Where is God Amidst All This Chaos?
Special: Counseled by God Free Video Event and up to 50% off!

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 do you? 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.

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

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.

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.

Naturally Supernatural – Teaches you how to live naturally supernatural as you live out of the indwelling Christ.

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 11 - 20 of 479

Pages

Hearing God

Hearing God - for Intimacy, Healing, Creativity, Meditation and Dream Interpretation

by Mark Virkler and Patti Virkler | 192 Pages

Reviewed by Sid Roth on It's SupernaturalWhat does it sound like to hear from Heaven? In this interactive journal, Dr. Mark Virkler takes you on a life-changing journey that reveals three powerful ways you can hear God’s voice and recognize how He is speaking in your life everyday.

Price: $16.95
Naturally Supernatural

Naturally Supernatural

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 161 Pages

A step-by-step guide on “abiding in Christ” or how to let go and let God live naturally and powerfully out through you. Disarmingly simple. Mind-blowingly powerful.

Price: $14.95

Unleashing Healing Power Through Spirit-Born Emotions

by Mark Virkler and Charity Kayembe | 314 Pages

Experience Healing for Your Body, Soul, and Spirit through Kingdom Emotions!

In Christianity, emotions are often considered to be misleading and untrustworthy—a lingering part of our fallen nature that distract us from God’s truth. But our emotions were created by God, and though the enemy may seek to manipulate our hearts, Jesus sets us free! This practical teaching will empower you to see emotions as unique channels through which the Holy Spirit works to bring miraculous life-transformation, deliverance and healing.

Price: $16.99

Your Extraordinary Life!

by Mark & Patti Virkler | 197 Pages | $14.99 Retail

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?

Save $4 off retail for this book, plus huge quantity discounts available!

Price: $10.95

Rivers of Grace

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 189 Pages

You can be the parent God wants you to be: loving, encouraging, trusting and able to raise up your children in the way they should go, fulfilling their own unique destinies. Parenting was not intended to be a burden, and anyone who tells you differently has bought into a lie. You will learn to enjoy parenting as an exciting, joy-filled, divinely-ordained opportunity, not an wearying responsibility.

Price: $14.99

4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice - Teen Edition

by Kay Velker and Mark Virkler | 164 Pages

Get your teens excited about hearing God's voice, two-way journaling and receiving divine vision! Keep them from going through teenage rebellion by teaching them how to hear from the Lord personally every single day of their lives. Give them a foundation that will let them accomplish more than they ever dreamed possible! 

Price: $9.95
4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice Pre-Teen Edition

4 Keys to Hearing God's Voice Pre-Teen Edition

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 39 Pages

This book will ensure that your children learn to hear the voice of God. Generally young people can hear God’s voice easier than adults can! And by teaching them the four keys early on they will clearly recognize His voice as they grow up, positioning them to readily experience His maximum grace and goodness every day of their lives.

Price: $7.95

49 Lies Book – 49 Religious Lies Jesus Told Me to Stop Believing

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 112 Pages

If you have ever believed any of the following lies, then this book is for you: "Emotions are soulish;" "Money is evil or secular;" "It is wrong to seek vision;" "Don’t trust experiences;" "God gave me a mind and expects me to use it;" "Politics are evil;" God is always beating on me;" or one of 43 more such detestable lies...

Price: $11.95
Am I Being Deceived?

Am I Being Deceived?

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 110 Pages
Do you know where the boundaries are? Do you know the distinguishing traits of true Christianity, phariseeism, and the New Age Movement? You will after you have read this book. Set your borders straight, your vision high, and your passion at full steam ahead. Come explore true Christianity, phariseeism, and the New Age Movement.
Price: $12.99
Apprenticed to Leadership

Apprenticed to Leadership

by Mark and Patti Virkler | 74 Pages

Apprenticeship: "Soaking up the spirit and anointing of another."

Apprenticeship is the most time-honored approach to learning. It has proven itself through all of history, was used by Jesus of Nazareth to disciple the Twelve, and is being restored in America today by progressive educators.

Price: $10.95

Pages