RE: 'Soaking' (Full Version)

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Little_1 -> RE: 'Soaking' (4/14/2008 1:20:28 PM)

Regarding soaking, a scripture that seems to be often quoted is "be still and know that I am God". To 'be still' as far as I'm aware means 'to be quiet, inactive and focussed on God in a quiet surrounding (where possible)' so that it is easier to 'listen to' the Lord. Sometimes it is not easy finding a quiet surrounding and I believe you can 'be still' even in a busy and hustled surrounding. So in this respect, I do believe you can be still whilst listening to music.

Some of the soaking music I have heard whilst checking this subject out for myself reminds me of relaxation tapes I was given when I was much younger and going through a time of stress and mild depression (pre becoming a Christian). I was given a couple of tapes to listen and relax to from my GP (doctor). These same tapes had someone speaking in a calm voice using positive words which was intended to encourage you to think calm and nice/good thoughts. At the time I just thought "what a lot of old baloney" and didn't even listen to the whole tape series. These tapes were a bit like 'hypnotism without being knocked out' and sadly that's what some GP's gave you as an alternative for stress/depression at that time in the early 80's.

Jesus did not use music whilst praying to the Father and neither did the Prophets - in fact I cannot think of anyone in Scripture who did apart from the possibility of David the Psalmist but I'm not certain that's what he did either......

The Psalms had music composed for them and some of the Psalms are prayers but I'm not so sure if 'soaking' was their purpose or whether the Psalms were being used as spiritual hymns which is entirely different. Did David play music and pray the Psalms? Did the others who wrote some of the Psalms? Or did they use music to sing the Psalms? Does anyone know? As far as I'm aware - I believe the Psalms were sung to music and not prayed to music but if anyone can enlighten me otherwise I would be intersted to know.

So far, what I have found is not sitting comfortably with me and I just cannot connect with it at all - probably because it reminds me of the relaxation/stress tapes I was given by my doctor in the early 80's.

However, I'd be interested to hear some more testimonies about this subject.

Thank you
Little_1



Little_1 -> RE: 'Soaking' (4/14/2008 2:30:49 PM)

quote:

SD456 said:

My 'soaking' times were being quiet and never demanding anything from God. It's more for our benefit than God's ......



SD456 - what do you mean by "It's more for our benefit than God's"?

You said first of all that soaking is "never demanding anything from God" but straight after this, you go on to state that: "It's more for our benefit than God's" and I believe this is a contradiction in terms from what I have learnt about soaking from Christian websites. [&o]

What I have learnt on these websites is that soaking is about focussing on God and what He has to say to us and not being more for our benefit than God's as you mention in one of your posts over page.

I get the impression that you are a bit confused about the purpose of soaking yourself after reading this but perhaps I have misunderstood [sm=yummy.gif] and apologise if this is so but please explain if you meant anything different from what you posted because this is very contradictory as it stands.

My concern about anything 'new' or otherwise (and really there is nothing new under the sun - Ecclesiastes) is that there have been so many different church/Christian movements down through the ages and many of them start off with good intentions of bringing God glory and focussing on Him but end up with people being caught up in 'experiences' and 'feelings' and 'themselves' and they sadly lose the focus of what was first intended either because what begun in the Spirit was continued in the flesh or it was never the Holy Spirit who initiated certain movements in the first place. [&o]

We need to be so careful about anything that puts the focus on ourselves because as I'm sure you are well aware - that is not what loving/seeking/glorifying God nor being still in His presence is all about.

Yes - God does bless His children in many good ways but we need to be careful not to allow the blessings to become more important to us than the One who blesses us. This is where so many have gone astray within certain movements very sadly. It is therefore good to examine our hearts and motives in prayer lest we too get led astray and there is no harm in being reminded of this. It is something we all need to consider and contemplate on a regular basis. The Psalmist David (a man whom God said was "After His own heart") asked God to search his heart and see if there was anything displeasing to Him and this is a good example to consider any time we enter God's presence.



colliefan -> RE: 'Soaking' (4/14/2008 11:21:06 PM)

quote:

After reading a few web sites on soaking the problem I see with it is that its involves emptying the mind, and we are never commanded to empty our minds in scripture


Experience was the opposite, it was one of filling the mind with scriptual truths through an extended time of worship. We are commanded to meditate on God's truths - note all of the selahs throughout the Psalms. The HS put them there for a reason.

