Joy in Your Presence!

You will make known to me the path of life; in Your Presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

[Psalm 16:11 NAS]

For the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

[Romans 14:17 NAS]

A friend's feedback challenged me to clarify that last week's posting ("Joybusters" 3/19/11) is not a list of prerequisites we have to work to remove in order to experience God's joy. The Prodigal Son [Luke 15:11-32] returned to his father's house and was met with outrageously undeserved celebration; his elder brother, who'd been working hard and not disobedient, was the most joyless person in the story. My friend pointed out (and I readily agreed) that it is our experience of Father's Love that brings us joy, regardless of our condition, and it is that relationship (not self-effort) which ultimately leads to "cleaning up our lives" as we experience greater closeness with God, and... still more of His joy.
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I mention this because - although my list of "Joybusters" was intended to suggest some areas we might need to allow God's Spirit to address if we find our connection to His joy somehow "clogged" or hindered - I was reminded this past weekend that worship may be our most direct way to connect with Father's heart, and worship seems to flow most powerfully when relationship with God is our #1 priority. I related this to what my friend had said a few days earlier about lives changing mostly in response to Father's Love: intimacy with the Father, and the manifest Presence of His Spirit, can blow any number of hindrances out of our way like spiritual "dynamite" (Greek dunamis = "power," as in Acts 1:8 "you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you").

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I spent a large part of last weekend (March 18-20, 2011) participating in a wonderful worship event called "Fire on the Altar" - 50 hours of worship & intercession, led by a group of young "musicianaries" including Sean Feucht, Rick Pino, Kristine Mueller-Dimarco, Jason Lee Jones & the Richest of Fare band, and (this guy is almost 60, but Rick Joyner calls him "the oldest living teenager" so the word "young" still fits:) Leonard Jones - hosted by Immanuel's Church in Silver Spring, MD. I've listed websites below with more information on these ministries & events, which bring hundreds and even thousands of people across denominations to worship together for an extravagant length of time. (I was able to attend about 14 total hours over 3 days in person, then enjoyed the last 3 hours at home via live streaming on internet.) The primary objective of this weekend was hosting the Presence of God. No agenda other than spending time in God's Presence, worshipping and enjoying Him.

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Friday, Saturday & Sunday nights were filled with excitement, dancing & shouts of joy, although a different kind of joy - more quiet adoration & surrender - refreshed those who came to worship in the afternoons, when a couple of female voices with guitar or keyboard accompaniment replaced a stage-full of guys with electric guitars and drums. (Sorry, Jessie & Stephanie, I missed your 3 to 5 a.m. Saturday set, but I'll bet it was captivating & sweet!) Musical styles may differ, but God's Presence and His Love are healing balm & strength for everyone who loves and rejoices in Him.

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So I don't have a long list this week, except the links below (some of these guys write great blogs, and their music is spiritually rich & wonderful) and a strong encouragement that, if these folks or anyone like them holds a worship event in your area, or you have access to participate via internet - or if your church has a similar event or "soaking time" or anything that encourages entering in to the presence of God through corporate worship (& yes, we can and should worship & enjoy God alone at home or anywhere we are) - I'm just saying, don't miss these opportunities. God can change our lives in just a few moments or hours in His Presence, in ways we could never accomplish on our own.

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"This is the place where heaven kisses earth

and we are changed..."

-- lyrics by Jason Lee Jones

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More than anything else, Jesus is worthy of all our devotion - even extravagant expressions of love, honor & praise. In our busy North American culture, where time is one of our most precious commodities - giving God our time may be one of the most "costly," precious acts of worship we can bring. Like the woman who broke the alabaster box of perfume worth a year's wages and poured it over Jesus' head, wiping His feet with her tears & her hair, until the fragrance filled the house (this story is recorded in all four gospels: Matthew 26:6-13, Mark 14:3-9, Luke 7:36-50, John 12:3-8) - Kristene Mueller-DiMarco's lyrics speak to me of "wasting ourselves" on Jesus in this way. And check out the links, blogs, CD's & Sean's book below - these guys do a great job of inspiring us to worship Him.

