Soaking Prayer

[Peaceful Dove]

Kid posted this in another thread. I witnessed something like this several years ago and I am almost sure it was at an SCRC Conference. Has anyone else been to a "Soak Session"


"We have a church in our area that has what they call "soak sessions" at various times where it's just all praise and worship..You could spend the whole evening there. People just lay on the floor, stand, sing take off thier shoes...Just bask in the Lord's presence..People come from the neighboring states to visit. I really believe as the Lord's return get s closer the darker it will get but that will be overcome by the tremendous praise and worship that is coming forth..."

[EyezOFire]

Kid posted this in another thread. I witnessed something like this several years ago and I am almost sure it was at an SCRC Conference. Has anyone else been to a "Soak Session"


"We have a church in our area that has what they call "soak sessions" at various times where it's just all praise and worship..You could spend the whole evening there. People just lay on the floor, stand, sing take off thier shoes...Just bask in the Lord's presence..People come from the neighboring states to visit. I really believe as the Lord's return get s closer the darker it will get but that will be overcome by the tremendous praise and worship that is coming forth..."
Soaking prayer is good, takes lots to practice to get really still. You get some really great rest if you happen to fall asleep, which I usually do. LOL

[Peaceful Dove]

God often talks to us in our sleep. LOL

I think sometimes that is the only way he can tape my mouth closed so I can listen.

[HisKid1973]

God often talks to us in our sleep. LOL

I think sometimes that is the only way he can tape my mouth closed so I can listen.

Hah, Amen to that..I thought I was the only one that had that problem..

[Peaceful Dove]

Hah, Amen to that..I thought I was the only one that had that problem..

Would you share somemore about the Soaking Prayer service?

[HisKid1973]

Hey Sis..They just announce an evening soak session.. Some times it's when they have a well know prise and worship leader and sometimes it's in house as hey just have some blessed an talented staff there and make their own soak cd's...They start at 6:30/7 pm and prayer and start worship..It is a large chuch and if it isn't fill some lay across the seats..You can go to the front with a pillow and just lay there..Get comfortable.. They play and worship, you can sing or just relax and soak it in . Sometimes it's just instumental or sometimes thy play as someone reads the scriptures..One time we left it was almost midnight..It's just cool to bask in the presence of the Lord..shalom..Kim

[Peaceful Dove]

I love it!!!

[Peaceful Dove]

During some thought about this I would like to share my exprience.
I experienced something like this at a session at SCRC one time.
There was a dimly lit room where Praise and Worship music was being played. No other sound unless it was someone quietly praying in tongues or if someone got a word from the Lord. If that happened the discernment was powerful. Folks were sitting in chairs or on the floor. Many were laying on the floor. It was a true soaking session. Oh yes, I remember there were a few little groups sitting in chairs or on the floor praying together, maybe 2 or 3 but very quietly.
It started with prayer inviting the Holy Spirit in. There was no formal ending. At various times folks just got up and left. It lasted for 2 or 3 hours but there was healing and the most awesome Peace.

I felt like many folks had experienced this sort of prayer before…maybe in their own prayer groups or maybe at Retreat.

[Father Rick]

"Soaking prayer" is basically just a revival of meditative prayer with a some modern overtones (as to styles of prayer/music etc).

Personally, I find it very interesting that such is becoming so popular within Protestant circles, when it is actually an ancient practice.

[CatholicFlame]

Can you give us some examples of soaking prayer that was used in the past?

[HisKid1973]

[quote=Father Rick

Personally, I find it very interesting that such is becoming so popular within Protestant circles, when it is actually an ancient practice.[/quote]

Except the harps,lyre and timbrels were not electrified..:D..As for prayer, people just pray as they are led, praise ,thanksgiving, intercession ect. Corporate worship like this is incredible, the presence of God is so strong and sweet..Ministry take place as the Holy Spirit move...Can you imagine how this pleases the Lord to have this going on around the world in the midst of all who ignore Him..

