Soaking - Dr. John Arnott and Dr. Mark Virkler

Mark Virkler's picture

Question: I have some problems with soaking. First of all, what is it exactly? Why would I want to do it, and how? I don’t even know how to slow down to receive from God, I just fall asleep! So for me soaking seems like a distant impossibility and doesn't even really make sense. Can you help?

John Arnott Has Brought “Soaking” as a Practice to the Church 

John defines soaking this way:

“Although 'soaking' includes waiting on the Lord, in this present move of the Spirit it means much more than that. To 'soak' in God’s presence is to rest in His love rather than to 'strive' in prayer.

As the person receiving a touch from God begins to connect with the reality of the Holy Spirit’s presence, he often responds by falling or simply lying on the floor. As he 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....”

Soaking Is Making a Conscious Decision to Enter into God’s Presence to Experience Him

It is two lovers sharing love together. He is the Divine Lover of the universe. We are His espoused bride. In soaking we enjoy His love and share love back to Him. It is divine encounter which utilizes the senses of our hearts and spirits.

Sometimes lovers simply sit together doing nothing but enjoying being in one another’s presence. Other times we are hearing His voice, seeing His vision and feeling His heart of mercy, love and forgiveness. We often receive His revelations and insights and an inner renewing as His Spirit illumines our spirits, souls and bodies, transforming us from the inside out. Soaking is also called “abiding in Christ” (Ps. 15, Jn. 15).Soaking May Include Becoming Intoxicated by God’s Love

"He brought me to the house of wine and His banner over me was love" (Song of Songs 2:4 Literal Translation of the Holy Bible). Wow! This is not way I memorized this verse. I learned it as “he brought me to his banqueting table," not house of wine! Which is correct?

Well, the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance number for this Hebrew word is “H3196.” It appears in Scripture 139 times, and is translated “wine” 135 times, “vine” once, “winebibbers” once and “banqueting” once. The meaning of this word is fermented wine which results in intoxication. That reminds me of Acts 2:13-21, where the disciples, filled with the Holy Spirit, appeared to be intoxicated.

Some people will act intoxicated while they soak, and that is fine and biblical. They are drunk on the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. This has got to be the best way in the world to get drunk! Others may not get drunk, as everyone’s personality and constitution is different. That is fine. We accept and celebrate our differences. We enjoy the way God has made us, without demanding others match our experiences.

Soaking Involves…

Quieting Yourself Before His Presence: This can be facilitated by getting into a comfortable position, relaxing, slowing down your breathing, putting a smile on your face, lifting your eyes up to Him as you worship Him in spirit. Often soft soaking music can assist in this quieting process as can a journal at your side where you record your dialogue with God (i.e. as in Psalms and book of Revelation). What we’ve found to be best is when soaking music is played quietly, barely audible, with no crescendos. Simple instrumental music without words and without melodies you know the words to, so you don’t end up singing along in your head, is ideal. You will find that you, too, can enter God’s throne room as you worship!

Seeing God with the Eyes of Your Heart: You fix the eyes of your heart upon Him as David did. Using godly imagination, you picture the Lord present with you (Acts 2:25; Ps. 16:8). You pray that the eyes of your heart be enlightened (Eph. 1:17,18) and tune to flow. Flowing images bubble forth as you step from a godly imagination into a vision of yourself and Him together.

Hearing God with the Ears of Your Heart: You ask Him to speak, and then tune to His voice which is received as flowing thoughts, keeping your eyes fixed on Him (Heb. 12:1,2). It is good to record His words in your two-way journaling. Write (or type) in faith, knowing you can test them later. Let Him speak to you about the things on His heart. Biblical meditation can be experienced as you soak. You may want to review this short blog on the four keys to hearing God’s voice.

Feeling God’s Love with the Emotions of Your Heart: You experience and pick up his heart of compassion by experiencing His deep love for you, which heals and restores love, joy, peace and laughter to your heart at its deepest levels. This may be felt as spontaneous emotions bubbling up from deep within. They are God’s emotions. You radiate this loving touch with those whom you encounter.

Experiencing Divine Energy: Your spirit feels the anointing/power of the Holy Spirit. God’s miracle working power (Greek word is Energeo) may be experienced in any or all of the following ways: heat, tingling, shaking, emotional and/or physical release.

Interestingly, when I surveyed 100 people who had soaked at Catch the Fire in Toronto, I found the greatest proportion felt Him. The next greatest proportion, heard Him. And the lowest proportion of people surveyed saw Him. I suspect this is because most people have not been trained that they can purposely present all faculties and senses of their hearts to the Lord to be moved upon by Him. Click here to see detailed survey results.

What God Says About Experiencing His Presence

What you need is to come and drink from My love, the well of life that is always available. Quench yourself as often as you can in it. Just like food and water you will have to keep coming back to it again and again. I love you. Remember the spirit man doesn’t need healing. He has all the solutions. My spirit is flowing always. Love, joy and peace are always flowing.

If you don’t give a person the chance to love you, they can never love you. I am a person, the person of the Holy Spirit. If you treat Me like I don’t exist you can never experience Me. Do things with Me for I have always desired to be in you and love you. That is why I am in you. You can only experience Me when you fellowship with Me and My Word.

I am not far away. I am in you and with you. Let’s play and have fun together, dance with Me, talk to Me, love Me and you will see I will love you back. When one is loved they will always love back. I am love so when you fellowship you are fellowshipping with Agape love.