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"All My Devotion"

Song by Kristene Mueller-DiMarco

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Beautiful Man, Beautiful God

You're more than worth my time

You're more than worth these longings of my heart

left unfulfilled... for a time

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And I know You don't come as easy as some

But I will watch & pray, I will watch & pray

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Take it all, take it all

Just give me Jesus, just give me Jesus

Take it all, take it all

Just give me Jesus, just give me Jesus

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I don't want any other lovers

I don't want any other lovers

I don't want any other lovers

I don't want any other lovers

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All my devotion belongs to this Man

All my devotion belongs to this Man

All my devotion belongs to this Man

All my devotion belongs to this Man

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And I know You don't come as easy as some

But I will watch & pray, I will watch & pray...

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http://www.fireonthealtar.org/

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http://www.theburn247.com/

http://www.seanfeucht.com/
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Excellent book: Fire & Fragrance by Sean Feucht & Andy Byrd, available at http://www.amazon.com/
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http://www.rickpino.com/

www.jesusculture.com/music/kristene-dimarco

www.richestoffare.com

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photo by Joy Harrison McCullough

"Firestorm 2011" - Harrisburg, PA

"Joybusters"

A river brings joy to the city of our God, the sacred home of the Most High.

[Psalm 46:4 NLT]

The children of men…drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; and You give them to drink of the river of Your delights.

[Psalm 36:8 NAS]

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

[Isaiah 12:3 NIV]

I like how Pastor Bill Johnson often says at the beginning of a church service: “I have news for you - God is in a good mood!” That statement usually lightens the atmosphere and draws laughter, as people in the audience reconsider their possibly over-serious approach to spirituality. Spiritual things are important, but not joyless. God is joyful! In Your presence is fullness of joy. [Psalm 16:11 NAS] Various forms of the word “joy” (“joyful,” “joyous,” etc.) - and related words like “gladness,” “rejoicing,” etc. – appear hundreds of times in the Bible. Psalm 36:8 (quoted above) says that God allows us to drink from His “river of delights.” Zephaniah 3:17 tells us that God rejoices over His people “with singing” [NIV].

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The LORD your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.

[Zephaniah 3:17 NAS]
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So… how do we tap into God’s joy?

I got to thinking about the concept of water as a symbol of the Holy Spirit and “drawing water” as a metaphor for our ability to experience God’s joyful Spirit. God’s “river” moves powerfully from heaven to earth; and the word translated “wells” in Isaiah 12:3 [NIV, KJV] is alternately rendered “springs” [NAS] or “fountains” [NLT]. So we’re talking about more than a shallow, temporary puddle of fun – God’s Spirit is a deep, life-giving Source of continual refreshing!

If the Holy Spirit indwells and communicates with believers [John 14:16-17, 16:13-15, Galatians 4:6, etc.], shouldn’t we be living in touch with God’s joy – unless some kind of blockage hinders or obstructs the flow?

Below is a list of possible “Joybusters” (blockages) that come readily to mind - along with some scripture verses that encourage us to break through these dry, hard places - so we can tap into deeper levels of spiritual reality, where God’s “river of joy” is already flowing:

Sin, disobedience to God – your sins have separated you from your God. [Isaiah 59:2 NIRV] “Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near.” [Matthew 3:2 & 4:17 NLT] If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. [I John 1:9 NAS]

Ignorance of God’s Word - My people are ruined because they don't know what's right or true. [Hosea 4:6a MSG] Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. [2 Timothy 2:15 NAS]

Fear – God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. [2 Tim 1:7 NKJ] There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. [I John 4:18a MSG]

Worry, anxiety – “Don't worry…Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs…live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” [Matthew 6:31-33 NLT] Be anxious for nothing, 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 minds through Christ Jesus. [Philippians 4:6-7 NKJ]
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Depression, despair, discouragement - Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. [Psalm 42:11 NIV]

Resentment, anger, bitterness – "Don't sin by letting anger gain control over you." Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry. [Ephesians 4:26 NLT] Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. [Ephesians 4:31 NIV] See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. [Hebrews 12:15 NIV] God's righteousness doesn't grow from human anger. [James 1:20 MSG]

Unforgiveness – “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” [Matthew 6:14-15 NIV]

Pride – God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. [Proverbs 3:34, James 4:6, I Peter 5:5 NIV - this statement is repeated verbatim 3 times in the Bible, so I think it must be important!]