[isabella1]

Hay, this sounds real interesting. I have never heard of it, and would love to learn more. Has this ever been held within the Charismatic Catholic Renewal? Also, Fr. Rick can you tell us more about the "ancient practice" (I think thats what you said). Thanks. Peace and Blessings

[MoNiCa4316]

wow I would love to attend something like this! :D I went to a conference where we had a night of informal prayer/worship that was sort of like this....but not quite...
Peaceful, what is SCRC? :confused:



:wave:

[Peaceful Dove]

Check it out. www.scrc.org (http://www.scrc.org)
It was my Prayer Communtiy while I was in So. Calif.
They hold the largest english speaking Catholic Charismatic Conference in the world.

[MoNiCa4316]

Check it out. www.scrc.org (http://www.scrc.org)
It was my Prayer Communtiy while I was in So. Calif.
They hold the largest english speaking Catholic Charismatic Conference in the world.

thanks! :)

[Peaceful Dove]

I am so interested in this.
Can we discuss it some more?

[Father Rick]

Hay, this sounds real interesting. I have never heard of it, and would love to learn more. Has this ever been held within the Charismatic Catholic Renewal? Also, Fr. Rick can you tell us more about the "ancient practice" (I think thats what you said). Thanks. Peace and Blessings
"Soaking prayer" has been around in some form since the very earliest days of Christianity. In fact, it pre-dates Christianity and was part of the worship in the Jewish Temple.

In the Temple, there was a standard liturgical worship that occurred daily, including the burning of incense (1/2 pound in the morning and 1/2 pound in the evening... for any thurifers out there, you know what an incredible amount of incense this was) which represented the worship of the people going up to God. There were the sacrifices occurring, the appointed choirs/musicians who served in shifts, so that there was 24/7 worship being offered, etc. There were also appointed minstrels, who simply "wandered" throughout the Temple courts playing their instruments, worshipping, and prophesying. If one came to the Temple to worship, this was the environment of worship/prayer in which one found oneself... completely surrounded by an atmosphere of worship.

In the early church, we see similar examples of prayer/worship. We see the meditative prayers of the early church... forms of prayer that were both meditative and "all inclusive".. .that is part of an experience of worship into which one could come and just "spend time" worshipping Christ.

Many forms of what we now consider to be "classical worship" were, at the time of their origin, "modern" forms of contemplative prayer/worship (aka "soaking prayer"). Things such as gregorian chant, etc. were simple means of worship/prayer in which an environment was set so that those who came to worship could come and just "soak in" the prayers/worship of the people of God.

Out of such traditions came many meditative prayers in use today. Prayers such as the Rosary, various novenas, etc. are prayers that are said by rote... in an attitude where one can "hear the prayer" in the background while simply soaking in the presence of Christ. A personal favorite of mine is the Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song, which I have on CD. It is something that can be played in the background to help "set the stage" for a time of just "soaking" in the presence of God... listening to His voice, and allowing Him to speak into my life. The simple, yet repetitive, nature of such prayers are just enough to help one focus without being distracting.

Remember the purpose of "soaking prayer" (aka meditative prayer) is listening and allowing God to bring healing in our lives, not in offering petitions to Him. With that in mind, it is easy for those of us who are accustomed to repetitive liturgical prayers to discern various prayers that easily fall into such a category.

[Peaceful Dove]

I am asked to give a teaching on Soaking Prayer a week from Friday.
I need to gather all the info I can .

Would Y'All help me?

[Father Rick]

Have you seen the teaching on the difference between being "immersed" and "soaked"? In one you are "dipped" in ... in the other, you soak long enough to be changed (like what happens to a cucumber when it is pickled)?

[CatholicFlame]

sounds like an adoration chapel FR. Have you ever been to one before? Talk about soaking in the Lord's presence...

[Father Rick]

sounds like an adoration chapel FR. Have you ever been to one before? Talk about soaking in the Lord's presence...
Do you really have to ask?

[CatholicFlame]

Actually FR, I really don't know if they have that in the OCC. I apologize for my ignorance about this!

[Father Rick]

Actually FR, I really don't know if they have that in the OCC. I apologize for my ignorance about this!
No problem... I was being very sarcastic.

To answer the question... yes

[Peaceful Dove]

I haven't watched all of these videos so do not know how good they are. Check them out.

http://www.tacf.org/tacforghome/CatchTheFireMinistries/SoakingPrayerCenters/SoakingPrayerCenterLeaders/tabid/614/Default.aspx

[ARBITER01]

Ok, I guess I'll be the bad guy as always.

