Soaking, Music, How God Speaks to Me!

Soaking, Music, How God Speaks!

God speaks to his children in various ways.  Some hear an audible voice. Some see visions.  Some experience feelings from God.  Some can just feel his presence.  Some hear God through other people.  Some hear Him in other ways.  Some experience several of these things.  I feel like most often, God speaks to me through music.

 Back when I was a junior in high school, I started going to youth group at my church.  My youth leader, Courtney, taught me and the group of girls I had a Bible study with, many valuable lessons.  One of the coolest things she taught us to practice that I believe will stick with me my whole life is something she calls “soaking”.

I mentioned this term in one of my previous posts and promised to explain it.

So many times, we pray to God but never give Him a chance to respond.  We are so busy worrying about all the things we need God to help us with, but fail to realize that God knows our thoughts even before we think them.  He knows every struggle we will face before we face them.

We are still told to pray without ceasing.  To pray about everything.  To thank God for all He has done.  To tell Him what we need.

We also need to trust in His timing and trust that He hears us when we call on Him.  We need to have faith like David.

“The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord will answer my prayer.” Psalm 6:9

We serve a God who answers our prayers!

“Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly” Psalm 5:3

A lot of times when we pray, it is more like a one way conversation.  Does anybody have a friend that when you are with them, all they do is TALK?  And if you try to make a comment or talk about something else, they just KEEP talking?! And you can never get a word in?  Well that is what it’s like when many of us pray.  We just talk and talk and talk about all of our problems, and never give God a chance to respond to us.

In soaking, we invite God into our quiet time, and wait expectantly for him to answer us.  I like to play soft worship music in the background while I’m soaking.  Sometimes people will lay down or lift their hands.  Most of the time, it’s best to close your eyes so you can really focus on God.  This gives us a chance to just press in to the love of God.  We welcome Him in and just ask Him to speak to us.  You can even ask Him a question and wait for Him to answer.  If you have faith and trust that God will answer you, he will!  It is amazing to see what God does when we just focus on Him and really LISTEN to what he has to say.

At the end of this post, I will list some songs that I love soaking to.  Try it out and see what God does!

Ever since I have started soaking, I have noticed that God really speaks to me through music.  I have had several experiences where I will be stressed or anxious and song lyrics will pop into my head and make me feel calm.

Towards the end of my junior year of high school, I had a lot on my mind as I was walking into school.  I just started praying to God.  I was specifically praying for a dear friend of mine that does not have a relationship with God.  (Guys, we need to be sad for these people.  They don’t have what we have—a relationship with our Heavenly Father.  We need to try to share the love of God with them and reach out to them.) So I was praying for my friend and I thought of the lyrics: “Chains be broken/ Lives be healed/ Eyes be opened/ Christ is revealed”

I couldn’t remember what song these lyrics were from or any of the other lyrics from the song, but thought they were the perfect way to pray for my friend.  I was just praying that God would reveal himself to her.  That he would open her eyes to see His love.  That he would heal the brokenness in her life and break the chains of lies that had a hold of her. 

Later that same day, I was reflecting on the amazing fact that “as surely as the sun will rise you’ll (God) come for us” which I know are lyrics from a song.  So I looked up the words and found that they are from the same song as the lyrics I prayed about earlier! The song is called “You’ll Come”.  After listening to this song, I really felt like God was telling me that He has heard my cries and He was telling me to be patient.  And that He will answer my prayers in the right timing.  It gave me so much peace by hearing this song! Check it out and you will see what I’m talking about!

Another time, I was having trouble with showing love to people who had hurt me.  I know that we are supposed to love our enemies and pray for those that have persecuted us, but it’s so hard sometimes!!! But then I was reminded… Jesus gave us the perfect example of love.  He loved all people, even those who persecuted him.  Even those who mocked him.  Even those who spat at him and nailed him to the cross.  He loved ALL people!  I began to pray that God would give me the strength to love the unlovable, just as Jesus did.  I thought of myself and how much I have done wrong in my life.  Yet God loves me with his PERFECT love.  It never ends.  It will never fail me.  It is not conditional.  He loves me just as I am.  Surely, I can love these people that had hurt me.  I then turned up the radio and immediately, the song “Hosanna” came on.  Some of the lyrics in this song are: “Show me how to love like You have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause”

I began to pray those words to God over my life.  I knew in that very moment that God was going to help me show love to those people.  I knew that he was going to give me the strength to forgive them.  I knew He would restore broken relationships. 

Music is very important to me.  Serving God and glorifying Him in every aspect of my life is very important to me.  Because of this, I rarely listen to secular music.  I would rather listen to music that is going to build me up and have a positive impact on my life. 

I know a family that had Christian music playing in their house nonstop, whether they were home or not.  When I have a house of my own, I would love to do this.  Just having Christian music playing in the background can have such a positive impact on your life!

Nowadays, we have access to music at our fingertips, wherever we go.  Why not choose to listen to uplifting, godly music, and watch Him move in our lives?!

Remember, You are so loved by your Heavenly Father who gave His son to die for you!

Lots of Love,

Dani xoxo

Songs I love to Soak to:

You Know Me- Bethel Music

Pieces- Amanda Cook

I Exalt Thee- Jesus Culture

You Don’t Miss a Thing- Amanda Cook

You Won’t Relent- Freedom Life Worship

How He Loves- David Crowder

What Love is This- Kari Jobe

Love Came Down- Brian Johnson

We Dance- Bethel Music

I See Heaven- Brian and Katie Torwalt

Mercy- Amanda Cook

I hope you enjoy! What are your favorites?