I love this testimony from a mom taking our online JOURNEY class.
“This evening my kids were out of sorts, grumbling, frustrated, and complaining about various aspects of the day. So I decided it was the perfect time to soak in the presence of God as a family. I thought the kids would resist because they were grouchy, but each one willingly laid down, closed their eyes, and became still in worship. It was so refreshing!”
The term ‘soaking’ means to simply be still and know that He is God. It means to be still and quiet and focus on Him. Some people like to sit quietly as a family and put on some instrumental music. But it can also be done during bath time, as they fall asleep, or while driving in the car. I love doing it with the kids because it teaches them to go to Him in their time of worry, anxiety, and need because they have experienced His tangible goodness and peace.
Want to introduce soaking to your children? This is a super fun exercise that will help make the concept of soaking in His presence ‘come alive.’ Take a sponge and tell them it represents their heart. Let them touch it and talk about how it feels. There are lots of holes, and it is rather hard, right? Now fill up a bowl of nice, warm water and have them feel it. What does it feel like? Warm and comfortable? Could you just take a bath and soak in it? Now put their ‘heart’ in the water bowl and watch what happens. Engage in the teaching by pretending the sponge is “oohing” and “aahing” over the nice, comfortable, warm water. Hold the sponge up and let them see the water pouring out of it. Talk to them about the concept of the sponge dripping with what it was just soaking in. Now lay the sponge on the counter overnight and then check it in the morning. Ask the kids to feel and describe how it feels. What happened to the sponge? Why did it change? What does it need? When we soak in God’s love, we can’t help but drip it onto others. Your children will need to learn how to go to Jesus in their time of stress, need, or trial. Introducing them to Jesus in a tangible way to encounter His peace will be significant in the days to come.
I often tell parents to go soak in His presence until their heart and mind are filled with Him. A child doesn’t need to do the same to be impacted by the atmosphere of His presence. They will come under yours. Could you imagine teenagers walking in from school and getting hit with an atmosphere so filled with love that it influences how they behave? This is the power of God that moves through us as parents as we seek Him in our homes.
I encourage you to stop whatever you are doing and invite the children to grab their pillows and blankets. Have everyone lay in the living room with you and put on some worship music. No talking, no praying, just soaking in His love and goodness. You don’t need to do this for hours – even one song can shift the atmosphere in your home.
A mom shared how her girls were at it all day. Cranky, mean, and unkind words. She had them soak in God’s presence and taught them that their hearts are like a sponge. We spend time with Jesus so we can drip His love on others. Later they brought out their journals, and the sister had so much to say about her younger sister to encourage and lift her up. No person feels good when there is sibling conflict, and sometimes we need an extra dose of Jesus to help move us from bickering back to kindness.
Jesus, fill our hearts to overflowing so that we may love each other the way You intended.
Worthy is the lamb is more than a good worship song – it is the position of our hearts. The elders and angels bow down and worship WORTHY IS THE LAMB over and over and over for all eternity. The Lord owes us nothing. Not comfort, morning coffee, electricity, toys, expensive vehicles, nice homes, or a paycheck. He gives these things because He is a good Father, but He owes us NOTHING and deserves it all. In this hour, it is so important to teach our children that He is worthy – all the time – of it all!
Wor·thy – adjective – having or showing the qualities or abilities that merit recognition in a specified way.
Noun – a person notable or important in a particular sphere.
Have the kids glue cotton balls around a drawn or printed lamb and talk about the countless things He is worthy of.
Some other great options for soaking are:
Soaking: How To Enter Into Rest with Graham Cooke. – YouTube
Embrace – Jake Hamilton (lyrics). – YouTube
The Undoing Steffany Gretzinger – Cecie’s Lullaby – YouTube
As you listen, let His peace wash over you.
How many of you could use some increased peace in your homes? The enemy cannot create anything. He takes what God has already created and twists and perverts it into something that brings hardship and harm. Anything that comes from him is a counterfeit to the real and original design. But there is one thing he can not counterfeit: peace. Anytime we experience, embrace, acknowledge, or receive His presence, we feel peace because peace is His presence.
Teach the children – This is a super fun exercise with children that will help make the concept click for them. Take a sponge and tell them it represents their heart. There are lots of holes and they are somewhat hard, right? Now fill up a bowl of warm water and have them feel it. What does it feel like? Warm and comfortable? Could you take a bath and soak in it? Now put their ‘heart’ in the water bowl and watch what happens. Engage in the teaching by pretending the sponge is ‘oohing’ and ‘aahing’ over the nice, comfortable, warm water. Hold the sponge up and let them see the water pouring out. Talk to them about the concept of the sponge dripping with what it was just soaking in. Lay the sponge on the counter overnight and check it in the morning. Ask the kids to feel it now and describe how it feels. This is the term ‘soaking.’ It simply means to be still and know He is God. God’s presence is like a warm blanket wrapped around us; He always wants to embrace us. You might even want to role-play using a big comfy blanket. Make it fun and enjoyable for the children to learn about Him.
A young boy in my first mentoring class did this with his mom, and a week later, he was struggling with a bad attitude. When his mom addressed his attitude, his response was that his heart was drying out and he needed to spend time with Jesus, so he did just that.
I encourage you to spend some intentional time doing this as a family. Gather around the family room, turn off the lights and be still.
I believe this is what His original design for family was supposed to look and operate like.
From my sweet friend: “I taught my eldest son (14) how to soak and listen for the voice of God about four years ago, and in doing so, he has learned how to pray in the Spirit. He went to bed and got up an hour later and asked if we could talk. He proceeded to tell me he had been soaking and needed to share with me what he heard. All of a sudden he starts prophesying over me going after my heart splinters, my longing for a mother that was never fulfilled and how much that hurt and how I still long for it, and why I struggle with my stepmom is because I wanted that from her, too. It was never fulfilled… then he went on to speak about the hurt in her, and why she could not fulfill it. He started praying something along the lines of ‘You didn’t have anyone to mother you, but God was there, and He mothered you, which is why you can be the mother you are today.’ I have been processing ALL the things he spoke over me over the last few weeks as the Holy Spirit has shown me I have offense in my heart with my stepmom. God used my son to show me. God. Is. So. Faithful! Thank you for teaching us how to partner with the Holy Spirit in our parenting.”
How many times do we miss the move of God on our children because we are focused on them looking or behaving a certain way?
A mom shares: “My son was ‘soaking’ during the worship time at church, and I didn’t even realize it at first. We were in the back row, and he put his head on my lap. I was about to encourage him to sit up ‘properly’ or stand with me and sing but had this sudden realization that he was just… basking. So we sat and soaked. I was so excited to try the sponge activity with the two kids after church, but after today I feel like I can pick up soaking tips from them too.”
