Soaked to Saturated

Together we are about to take a dive, heart-first, into a spiritual encountering by being “Soaked to Saturated” in the presence of the Lord. Are you ready to plunge right in?

 I accepted Christ when I was 8 years old. Then in 1986 I experienced the in-filling of the Holy Spirit and became a born again believer in Christ JesusI became radical and sold out for Jesus and the calling He had upon my life. God’s grace filled my life and I longed (and still long) for more and more of Him. I desire to go deeper into the things of God, His character and becoming more like Him. One of the ways I experience the presence of the Lord is to “soak.” “Soaking” is a term used mostly in our spirit-filled Christian community and churches. It can be best described by me sharing my own personal experience with you. For me it is being in the present, in the presence of the Lord. Not yesterday, tomorrow or what is going to happen later today – but this moment. To be in His presence, spirit to spirit, lingering there, allowing my thoughts, will and emotions, to float and flow with Him; to be with Him – seeing what He sees, totally surrendered and dying to self; and at other times just being at rest and in peace.

How I experience soaking: I start my journey by doing everything I know to create an atmosphere; playing soothing music, silencing my phone, being as distraction-free as possible. As I listen to the music, I allow my imagination to flow into the heavenly realm: a secret place for the Lord and me alone. One of my experiences with Jesus is walking on the beach. To our right is a beautiful mountain, and after a short walk we start our journey up the mountain side. After reaching the top, we sit and visit for a while. When evening comes, we make a small camp fire and a warm drink, and all the while, I’m drinking-in His presence – laughing, talking and just being. As it says in Psalm 91:1 “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” NKJV

I purpose to shut out the outside world and quiet my mind to only the things of God. When I first began soaking it was awkward, but I stayed with it. This took an effort on my part, allowing the process of being comfortable waiting on the Lord and making a conscious decision not to allow distractions to prevent me from pursuing Gods presence. I find that as I enter into His presence, all stress and the world around me slips away as I am encompassed by God’s mighty presence, love and peace.

I relax, close my eyes, take a deep breath, hold it for a few seconds, breathe out, and release all the toxic thoughts in my life. The more time I spend soaking in His Presence, the easier it is to enter in and the faster it is the next time I soak. Time seems to fly by and I find I do not want to leave this soaking encounter.

As I cry, “Lord, I want to go higher,” He says to me, “I’m here, it’s you who has to come to me.” Psalm 37:4 says, “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” When thoughts come to distract me or try to take me from the presence of God, I quickly cast them down (and they go). “I take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5

The word soaking is defined by Google as:

1. Extremely wet, wet through Synonyms: drenched, wet (through) soaked (through) sodden, soggy, waterlogged, saturated, sopping wet, dripping wet, wringing wet
2. Make or allow (something) to become thoroughly wet by immersing it in liquid
3. Penetrate or permeate completely.

Saturated – definition

1. Soaked, impregnated, or imbued thoroughly; charged thoroughly or completely; brought to a state of saturation.
2. Holding as much water or moisture as can be absorbed thoroughly soaked.
3. To cause (a substance) to unite with the greatest possible amount of another.
4. Something that is completely soaked, or something that is filled to the brim, and cannot take any more.

Soaking is a form of meditation. Although there’s been some negative association with the word “meditate”, one of the Greek definitions is hagah which means “to imagine and to ponder” as found in Joshua 1:8. One of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definitions is “to engage in mental exercise for the purpose of reaching a heightened level of spiritual awareness.”

Philippians 4:8 tells us “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of a good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

 As I continue to soak and spend time gazing into the Father’s face, He reveals to me my true spiritual identity. Jesus would separate himself from others, where He could have time with the Father.  Mark 1: 35 says “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”  Luke 5:16 says “And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.”

I find for my own Christian life and spiritual growth it is key for me to spend time with the Lord – personal time – outside of our community church and fellowship, alone, quiet before Him.

Recently I had the privilege of being reintroduced to soaking. This came at a time in my life when I knew I needed and desired to go deeper into the things of the Lord. He told me that “we’re going into a new season and it won’t look like anything you’ve ever experienced before. The old ways that you’ve known will no longer work”. I told Him, “But Lord, I know no other way.” He told me, “Come and I will show you the way, but you will only know by seeking my face, having my eyes to see and my ears to hear what the Spirit is saying. Don’t get stuck in your past, for it is past”. Isaiah 43:19 says “Behold, I will do a new thing.”  2 Corinthians 5:27 says “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come.”  Philippians 3:14 says “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Sometimes while soaking I may begin to desire to petition Him about things that are heavy on my heart; however this is a time set aside for intimacy because my Father wants to love on me and reveal to me who I am. Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

In another one of my soaking experiences, I saw a sun rise coming up over a crystal clear glass top lake. An eagle was soaring above as if looking for some prey to scoop up; however, there was nothing moving below. Not a sound from earth, only the choir from heaven flowing down, inviting me to lift my eyes to heaven. Promises of God in written word form filled the sky, with affirmations and words of encouragement from the Throne Room of God. “It is a new day, it is a new dance, it is time to”… it was endless.

