaking.net is an excellent resource).

· Quiet down your busy thoughts – Initially your thoughts can be racing all over, but know that the Lord is with you. Turn your attention to Him. Wait for your thoughts to settle.

· Invite the Holy Spirit to come and soak you in His presence – Surrender your mind, body and soul in prayer to the Holy Spirit. Humble yourself before Him.

· Focus on the Lord’s presence – Open your heart to God. You are learning to abide in Him. You are learning to focus on Him and His presence.

· Rest in faith and believe that God is working within you – It isn’t about what you can accomplish through your efforts; it’s about what God is doing in you.

· Give time to soaking in God’s presence – The more time you can spend in His presence, the better. Start with 20 minutes in His presence. You will find as you do this, in a very short time you will want to spend more time in His presence.

· Watch as God changes you – You will leave refreshed and full of the Holy Spirit. Your life will be different because God is changing you through soaking in His presence. You will have an impact on the world around you as you carry God’s presence with you wherever you go.

“Intimacy with God is the key to fruitfulness in every area of our lives. As we become more aware of His presence in us… so do other people. As we become more affected by His presence in us… so do those around us. By taking time in the secret place with God, we start to walk by the spirit in everyday life. We find that rather than striving to achieve things for God, He is building His kingdom through us.” CTF Ministries

Begin today by soaking for at least 20 minutes in God’s presence. Go on the internet to www.soaking.net. This website offers free downloads of soaking music. I guarantee that you will be blessed by playing this soaking music. We used it during our month-long 24-7 House of Prayer in Spain. It was a favorite in the prayer room.  If you don’t have a computer, put on any quiet worship music. Practice the above points and watch what God does.

Soaking prayer will have a transforming effect in your life, and if you practice it regularly during 2007, it will have a transforming effect in your year.

“Soaking is a dedication: ‘God, this is time just for you.’ Soaking is an invitation: ‘God, do what you want to in me.’ Soaking is an expectation: ‘Thank you, Father, for what you are accomplishing as I rest in you.’ We come to Him like little children believing that He has good things for us. ‘If you then know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him.” CTF Ministries