Man-made religion or traditions – “Thus, with your tradition which you had handed down to you, you nullify the Word of God! And you do other things like this." [Mark 7:13 CJB] See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. [Colossians 2:8 NIV]

I’m sure we could list many more – the whole gamut of human weaknesses, unscriptural mindsets, spiritual darkness… anything that contradicts or opposes the Word and Spirit of God. In their book Biblical Healing & Deliverance,* Chester & Betsy Kylstra identify 4 general areas of resistance to the Holy Spirit flowing freely in and through us. Without going into great detail, I’ve listed these with a few scripture references (plus links to websites with more information below this posting):

Sins of the Past – although God offers full forgiveness & freedom based on Christ’s finished work at the Cross [Gal 3:13, Col 2:14], we may be unconsciously allowing our past to affect our present. This can include behaviors and thought patterns inherited from previous generations, or residual guilt & shame for our own past actions. [Repent / confess / forgive - Lev 26:40, I John 1:9, Mt 6:14]

Ungodly Beliefs – any belief, thought pattern or mindset which is contrary to scripture. Untrue beliefs may be formed through experience, false teaching, deception, family or peer pressure, etc. “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” [Eph 4:23 – see also Prov 23:7, Rom 12:2, Col 3:2]

Soul & Spirit Hurts – God is able to heal any kind of spiritual, mental or emotional woundedness, including experiences we’ve forgotten, suppressed, or were too young to process at the time. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. [Psalm 147:3 – also Isaiah 61:1-3, Luke 4:18)

Demonic Influence – as we repent of areas where we have previously allowed or agreed with spiritual darkness, believers are empowered to walk in Jesus Christ’s authority and freedom from oppression. “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” [Luke 10:19 NIV – also Mark 16:17]

We may find layers of issues that require more help than a quick prayer, good intentions or a few scripture verses; but nothing is too hard for God [Jeremiah 32:17] as we persevere in seeking Him for effective breakthrough. One piece of “heavy equipment” I don’t want to neglect is the power of confession (honesty, transparency) and prayer of agreement (mutual faith) with other believers:
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"I also tell you this: If two of you agree down here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together because they are mine, I am there among them."

[Matthew 18:19-20 NLT, words of Jesus]

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.

[James 5:16 NLT]

Ask God to show you the “joybusters” in your life, as well as His powerful tools (joybuster-busters :)) to help you break through to deeper levels of spiritual joy!

The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
[2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NIV]

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* Biblical Healing & Deliverance by Chester & Betsy Kylstra, is available on www.amazon.com or RTF Resources website http://stores.homestead.com/ProclaimingHisWord/Categories.bok

For more information about the Kylstra’s “Restoring the Foundations” approach to ministry, http://www.restoringyourlife.org/

Bonus: inspiring stories from Iris Ministries’ well-drilling program in Mozambique (photos below): http://www.irismin.org/news/newsletters/view/well-drilling-and-a-new-childrens-center#17
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“The joy never ends!” – Pastor Surpresa Sithole, Iris Ministries
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The Power of Joy

I have to admit: I’m not an expert on the subject of “joy.” I’ve lived through a lot of difficult experiences, so I write more easily on faithfulness, finding God’s comfort in suffering, etc. As a child, I could be solitary and bookish, strong-willed – or angry, sullen, withdrawn at times. I was good at school, and I could write and organize well. But… joy?

The first thing that came to mind when I sensed that God wanted me to study, write & teach on joy this coming year was, “Oh good!” I knew that whatever He gives me to teach, He first teaches me through life. Joy sounded like something I could use more of. I figured this would be a fun year!

As I began to study, the first distinction God led me to was the difference between “happiness” and “joy.” Happiness – even in its etymology – is related to what happens, i.e., circumstances. Joy is different. Joy is a spiritual force – a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) – it’s stronger, and deeper.