We are admonished by Paul to become like Jesus,..


Romans 8:29 ¶ (ASV) For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren:


So I'm not seeing how this type of prayer (or what seems to be a spiritualistic practice to me), helps one to become like Jesus.

Also, Jude tells us to pray in The Holy Spirit,..


Jude 1:20 (ASV) But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,


Which is praying in tongues to acheive this perfecting of our faith. We are in communication with GOD this way, whereas I don't see any communication going on with GOD in what they call their soaking centers.

I don't read about anyone like Wigglesworth or others over the years, walking in GOD's power due to any sort of soaking type prayer, and I don't read about anyone coming out of these centers walking in that sort of power like the old saints did.

[Peaceful Dove]

I hope you aren't trying to be a bad guy.
This is pretty new to me. I have been trying to gather information and it can be good or bad.

Now, if this sort of prayer moved one into the presence of the Lord and deeper in the Spirit then the fruits would be good.

When I first heard about soaking prayer it was at a really deep Spirit Filled Charismatic Conference.
In fact, what we experienced there was healing miracles.

It was with Frances MacNutt. I am sure you have heard of him. If not, you can google him. He was in the early move of the Charismatic Renewal, in Healing ministry.

However, in WOF, one of the Posters mentioned that some of the "Soaking" prayer groups are like new age.
That is totally different than what we experienced at the Conference.

So, like anything else, I am thinking there is bad and good and we have to separate the wheat from the chaf.

Don't you agree, Brother?

[Peaceful Dove]

By the way, please stay here and discuss this with me. I do value your thoughts. Will you please?

[ARBITER01]

I hope you aren't trying to be a bad guy.
This is pretty new to me. I have been trying to gather information and it can be good or bad.

Now, if this sort of prayer moved one into the presence of the Lord and deeper in the Spirit then the fruits would be good.

When I first heard about soaking prayer it was at a really deep Spirit Filled Charismatic Conference.
In fact, what we experienced there was healing miracles.

It was with Frances MacNutt. I am sure you have heard of him. If not, you can google him. He was in the early move of the Charismatic Renewal, in Healing ministry.

However, in WOF, one of the Posters mentioned that some of the "Soaking" prayer groups are like new age.
That is totally different than what we experienced at the Conference.

So, like anything else, I am thinking there is bad and good and we have to separate the wheat from the chaf.

Don't you agree, Brother?

It seems like a big waste of time in many respects, and I have no idea how such practices are accomplishing anything for Jesus.

I was watching a video from one of the main guys associated with it, and he kept mentioning revival, but I don't see a true revival attached to it that was saving souls. Salvation wasn't their focus. This was at one of the same places up in Toronto that had the barking and clucking going on a few years back.

[ARBITER01]

By the way, please stay here and discuss this with me. I do value your thoughts. Will you please?

You can ask me any question you like.

[ARBITER01]

This passage was brought to my attention over this subject,..


Matthew 7:21 ¶ (EMTV) "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.


Is such things the will of GOD? Do we have a scriptural mandate for such activities?

[Peaceful Dove]

Thank you!!!
I truly value your discernment on this.

[ARBITER01]

Thank you!!!
I truly value your discernment on this.

No problem.

Something else that was brought to my attention. When the disciples asked The Lord how to pray, we don't see Jesus mentioning anything that remotely relates to this sort of activity from these folks.

I always look for answers from The Holy Spirit that have scriptural references, and normally He has many for me. I don't have to be at one of those centers to hear GOD, The Holy Spirit is within me, and will lead me into all truth.

[hawko]

I've never even heard of or been to a soaking prayer service, but it sounds like a great way to praise and worship the Lord. I don't believe that any catholic churches around my area have anything like that. As I have mentioned before, I'm a great fan of perpetual adoration of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. That's were I go to hear His voice.

[isabella1]

I've never even heard of or been to a soaking prayer service, but it sounds like a great way to praise and worship the Lord. I don't believe that any catholic churches around my area have anything like that. As I have mentioned before, I'm a great fan of perpetual adoration of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. That's were I go to hear His voice.
There is nothing around me either in the Catholic Church that has soaking prayer sessions by itself. I have been trying to get a better understanding of what it really was.

