If I did a straw poll of the people around me and asked when and why they had a bath, I would get various answers:

Because I was aching
Because I was dirty
Because Daddy told me to
Because it’s relaxing
Because it’s what I do every day
Because I needed it
Because I had time

All of these are valid. They are also good reasons to spend time in soaking prayer.

I have known times in the past year when my heart has ached and been burdened and full. I have gone to Father with my pain and felt Him take the full weight and expression of those feelings. Equally I have known huge joy and delight and wanted to share that with my Daddy, to thank Him for all He has given me.

In soaking times, I have learnt to rest in His presence, dwell on His character, glory in His love and know His challenge to change. I have laughed, cried and felt deeply understood. I have been honest and open, angry and doubting, restless and at peace. However I come, there is always a divine exchange. I swop my perspective for His, my chaos for His order and my lists and agenda for His freedom and purpose. It’s a no brainer.

A friend recently asked me honestly, ‘How can you spend all that time in there just praying? Don’t you get a bit… well…bored?’ I smiled. I’ve come a long way in a few months. Yes, I still sometimes need to discipline myself to pray, but it doesn’t take a genius to see how it’s impacted my life, or my family and friends’ lives.

I replied, ‘When was the last time you sensed God’s presence so deeply that you felt compelled to tell someone?’
She thought for a bit and said “A couple of months ago maybe?” I looked at her for a while before saying: “When I pray, EVERY time I pray, without fail, my Father is there. Sometimes He is quiet, sometimes He speaks. Most of the time I just ‘hang out’ with Him. It’s not an effort or a stress, but His presence is tangible.”

The truth is, in soaking times with Father I have discovered hidden truth, remembered old lessons and been given new hope for the future. It enables me to contend for those I love and have responsibility for; it gives me insights I would simply not have time to see otherwise. My ability to speak into others’ lives has grown and developed; I’ve also learnt new confidence in hearing and recieving words for myself.

Keith Green put it like this:
‘If your heart takes more pleasure in reading novels, or watching TV, or going to the movies or talking to friends rather than just sitting alone with God and embracing Him, sharing His cares and His burdens, weeping and rejoicing with Him, then how are you going to handle forever and ever in His presence?’

Personally, I can’t wait to spend eternity with Father. Only in that mesmeric and miraculous place will there be true and eternal joy.

There is an old Zen saying: ‘When the pupil is ready, the Teacher will appear.” I think prayer makes us more ‘ready’ for more of what Father God has for us. He is certainly the best teacher out there.