With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
[Isaiah 12:3 NIV]

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…the joy of the Lord is your strength.
[Nehemiah 8:10b] .

Jesus Himself found strength to endure the Cross in the joy that lay beyond temporary suffering – a joy that flowed from the heavenly reality of His resurrection, which would reunite Him with His Father and bring countless sons and daughters into eternal life and restored relationship with God.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

[Hebrews 12:2 NIV]

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Jesus taught and prayed for His disciples to be filled with His joy (John 15:11, 16:20-24, 17:13), a spiritual force that is greater than any worldly reasoning, trial or opposition we may face in this life.

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.
[I Peter 1:8 NIV]

I learned a lot about joy on a mission trip to eastern Europe called “Party with the Gypsies 2009,” organized by Global Celebration.* Our team leaders, Georgian & Winnie Banov (known as “apostles of joy”) taught us about Christ’s finished work on the Cross, while we traveled by bus to some of the poorest slums I’ve ever seen in Romania, Bulgaria & Turkey. Gypsies are a persecuted minority, but their hearts were as open as little children to the reality of the gospel. We saw miracles of healing in every village we “invaded” with prayers, love, worship & dancing. We brought them food and clothing, but what I remember most was the power of joy to lift and strengthen… all of us!

A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
[Proverbs 17:22 NAS]

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Oddly enough, one of the first things I faced as I prepared to study joy in 2011 was a “not so great” medical report, beginning with a “shadow” on my annual mammogram 12/30/10. Two sonograms, a biopsy and an MRI later, I was making plans for a lumpectomy followed by 6 weeks of radiation – not the worst that can happen in life, but certainly not my favorite thing so far. It didn't take long to realize that, yes, God teaches you about joy in the face of obstacles and challenges.

A friend of mine - a breast cancer survivor who also knows God - suggested I take time to seek Him for a specific word, a verse or passage of scripture that I could hold onto while walking through the treatment process – which, I figured out after waiting 2 weeks for biopsy results, is not something that's over “immediately,” so I really needed to close the door on worry, fear, self-pity, etc.

I felt God led me to Isaiah 38, the story of Hezekiah’s illness and recovery when he turned to God in prayer; then I felt the Lord gave me this verse, as a personal word of encouragement and comfort:

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
[Romans 12:12 NIV]

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Yes, learning about joy means facing whatever threatens to rob your happiness by reaching deep into “the wells of salvation” for God’s strength, letting His Spirit fill your spirit with His joy & truth. It’s the abundant joy that Jesus shared with His disciples, a joy that is fulfilled through prayer in His Name, and it’s a joy that no one can take away from you (John 16:20-24).

I’m looking forward to this year. I’m reading an 8-week devotional called Possessing Joy by Steve Backlund,** which is giving me lots of good ideas (I’ll be sharing some of these in future postings). Even before I got the biopsy results, I went ahead and signed up for another mission trip to eastern Europe with Georgian & Winnie this coming June*** – I’ve been waiting two years for this trip (which will include Greece, and a half-day in Paris on the way home), and I’m not going to let anything steal my joy. My doctor is on board with helping me to get well and go. I’m feeling a new freedom to be “joyful in hope” because of the good things God is always doing and about to do.

To be continued…

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* For more info about Global Celebration, see http://www.riverlution.net/
*** To find out more about this trip: http://www.globalcelebration.com/news/110/61/In-the-Footsteps-of-Paul-Internship-and-Missionary-Trip/

Please email me at holy1fire@aol.com if you would like to contribute toward my missions expenses for this trip in June – donations received by April 20 & May 18 will help me with payment deadlines.
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** Possessing Joy by Steve Backlund is available at http://store.ibethel.org/
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Bonus Track :) “You Are Good” from Jesus Culture’s CD Be Lifted High

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=got6Olg0J-E

Soaking Notes

This weekend I’m giving a short introduction to a one-hour “Soaking Session” at a women’s retreat sponsored by my local church, King of the Nations Christian Fellowship (http://www.kncf.org/ – see also “Ways of the Kingdom” on Facebook). What follows are my notes for this session - not a thorough explanation of the subject, but hopefully enough to give a basic idea of what we're doing - I'm also posting this as a reference for attendees.