After looking at the video clips, I now realize that I have been to one soaking prayer session years ago. It was in a Pentecostal Church at a seminar my friend took me to. I was quite apprehensive at that time, because I was pretty stiff, and couldnt get out of my own way. LOL. What I mean is, being a Catholic I was use to more quiet traditional things.

Then a friend took me to a Catholic Charismatic prayer group and a Life in the Spirit Seminar, and the rest just history. It was what I had been doing before the Lord in the privacy of my own hone since I was vary young, and could not express it to anyone. So I guess I really found my place.

Now since I know what the term "soaking prayer" means, it is nothing different that what we do in the prayer group meetings, as well as what I had been doing, and still do right here in my own home.

I LOVE Adoration! I find myself needing that time with the Lord most of all, and have to frequently sit with him during my week.

Like you, it is where I hear his voice the best and clearest also. There is nothing like being alone with the Lord in Adoration. It is the only thing that has gotten me through some vary difficult places in my life, and for me, I appear to pray deeper from within my heart when I am in front of our Lord.

Have you ever been to Praise and Worship Adoration in the Catholic Church? It is WONDERFUL!

Peace and Blessings.

[HisKid1973]

Hey , I found y'all...
Here's something I observe..God wants us to be passionate with Him. To me that is the spirit filled life..He looks at our heats and not what building/church we are at...They are people among us all who passionately worship as others are sorta clueless if you know what I mean..Some feel God's presence in your eucharist, what others like me feel God inhabits the praise amidst the gathering of His people...To be honest do you really think He is interested in the exact belief we have about His presence, but that the passion is flowing from our hearts..With either belief, the Holy Spirit is resident in all who are in Christ wherever we are located..Someday we will see Him face to face, we will worship together...Seeing icons sorta divides whereas seeing hearts ands fruits of the Spirit can unite..peace to you..K

[MoNiCa4316]

Have you ever been to Praise and Worship Adoration in the Catholic Church? It is WONDERFUL!

My friend has invited me to go with her sometime!! :clap: I can't wait!! I really hope to go soon...

[MoNiCa4316]

Hey HisKid! :wave: nice to see you brother!

[Peaceful Dove]

Kim,
Where have you been. I missed you and your inspiring words. Always a good word from you.

[isabella1]

My friend has invited me to go with her sometime!! :clap: I can't wait!! I really hope to go soon...
Yippie for you Monica. ENJOY! May the Holy Spirit overflow you with His presence, as you are united in love with our Lord adoring and worshiping Him. May all the choirs of Angels sing a beautiful song to you, that will reside within your soul. Praise Jesus! Peace and Blessings.

[isabella1]

Hey , I found y'all...
Here's something I observe..God wants us to be passionate with Him. To me that is the spirit filled life..He looks at our heats and not what building/church we are at...They are people among us all who passionately worship as others are sorta clueless if you know what I mean..Some feel God's presence in your eucharist, what others like me feel God inhabits the praise amidst the gathering of His people...To be honest do you really think He is interested in the exact belief we have about His presence, but that the passion is flowing from our hearts..With either belief, the Holy Spirit is resident in all who are in Christ wherever we are located..Someday we will see Him face to face, we will worship together...Seeing icons sorta divides whereas seeing hearts ands fruits of the Spirit can unite..peace to you..K
Hay there HisKid! Glad to see you again, its been a while. In mass today the first reading was about how man looks at a person and assumes or judges based on what he sees on the surface, and God is the only one who sees the heart of that Man. Similar in a way to what you said.

By the way, just wondering if the info I put together for you was helpful??? If not, you can say so. Just wondering.

Peace and Blessings.

[MoNiCa4316]

Yippie for you Monica. ENJOY! May the Holy Spirit overflow you with His presence, as you are united in love with our Lord adoring and worshiping Him. May all the choirs of Angels sing a beautiful song to you, that will reside within your soul. Praise Jesus! Peace and Blessings.

thank you dear sister :hug:

[isabella1]

thank you dear sister :hug:
My pleasure Monica.