The biblical model for meditation is a filling of one's mind with God's truth. Not just studying but letting the mind dwell on God's truth.



Little_1 -> RE: 'Soaking' (4/15/2008 3:43:47 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: colliefan

quote:

After reading a few web sites on soaking the problem I see with it is that its involves emptying the mind, and we are never commanded to empty our minds in scripture


Experience was the opposite, it was one of filling the mind with scriptual truths through an extended time of worship. We are commanded to meditate on God's truths - note all of the selahs throughout the Psalms. The HS put them there for a reason.

The biblical model for meditation is a filling of one's mind with God's truth. Not just studying but letting the mind dwell on God's truth.


Amen colliefan.



pezdispenser -> RE: 'Soaking' (4/18/2008 9:25:13 AM)

I'm just curious as to why soaking is promoted in public forums ie why do we need group soaking sessions?



colliefan -> RE: 'Soaking' (4/18/2008 12:03:02 PM)

quote:

I'm just curious as to why soaking is promoted in public forums ie why do we need group soaking sessions?


The same way we need corporate teaching/worship/prayer/fellowship/fun times. Soaking is just a tool, where as much as possible, the constrains of time are removed.



Little_1 -> RE: 'Soaking' (4/18/2008 1:02:28 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Little_1

quote:

ORIGINAL: colliefan

quote:

After reading a few web sites on soaking the problem I see with it is that its involves emptying the mind, and we are never commanded to empty our minds in scripture


Experience was the opposite, it was one of filling the mind with scriptual truths through an extended time of worship. We are commanded to meditate on God's truths - note all of the selahs throughout the Psalms. The HS put them there for a reason.

The biblical model for meditation is a filling of one's mind with God's truth. Not just studying but letting the mind dwell on God's truth.


Amen colliefan.


quote:

Colliefan

The same way we need corporate teaching/worship/prayer/fellowship/fun times. Soaking is just a tool, where as much as possible, the constrains of time are removed.


Whilst I agree that we need to fill our minds with God's truth - I'm not sure if I mistook your post or not colliefan!

I would be interested to hear how you/or anyone else soaks? What happens, etc or in other words - the stages of soaking. Also, what do you mean that 'where as much as possible, the constraints of time are removed' as posted in your quote above?

Much appreciated.



SD456 -> RE: 'Soaking' (4/21/2008 3:58:58 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Little_1

quote:

SD456 said:

My 'soaking' times were being quiet and never demanding anything from God. It's more for our benefit than God's ......



SD456 - what do you mean by "It's more for our benefit than God's"?

You said first of all that soaking is "never demanding anything from God" but straight after this, you go on to state that: "It's more for our benefit than God's" and I believe this is a contradiction in terms from what I have learnt about soaking from Christian websites. [&o]

What I have learnt on these websites is that soaking is about focussing on God and what He has to say to us and not being more for our benefit than God's as you mention in one of your posts over page.


Hi Little. Soaking, or waiting in God's presence and meditating on His word is for our benefit. God prescribed it and we do it and benefit from it. Our waiting in God's presence and listening to His voice and meditating on scripture is for our sake, that we might grow closer to Him and hear His voice and so that we might be refreshed and "mount up with wings like eagles" as it is promised to those who wait on the Lord.

Waiting in His presence isn't about demanding things from God, it's about being in His presence and being refreshed by His person.

God is a Father who adores His children and loves to commune with us and speak to us, so I guess you could say He benefits from it also, but it's mainly about us laying down our time and busyness to seek this incredible God.

quote:

I would be interested to hear how you/or anyone else soaks? What happens, etc or in other words - the stages of soaking. Also, what do you mean that 'where as much as possible, the constraints of time are removed' as posted in your quote above?


I usually put on quiet worship music of some kind or worship instrumental stuff. It helps me to focus. Sometimes I don't have music. I usually have a notepad beside me so I can write down the things that God speaks to me. I move back and forth between worshipping and being silent to listen.

I don't have any 'stages' of soaking. It's all the same. I think being still and silent is the hardest thing for us humans to do.



colliefan -> RE: 'Soaking' (4/21/2008 6:04:02 PM)

quote:

'where as much as possible, the constraints of time are removed'


Basically there is no set closing time, participants stay until people need to leave. Usually the total time is about three or four hours.



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