1. What is “Soaking?”

What some call “soaking” or “soaking prayer” refers to being immersed in God’s Spirit, with a greater emphasis on resting in the Lord and receiving. It’s different from other forms of prayer or interacting with God (which are also valid) such as petition or intercession, where we tend to do more talking than listening (although even those can be more effective if we listen to God first).

The term “soaking” began to be used in Toronto when ministers noticed that people were “being touched by God” as they lay on the carpet, resting in His Presence. Sometimes people fall to the floor after prayer (and some of us don’t fall to the floor, which doesn’t mean God isn’t touching us) – it seemed that God continued to do more with people if they didn’t always get up right away. An associate minister (now their senior pastor, a former Baptist, who also didn’t “fall down” often) realized he could choose to lie down in his own living room, play a worship CD and experience God. My pastor likes to quote Ecclesiastes 8:3a, "Do not be in a hurry to leave the king's presence."

2. Personal History & Examples

I’ve attended several “Soaking Schools” sponsored by CTF Ministries since 2005, which go into a lot of scriptural detail* about the Father’s heart, Spirit-led ministry, etc., but it’s really pretty simple: when you make a time & place to meet with God, He always shows up. He wants to be with us and speak to us, more than we realize. The first time I led “soaking” was at an assisted living senior center – my former pastor’s mother lived there, and I felt God wanted me to visit her and invite some of the other residents to join us. I was amazed, all I did was put on a worship CD & welcome Holy Spirit. God’s Presence touched everyone in the room. A lady was healed of acid reflux. We do this in children’s church as well – for 15 or 20 minutes, we ask the children to rest quietly and listen for God.

I’ve led “soaking sessions” on the mission field also – although it can be a little different :) : in Nicaragua, this past January, as I was about to give instructions for soaking to a room full of former prostitutes – mostly young girls, ages 10 to 18 - a sheep walked in front of the pulpit, leaving a trail of droppings all across the room. The girls giggled and chased him out; but it didn’t stop the Holy Spirit from coming and touching those girls in the hour that followed. Oscar, the on-site director of that ministry, calls me “the one who makes us sleep” - I let them bring pillows, and he falls asleep within a few minutes. :) I told him that’s OK – it’s good to engage with God as much as you can, but God can also speak through dreams, or just touch your spirit while resting in His Presence.

I've introduced a Soaking Session at KNCF women's retreats in 2008 and 2009 (last year I was away on a cruise/conference and unable to attend). In 2008, I spoke for about 30 minutes, then we asked everyone to soak for at least 20 to 30 minutes, after which the schedule called for "free time;" anyone who wanted to leave quietly at that point could enjoy hotel amenities or, if they wanted to, continue soaking in God's Presence for another hour. I think more than half the attendees were still in the room for the entire CD (Laura Woodley's "In Love"**), at least 30 minutes into their free time. In 2009, I was struck by the high percentage of testimonies on Sunday, when attendees were asked to share something God said or did that impacted them during the weekend, that mentioned the soaking time. Why? I think it's because we made room for God to encounter each of us directly, and He did.

3. Repose that Repositions & Esther’s beauty treatments
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Before a girl's turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics.

[Esther 2:12 NIV]

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I’m not an expert on perfumes & oils (literally or symbolically), but I felt the Lord wanted me to share these few comments before our soaking session at this retreat, which the planning committee prayerfully named “Come Away, My Beloved!” Sometimes we think of soaking prayer (or a retreat) in terms of our own comfort or enjoyment – sort of a spiritual “spa day” for ourselves, a refreshing break from our normal routine that allows us to return to the same with renewed energy. But this verse about Esther reminds us that the real purpose of “spiritual beautification” is that we are being prepared to meet our heavenly Bridegroom-King! It’s not just so we can tackle earthly activities with new vigor; hopefully, this is a “repose that repositions,” a time to realign ourselves with God’s priorities. Everything in this life is headed toward a day when we, and those around us, will meet Jesus face to face. Are we fulfilling His call on our lives, pursuing His kingdom and living for eternal rewards?

