Rochdale

Soaking Prayer Centre

West Street hosts a Soaking Prayer Centre which is an outflow of the Catch The Fire ministry of Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship

Link : Soaking Prayer Blogspot

Kath Ibbotson is our Soaking Prayer Centre Leader

What is a Soaking Prayer Centre?

It's a place where people can "soak" in the presence of God. To put it simply, it means to rest in His presence. The Bible tells us to "be still and know that I am God" and it's important that we take time out to "know" God. To allow God to have His way with us. If we're honest, we don't really take time out for God. If you are a Christian, you may spend time reading your Bible and you may even spend time praying to God, but usually we are the ones that end up doing the "talking". We rarely give time for God to say things to us, even less give Him time to love us. God is love and is highest desire is to love us, but He doesn't often have the time with us to love and develop our relationship, because we do not "sit still" for long enough. Soaking means to rest in the presence of God and to allow Him to have His way with us. In this time, we can experience Him talking to us through our thoughts, through visions and in our hearts. More than that, those who are patient and "wait in the Lord" will experience Him in physical ways. As the person receiving a touch from God begins to connect with the reality of the Holy Spirit's presence, and rests expectantly in God's presence, often the Holy Spirit hovers over the person to reveal more of God's love and to renew and repair areas of a person's life. As the believer soaks in God's presence, the Lord takes control and begins to draw his attention to God's word either in the scriptures or through internal audible impressions or pictures he sees in his mind's eye. The result is always a knowing of the peace of God, the feeling of a deepened relationship with Him and a sense of having had our batteries recharged. It's being marinated in the presence of the Holy Spirit, soaking in the River of God, and you no longer "taste" like your old, raw nature any longer, but you have taken on the flavour of the Holy Spirit.

Why do I need to Soak?

There is a deep need in every one of us to be close to God. Experiencing God is something to be sought after and not avoided. While we base our theology on God's Word, our experiences with God make it all come alive.  The Bible is a book of experiences of men and women of God throughout history, whose lives were changed through divine encounter. Your life will be changed as well as you encounter Him.

How do I Soak?

Although you don't have to lie down, you may sit in a chair or lie on your bed, the main thing is to be in a safe place so you can be vulnerable. Set your affection on Jesus. You might like to soak while listening to intimate worship music with meaningful words that quiet your soul and help you draw near to God. As you reflect on the cross and all that Jesus has lovingly purchased for you, begin confessing your sins to Him and longing to be close to Him. After a few moments, you will become aware of the Holy Spirit's unseen presence. People experience Him in many ways: a weight upon your body, an electric tingling upon your hands or face, or a warm sensation of love going through your heart which connects you to Him. This is how you grow to love anyone, by a series of several encounters that bond you together. It is not only a rational process; your heart must be engaged. Experiencing God's presence is what will cause you to love the Lord with all your heart and soul.  (Matthew 22:37) Humble yourself before Him. Give all your worries and cares to the Lord talking to Him about them. Pray a prayer like this. "Lord Jesus, I invite You to come and search my heart. Come close and let me know your love." Let worship rise up inside you and give yourself to the Lord. If you become distracted, then re-focus on Jesus. Remind yourself why you are soaking and listen to the worship music.

How long should I soak?

It usually takes about fifteen minutes to quiet the business of life and enter into rest. The idea is not to  "get" something but to "be" with someone. Take time just to be with Him; to love Him and let Him love you. If you fall asleep, that's OK. If you are interrupted, you can always come back for more. You will know when your time is finished.  You will feel a satisfaction in your heart and a release to go and get on with life. Occasionally people can become quite emotional during soaking prayer. God may want to touch deep places in the heart. There are often areas of past wounding where we are very reluctant to go. That is often the very place that the Lord wants you to revisit so that He can bring freedom and healing to areas of fear and pain.  It is helpful to have friends and even experienced ministry people in the room so they can love you through this and help reassure you to go ahead in faith in order to, so as to bring closure to these areas.

Is Soaking in the Bible?

This is what the Bible has to say (NKJV): Psalm 23:1-3 - "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 131:2 - "Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child  with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me." Psalm 4:4 - "Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still." Psalm 37:7 - "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him." Matthew 11:28-30 - "Come to Me, all you who labour 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." Hebrews 4:9-11 - "There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he  who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let  us therefore be diligent to enter that rest." Isaiah 40:29-31 - "He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might  He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength. They shall mount  up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Psalm 27:14 - "Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen  your heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord!" Proverbs 1:33 - "But whoever listens to Me will dwell safely, and will be  secure, without fear of evil." Luke 10:39 - "And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus'  feet and heard His word." Hosea 2:14 - "Therefore, behold, I will allure her. I will bring her into the  wilderness and speak comfort to her"