The Biblical Foundations for Soaking Prayer

The Biblical Foundations for Soaking Prayer
What it is and what it is not.
By The Rev. Nigel W.D. Mumford+
Jesus said, “Preach the Kingdom and heal the sick.” Luke 9:2
Jesus said, “Pray always and do not lose heart.” Luke 18:1
Soaking prayer is a healing service, a worship service where the supplicant receives hope and love in a time of sickness or stress. It is a time set aside to address, pray and soak ‘dis-ease” in its many forms. Soaking prayer can be in a group format or it can be offered for an individual. It is designed for the supplicant to receive the love, hope, grace and healing promises and presence of the Lord. To uses an analogy, it is like soaking a cancer in prayer just like radiation therapy attacks cancer with medical advancements. It is both and! It is a time to remind the supplicant that they are loved and cared for by God, Jesus and the church. It is a message of encouragement for all. “Brothers, if you have a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.” Acts 13:15 Soaking prayer is an act of faith. Faith in Gods ability to heal.Soaking prayer is not about being emptied, but by being filled… with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:18
Physical, emotional, mental and generational issues are prayed over in a peaceful environment conducive to healing. Stress, in all its forms, is a serious issue in today’s living. We know that stress causes all sorts of physical and emotional disease, stress can kill! Soaking prayer offers a peaceful environment to destress, to pull off the highway of modern life and pause in prayerful peace. The words of Jesus echo around the chapel, “Peace, I give to you, my peace I leave with you, do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Through prayer and the reading of many bible verses, with gentle music in the background those coming are encouraged to lie on the floor, to loosen belts and shoes and to relax in a safe, Christ filled atmosphere. The supplicants are encouraged to breath in the past and present prayers of the church, lining the bronchial passages and lungs with the very fabric of the place set aside for such gatherings. Allowing the prayer to go into the blood stream and then cover “The presenting issue” with peace, love and the pure healing presence of the Lord.
Another primary prayer for this type of gathering would be from Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Soaking prayer creates an environment of peace the very peace that transcends all understanding.
We come in faith, corporate faith, adding our mustard seeds of faith together with a fresh expression of church. A very peaceful way of worshiping the Lord. Standing firm on the words from Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Soaking prayer is a cocoon of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Gal 5:22-24
Another biblical foundation for soaking prayer would be from 1 Thessalonians 5:17-19 Rejoice always, pray continually,give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
What Soaking prayer is not: It is not emptying the mind, guided imagery, suggestion, negative, abusive or condemning of the soul.
Be well, do good works and for the sake of God, love one another.
Blessings, The Rev. Nigel Mumford+