Soaking in God’s Presence is a time of purification, cleansing, softening, and saturation with “the fragrance of Christ.” A few verses on this theme of “catching His fragrance” & intimacy with God:

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

[2 Corinthians 2:14-15 NIV]

You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy. All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory the music of the strings makes you glad.
[Psalm 45:7-8 NIV; v. 7 refers to Jesus, according to Hebrews 1:8-9]
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Just as lotions and fragrance give sensual delight, a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.

[Proverbs 27:9 MSG – Who is our Best Friend?]

The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's. "May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine. Your oils have a pleasing fragrance, Your name is like purified oil; therefore the maidens love you. Draw me after you and let us run together! The king has brought me into his chambers. We will rejoice in you and be glad; we will extol your love more than wine. Rightly do they love you."

[Song of Solomon 1:1-4 NAS]

4. Exfoliants, then Emollients

This year’s “soundtrack” *** first challenges us to pursue God with all of our hearts, then soothes us with quiet instrumental music. I wondered if the first CD might sound a little “rough” for soaking, but the Lord seemed to say to me (along the theme of Esther’s beauty treatments), “exfoliants, then emollients.” Let me explain what I think that means:

According to http://www.dictionary.com/, an exfoliant is “a cosmetic product or ingredient intended to remove dead skin cells and dirt from the skin surface.” Consider the following paragraph I found on the internet in connection with Esther’s first 6 months of beauty treatments with myrrh:

Myrrh is both bitter and pleasantly fragrant. It was used to embalm people, and was burned at funerals to disguise the smell of dead flesh, yet it heals many ailments. It both removes impurities and softens the skin. Treatment with myrrh represents repentance, dying to self, and the sweetness of losing our lives and finding them (Matthew 16:25). Myrrh removed the smell of flesh from Esther.

http://www.characterbuildingforfamilies.com/esther.html
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Soaking in God’s Presence often “loosens the dirt” of carnality in our lives, allowing God to go deeper into our hearts, healing emotional or spiritual wounds. We don’t put a soft bandage or balm on a wounded place without cleansing it first, and we don’t wash our clothes in fabric softener alone. However, God never “scrubs” or “strips away” without also comforting us with His Presence – hence the “emollient” aspect of the 2nd CD, which better expresses what we tend to expect of soaking: “having the power of softening or relaxing, as a medicinal substance; soothing...”

5. Practical Instructions for Soaking Prayer

So find a comfortable place, as free of distractions as possible. You may want to lie on a pillow, with your Bible and a journal nearby – don’t struggle or strive to “hear God,” but be prepared to turn quietly to a scripture reference, or record a thought you may want to recall or evaluate later. Worship music can help you focus on God or create an atmosphere for welcoming His Presence, but the main thing is to engage with His Spirit. Feel free to communicate with Him heart to heart, but stay in “receiving mode,” letting Him direct. Don’t dismiss the flow of thoughts and feelings that may come from the Holy Spirit moving within or upon you; evaluate in light of the Word, or discuss with another Christian afterward. Above all, take time to enjoy & receive from Him!

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* Some scripture references that may help to answer the question, “Where is ‘soaking’ in the Bible?” – Psalms 4:4, 23, 46:10, 91:1, 131; Ezekiel 47, Matthew 11:28-30, John 7:37-39, John 15:1-15, etc.


** Laura Woodley Osman has three wonderful “soaking” CD’s available on her website. “In Love” is the CD I played at KNCF women’s retreat in 2008. http://www.spiritsoulbody.com/store.htm

*** This year, our soaking music includes:

Jesus Culture’s CD “Come Away with Me,” available at http://store.ibethel.org/
Watch/listen to title cut on Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IduHRMRcy9A


Alberto Rivera’s instrumental CD, “Yearnings” & many other excellent “Presence Music” CD’s by Alberto & Kimberly Rivera are available at http://www.rainingpresence.com/

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