 In the past I had thought of God in this far off place while all the time, He resides within me. When we spend time soaking we are absorbing heavens’ atmosphere and then we take it with us as we go about our day.  I have always tried to visualize my body visiting the heavenly realm. It is not a body experience but a spirit encounter. I love how Wendy Backlund states in her teaching Encounter CD, An Activation of Your Spirit “Body to step into spirit, not spirit to step into the body”. Personally, I saw my body separate from my spirit, free, floating and one with God. As a child of God we are above the natural realm and we have the privilege of going into the heavenly-supernatural realm anytime we want. Sid Roth says “Welcome to my world, where it’s naturally supernatural.”

Below are the steps I take when I go for my soaking encounter:

• Find a quiet, comfortable place
• Make sure there will be no distractions or interruptions
• Turn the cell phone off
• Put a sign on the door if I need to
• Set the atmosphere: music, lighting, sweet aroma (candle)
• Open myself for a God encounter
• Relax – breathe in – breathe out, slowly – allow oxygen into my lungs and brain
• Visualize or feel my spirit man (not my body or physical)
• Visualize a safe and peaceful place, my “secret place”, (this may be the Throne Room of Heaven, a flowered meadow, beautiful beach, lake, scenic landscape, etc.)
• I ask the Lord to join me – ask for an encounter with Him, and He joins me right where I am.
• Listen, be slow to speak or ask anything
• Lay, sit, and walk with Him, basking in and enjoying His presence
• When it’s time for me to leave my soaking encounter with the Godhead, I thank Him, praise Him, worship Him, exalt and exhort Him.
• I then carry my encounter with me throughout my day, reflecting back on the time I spent with the Lord. The Lord continues to walk with me and continues to speak to me throughout my day.

I need a daily encounter with God. I often feel like a sponge. Sponges have many textures: soft, dry and brittle, moist, wet and saturated. For a sponge to be effective it needs to be kept moist to keep it from getting dry and brittle (where it falls apart). The same is true for our spirit – we need that daily drink (everlasting waters) and not just a dip or sip but a deep drink from His living water – the River of Life.

Where is your secret place? A place where you may be aware of your surroundings, yet you dare not move from the peace and presence of the Lord that engulfs your entire being.

I pray that my personal experience has in some way helped you desire to enter into a deeper relationship with the Godhead. Remember each of us will have different and unique experiences with God. There is no right or wrong way to approach soaking, the secret place or being in His Presence”. He loves and desires the time that we spend soaking in and with Him.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

 I would like to thank the following:

First, to my God and Savior Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit for allowing me the opportunity to share my experiences with you and for revealing Himself to me in such a loving way.

Second, to the Refreshing Winds Ministries team for your love and support, helping me daily to grow with you in the ministry we have been called to fulfill, and for being that example of Christ in encouragement, exhortation and inspiration to one another.

Third, to Barbara Murray, Janet Akery & Shawnee Boykin for the wonderful encouragement and attention to details, edits and prayers that made this booklet possible.

A special thanks to Carol Wenzel for reintroducing me to soaking, and for the patience to help me keep pressing in for direction as to how to share my testimony and experiences so that my heart may be heard.

I want to thank each of you who will be reading this booklet; may it impact your life as much as it has mine. I eagerly await your testimony.

 All scripture reference unless other stated are King James Version Scripture References and music referrals:

Samuel 2: 1-3, 5-10, Exodus 33:14-15, Psalm 16:11, Psalm 89:15, Isaiah 29:13, Isaiah 63:9, Lamentations 2:19 & Jude 24:25

Music:

Don Pope and Friends – Sounds From Heaven – In His Presence – Soaking Sounds

Rick Pino – The Holy Spirit

Kimberly & Alberto Rivera – Captured

Molly Kate Skaggs – Mix – Overtaken

Steve Swanson – Hydrated

 Julie True – Find Rest – Spirit to Spirit – Heaven’s Embrace

 Grace Williams – Heaven’s Rain

 Laura Woodley Osman – Prophetic Soaking- Intercession

Godtube & YouTube – Soaking Music.

Regina Henderson is a co-founder, director and core team member of Refreshing Winds Ministries, Inc. She has utilized her God given gifts and talents in administration and leadership, helping many local churches and ministries. In March 2009, Regina was licensed and ordained through City of Lights/Hunter Ministries. Regina loves spending time searching, teaching & sharing the Word. Soaked to Saturated she freely serves in the ministry of encouragement and speaks life-giving truths through prophetic anointing that changes peoples’ lives.