How much I can love you is dependent not on Me but you. Worship Me and in that presence I will manifest myself to you, it is true. I am a rewarder of those who diligently seek me.

Received in two-way journaling by Leslie Alista Kgorane - Botswana, Africa
 

What Do I Take Away from My Soaking Encounter?

I have just been in God’s presence, so I expect to be saturated through and through by His Spirit. I expect to be changed because I have just exchanged my weakness, cares and challenges, for His strength, faith and grace. And indeed, I am transformed!

I have experienced His peace and power and faith permeate me. I have received divine wisdom and revelation concerning the challenges I am facing. I now step forward with His creative ideas, His empowering and His grace leading and guiding me. I have been transformed by being in His Spirit.

Comments from the Catch the Fire Leadership Team

Steve and Sandra LongDan Slade

 

Steve and Sandra Long - Soaking is active rest!  It isn't always easy as it takes effort!

 

Dan Slade - You never know what you're going to get when you're soaking!

 

Additional Resources

  1. What did 100 people experience through soaking at Catch the Fire church in Toronto?
  2. Where Can I Get Some Great Soaking Music?
  3. Healing Soaking Prayer What Is It?
  4. Healing Soaking Prayer Worksheet
  5. 4 Keys to Hearing God’s Voice – Trains you how to quiet down, see yourself present with Jesus and easily recognize His voice, vision and healing touch as flowing thoughts, flowing pictures and flowing energy.
  6. The Great Mystery – Christ Within – Guides you through the New Testament revelation that Christ lives within you, is joined to you and releases to you all you are and all you need.
  7. Naturally Supernatural – Teaches you how to live naturally supernatural as you live out of the indwelling Christ.
  8. The Treasure Chest – Spirit-Led Prayer Organizer: Devotionals to Meet Your Specific Needs

(Sunset photo by Charla, charmboxstudios.com)


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?


 

Related Blogs: 

Gifts of Healings   
Add new comment

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 431 - 440 of 487

Pages

Unique Gifts Make Winning Teams Digital Videos

The content of these videos is the same as the Unique Gifts Make Winning Teams DVD Set but in digital format. Receive your product immediately with no shipping costs!

Price: $39.95

Your Extraordinary Life Digital Video Downloads

Mark Virkler | 16 Digital Video Sessions

Can you imagine starting new believers off with the Holy Spirit! What if the first thing you were taught as a newborn Christian was how to connect easily and daily with the Holy Spirit Who was living inside you, anointing you, empowering you and transforming you?

Price: $39.95
4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice MP3 Download

4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice MP3s

by Mark Virkler | 10 Sessions

As seen on the Sid Roth "It's Supernatural" program, this audio download of the 10-hour course will draw you into a classroom experience with others who are learning to hear from God right alongside you. It follows along with the LEARN 4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice notebook.

Price: $59.95

4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice MP3s - Abridged Edition

by Mark Virkler | 10 Sessions of MP3

A complete description is available by clicking here, where you will find information on the 60-minute version of this product. The main difference is that these 10 sessions are shorter, averaging 40 minutes each. You asked for it and it's finally available! The same core teaching now abridged, making the sessions easier to fit into your Sunday School class, home group meeting or lunch hour Bible study.

Price: $39.95

Counseled by God MP3 Download

by Mark Virkler | 13 Sessions

Just Released – 35th Anniversary Edition

The foremost training in the world helping you become emotionally whole by hearing the voice of the Wonderful Counselor! ?You will receive an impartation as you listen to the 13 sessions of Mark Virkler sharing life-transforming principles on how to restore your heart by receiving daily counsel directly from God.

Price: $59.95
Language of the Heart

Language of the Heart - 10 Musical Renditions

Wayne Tester

Do you desire more freedom from anxiety, depression or past hurts? Do you need more inner healing, but you don’t know how to get it? 

Price: $9.95
Prayers That Heal the Heart MP3 Download

Prayers That Heal the Heart Audio MP3 - Revised & Expanded 20th Anniversary Edition

by Mark Virkler | 15 Sessions

Prayer counseling that breaks every yoke! Everything you need to experience deep healing of your soul and spirit. Did you know that you don’t need to be continually plagued by negative thoughts, feelings, pictures or memories?

It is not part of the "human condition" to feel the constant nagging of doubt, insecurity, or anger. No matter what sin you are trying to overcome, what lie you think you’ll always believe, or what traumas your heart has suffered in the past, you will receive total freedom and restoration by praying these prayers in faith.

Price: $59.95

Everyday Angels MP3s

By Charity Virkler Kayembe

You can partner with Heaven’s angelic hosts!

Do you have guardian angels? Does God want you to know them? Find out what Scripture reveals and how YOU can interact with the company of Heaven!

The supernatural realm permeates our natural world! Therefore, experiencing angels should be an everyday occurrence–we simply need to open our spiritual eyes to their reality and role in our lives.

Price: $49.00
Hear God Through Your Dreams MP3s

Hear God Through Your Dreams MP3s

by Mark Virkler | 5 Sessions

A newer version has just released: Click here for Hearing God Through Your Dreams MP3s by Charity Kayembe and Mark Virkler (featured on Sid Roth in November, 2016).

Price: $24.95
Hearing God Through Your Dreams MP3s by Mark Virkler and Charity Kayembe

Hearing God Through Your Dreams MP3 Downloads

Receive divine counsel nightly. Increase emotional health, wisdom and creativity

Learn How to Hear God’s Voice, Even When You Are Sleeping

Recorded live at Catch the Fire in Toronto!

Price: $39.95

Pages