As Christians probably the one area that most people compromise, is the area of spending time with God. In busy schedule and increasing work load the one element that suffers in our Christian walk is quality time in the presence of God. I was personally challenged few weeks ago on the time spent in the presence of God.
This is bigger than a morning devotional, bigger than singing a slow song, bigger than reading a article off a Christian website – this is how conscious are we aware of God’s presence in our daily life. Most Christians I meet struggle to even feel God’s presence, leaders included. Some people can tone down their experience with God to 1987, after which there has been no revelation of who God is. We are called to continually grow in Him and to know Him more. Which is what led me to a vision called Soaking 70.
What is Soaking?
Have you ever been in a service where you are worshipping and suddenly after 20 minutes or so you begin to “fee” the presence of God? Soaking is focused on this presence of God. Most times many of us feel the presence of God only by the last song. Most times what I see is, people experience this 4 minute window of God’s presence once every Sunday. Hence, what happens is the culture is to start from the beginning point once again the follow Sunday. But with intense soaking what happens in our spiritual senses begin to get activated and starts recognising different elements of the Holy Spirit. The point? Try to worship in your room for 30 minutes or so – most times if you are able to hit the 30 minute margin – you may begin to feel to the presence of God. If it takes longer, still keep pressing in, even if it is an hour but press in until you feel the presence of God.
Now, once the presence of God has been felt, don’t just stop, begin to soak. Position yourself either sit down, kneel or any comfortable position, I personally like to lie down. Most times what happens with me is I get knocked down by the power and so I have learned to just lie down so that nothing hinders the presence of God.
The second element of soaking is to be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10). Most people spoil, soaking time by trying to entertain God either with tongues or some words, when God truly examines the worship of the heart and the Spirit rather than our words. Learn to just be quiet and begin to receive. Do not be discouraged if nothing happens because your Spirit man is receiving. Most people expect a lot even on their first soaking session. Unfortunately, it is not God who is trying to limit our expectation, it’s our flesh. We have Spiritual eyes, nose, ears, tongue etc but it is only with deeper water experiences in soaking that these senses begin to get activated. The very fact that you are beginning to feel His presence is a good start! Keep waiting on God and let that presence that you feel build. Begin to use your thoughts to try communicating with the Holy Spirit, so rather than using words think what you desire to speak and you will see that the Holy Spirit starts to minister to you. As this happens, the presence increases………………………….
What is Soaking 70?
Soaking 70 is soaking in God’s presence for a period of 70 days. This does not mean people need to stop going to work, universities or leading normal daily lives. It is focused on trying to accommodate the soaking culture into ones daily life. Ideally, I like to play some music in the background () and then tap into the presence.
At Downpour, myself and the team are dedicating 70 solid days on soaking and spending time in the presence of God.
Here are some of my personal goals during this soaking season:
a) Increasing my sensitivity to the Holy Spirit
b) Renewal of the Mind
c) Control of Body
d) Wisdom in areas of breakthroughs
Increasing my sensitivity to the Holy Spirit: How does the Holy Spirit operate? What is He saying, thinking. What is on the heart of Jesus?
Renewal of the Mind: Romans 12, talks about the renewal of the mind. Your mind has been renewed when the impossible looks logical – that’s where I wish to get!
Control of Body: I would love to get in better shape and fitness. For long term endurance in the ministry, I need to be fit. Lots of travelling has reduced my fitness level – I need a higher degree of fitness to keep me focused.
Wisdom in areas of breakthrough: As an individual I need breakthroughs in areas of future plans. Also, as a ministry we are praying for the next level aspects of what is on the Heart of God for us.
———- What are your goals?
THE WORD:
Every few days I will be releasing teachings focused on intimacy primarily and how to increase your sensitivity to the things of God. But I personally advice your own personal bible reading plan. Most people read the word “according to the Spirit”, most times I feel that is nothing but laziness as the “Spirit feeling” may come only once a month. Try to be systematic in your bible reading and with what you read the Spirit will be able to minister to you. The Holy Spirit always works in partnership with the word as He is the author of the word. Take a certain book, Mark for example and read a chapter or two a day, write your thoughts in the journal. One some occasions especially during soaking sessions you may be feel in your Spirit certain scriptures, feel free to study, read that then and meditate, but when you do not feel or sense any of that, get back into the Systematic pattern.
JOURNAL:
I personally recommend a journal (a notebook) where you could write your 70 days journey. Write about your visions, dreams, experiences, revelation from the word, what is God speaking to you etc.
Accountability Partner:
In the Soaking campaign, try to get an accountability partner. You will need to share your goals and visions on where you wish to get at the end of the 70 days. And this partner will need to keep you on check. The partner who keeps you on check should be someone who also is a part of this program as it would help in the journey we are on. The partner who keeps you on check could also you who is accountable to you also, making it a mutual partnership which will be a blessing to both. I personally recommend husbands and wives to be partners in this – we have seen marriages healed of this type of settings. If you are a single man, I would recommend a single man to keep you accountable, the same with woman.
Cost: People have asked “what is the cost of subscribing to all these teachings and materials, the cost is free! We are more focused on getting you intimate with God rather than anything else.
QUESTIONS:
Please feel free to ask questions on this blog page comment option as others who read your questions, may have similar ones, which would bless many. If your question is too personal, kindly email us at testimonies@alwynmatt.org.
Let the Soaking CULTURE begin!
Alwyn