Recently a listener sent me an email inquiring as to whether or not I thought "soaking prayer" was of the Lord.
In order to gauge whether or not soaking prayer is a valid form of prayer or communication to God, we must first look to God’s word. Prayer in its purest form is calling on the name of God and in every scriptural example is a done as a form of communication with the Lord. Although at first glance soaking prayer may seem that it follows this model of prayer it does not. Like most lies of the enemy a closer look will reveal a different picture. Soaking prayer involves a trance like meditative or contemplative state in which the adherent is encouraged to empty their mind. This type of prayer seeks to experience God’s presence through mystical exercises which teeters dangerously on the edge of the esoteric. As believers we understand that God’s presence is ever with us and when we come to prayer it is with His will in mind not ours.
We need to be careful here that we don't entirely rule out true Biblical Holy Ghost manifestations inherent in our Biblical Pentecostal heritage. There is a genuineness about waiting on God in His Presence. Just run some Scriptural references about waiting before the Lord. (Isaiah & the Psalms are literally chocked full, see also Acts 13:1-3) Falling out under the power is real. Shaking, trembling, weeping, laughing, etc. All may be present during a true move of God's Spirit! Obciously, our basis for all our experiences must be upon God's Word. What do we think a wonder is anyway? Something that makes us WONDER! He is still a miracle-working God! And prayer is not just us talking and rattling off words. It is an exchange of communication. It is listening as well. "Speak Lord for your servant IS LISTENING!"
I've gone to prayer meetings that claimed to be soaking in prayer. What it turned out to be was just a regular prayer meeting with a new trendy name. I know for sure that the pastors had no idea the origins of "soaking" and its intentions. I just know that we prayed. They just thought it illustrated more serious prayer. Thank God we never did all that mystical trance-like stuff. In our case, the word soaking was just a trendy word for prayer. Now that I know what it really means, I will not use that word in reference to prayer.
So, please verify what a church means by that title before misjudging them. They may have heard the word and began using it.
I have been listening to Sister Swaggart's radio program, Frances and Friends for sometime. I love the topics of discussion.. be assured, that she and her Panel have done thorough research on the topics of Subject Material that is presented on the program.
This Soaking Prayer junk has been going around since the Vedic Tradition in India, they Call it Eastern Meditation. I understand it to be a form of contemplative prayer or, breath prayer. I did a form of Meditation called Transcendental Meditation,from November 1995, until August 2005, when the Lord brought me out of that demonic, sinister, and evil Counterfit. That is just what it is, a sinister Counterfit. It does not point the individual to Jesus Christ and what he accomplished on the Cross, instead it tells people that there is more then one way to God. The Word of God (Holy Bible,) says that jesus Christ is the only way to the father.
Those who claim to be born again, just because it seems to be of God, doesn't mean that it is of God. It may look like it, feel like it, and even sound like it, but if it does not line up one hundred percent with God's Holy word, then it most certainly is not of God.
Michael G. McKay
Fredericton, New Brunswick
Canada. E-Mail: mgmckay@rogers.com