Answer:
Since the 1990s there has been an increased focus on mysticism within
various segments of Christianity. Bordering on the esoteric, these
mystical experiences broaden the division between a "factual faith" and a
"felt faith," and threaten to replace sound biblical teaching with
emotion-driven response. Soaking prayer is one such mystical activity.
It is described as resting in God's presence. This is accomplished by
playing some gentle worship songs, either sitting or lying down, and
praying short, simple prayers for an extended period of time, but
otherwise keeping your mind free of other thoughts. At the point when
you sense God's presence through some type of manifestation like
tingling skin, a sensation of heat or cold, or even a gentle wind
seemingly blowing through your body, you are to just "soak" in that
presence.
Although that might sound a little strange to some, it does not immediately come across as being necessarily bad. However, the rule by which we measure our experiences in life is the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17), and when soaking prayer is examined accordingly, we find that it comes up wanting for biblical support. Nowhere in the Bible can a model of prayer be found that soaking prayer follows.
Prayer in its simplest form in the Bible is calling on the name of the Lord (Genesis 4:26), and in each instance where it is found in Scripture, it is descriptive of communicating with God. Soaking prayer starts that way, but quickly devolves into a trance-like meditative state. This is when soaking prayer ceases to be biblical and becomes more like a New Age practice or something an adherent of Hinduism would participate in.
There is no denying that experiencing the presence of God can be powerful and life changing. It is not the goal of soaking prayer that is biblically errant; it is its methodology. Soaking prayer focuses on obtaining a spiritual experience by seeking out the presence of God through mystical exercises. In this it is similar to ”contemplative prayer” and contemplative spirituality, which are equally unbiblical. Biblical prayer is talking to God with His will in mind (1 John 5:14). A biblically praying believer already understands that God's presence is always with him (Psalm 139:7; Matthew 28:20; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:8; 2 Timothy 1:14), and he doesn’t need to experience any type of physical sensation to prove it.
Recommended Resources: Logos Bible Software and Prayer, The Great Adventure by David Jeremiah.
Although that might sound a little strange to some, it does not immediately come across as being necessarily bad. However, the rule by which we measure our experiences in life is the Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17), and when soaking prayer is examined accordingly, we find that it comes up wanting for biblical support. Nowhere in the Bible can a model of prayer be found that soaking prayer follows.
Prayer in its simplest form in the Bible is calling on the name of the Lord (Genesis 4:26), and in each instance where it is found in Scripture, it is descriptive of communicating with God. Soaking prayer starts that way, but quickly devolves into a trance-like meditative state. This is when soaking prayer ceases to be biblical and becomes more like a New Age practice or something an adherent of Hinduism would participate in.
There is no denying that experiencing the presence of God can be powerful and life changing. It is not the goal of soaking prayer that is biblically errant; it is its methodology. Soaking prayer focuses on obtaining a spiritual experience by seeking out the presence of God through mystical exercises. In this it is similar to ”contemplative prayer” and contemplative spirituality, which are equally unbiblical. Biblical prayer is talking to God with His will in mind (1 John 5:14). A biblically praying believer already understands that God's presence is always with him (Psalm 139:7; Matthew 28:20; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Thessalonians 4:8; 2 Timothy 1:14), and he doesn’t need to experience any type of physical sensation to prove it.
Recommended Resources: Logos Bible Software and Prayer, The Great Adventure by David Jeremiah.
While he is not the author of every article on GotQuestions.org, for
citation purposes, you may reference our CEO, S. Michael Houdmann.
Related Topics:
What is Sozo prayer?
What is contemplative spirituality?
What is the emerging / emergent church movement?
What is contemplative prayer?
What is centering prayer?
What is Sozo prayer?
What is contemplative spirituality?
What is the emerging / emergent church movement?
What is contemplative prayer?
What is centering prayer?
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