Youth Day Retreat - 15th February 2025
Soaked In The Lord
Text: 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 TPT
[16] But the moment one turns to the Lord with an open heart, the veil is lifted, and they can see.
[17] Now, the “Lord” I’m referring to is the Holy Spirit, and wherever He is Lord, there is freedom.
[18] We can all draw close to Him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil, we all become like mirrors, brightly reflecting the glory of the Lord Jesus. We are being transfigured into His very image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another. And this glorious transformation comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
What does it mean to be Soaked in the Lord?
To be soaked in the Lord means giving yourself entirely to God, surrendering your heart fully to Him so He can do as He pleases with it. It's a total surrender to His will.
Think of a sponge 🧽: when you first buy it, it's usually wrapped up in a plastic bag. If you try to soak the sponge while it’s still in the plastic, it won’t absorb much water. It’s only when you remove the bag that the sponge can truly soak up the water. The same applies to us as children of God. When we were born, we were born into sin. As we grow and get the chance to know Jesus, we start to understand what pleases and displeases God. However, living in a sinful world, we still face struggles. To be soaked in Christ, we must remove the veil of sin, doubt, distractions, worldly pleasures, and disobedience.
Once you’re soaked in Christ, you stop living for yourself; you live for Him. You have direct access to Him, you can talk to God like you talk to anyone, because His Spirit (the Holy Spirit) dwells in you. This awakening of the Spirit comes through salvation.
To be truly soaked in God, you must be willing to be filled with the Living Water (Jesus Christ).
John 7:38 CEB:
"All who believe in me should drink! As the scriptures said concerning me, Rivers of living water will flow out from within him."
John 4:13-14 CEB:
[13] Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again,
[14] but whoever drinks from the water that I will give will never be thirsty again. The water that I give will become in those who drink it a spring of water that bubbles up into eternal life.”
At this stage of life, many of you are figuring out what life is about, and in this world, there are contradictory messages and distractions. Without truly knowing Jesus, it’s easy to be swayed and lost in the world. But when the Spirit of God dwells in you, you can discern His plans for you, even when the world shows you things that seem appealing.
How to Continually Yield to the Spirit of God?
As I mentioned, when you’re soaked in the Lord, it’s no longer you who live, but Christ lives through you.
Galatians 2:20 NLT:
"My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
Galatians 2:20 AMP:
"I have been crucified with Christ [that is, in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body I live by faith [by adhering to, relying on, and completely trusting] in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
When you fully surrender to God, you become a tool in His hands. You start living by His guidance. You might wonder, “How can I depend on God when I’m so young? I need to figure out life on my own.” This is true, but when you understand God as your Creator and everything, you’ll realize He’s not distant, He dwells in you. Many people try to figure out life using intellect, wealth, or connections, only to realize that none of those things fulfill them. Some find God along the way, while others turn to other sources when they feel lost.
Surrendering to God is a gradual process. It’s not an overnight thing; consistency is key. The world will try to pull you in different directions, but my prayer is that God’s Spirit will nudge you when needed, help you discern right from wrong, and guide you.
The Importance of Prayer and the Word
To be in total surrender to God, you need a strong prayer life and a commitment to studying His Word. Prayer is how we communicate with God; it doesn’t need to be long or complicated. We pray in Jesus' name, and God speaks to us through the Scriptures. You can’t really know God and live for Him without these two elements.
Matthew 26:41 AMP:
"Keep actively watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
When you pray, God warns you when you’re drifting away from His purpose. You can talk to God about anything—your future, your studies, your friends, your family, your health. He is already aware and can provide answers ahead of time.
Mark 11:24 AMP:
"For this reason, I am telling you, whatever things you ask for in prayer [in accordance with God’s will], believe [with confident trust] that you have received them, and they will be given to you."
Philippians 4:6 AMP:
"Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God."
The enemy tries to prevent us from praying by sowing seeds of fear and anxiety, but the Bible reminds us to not be anxious. When you feel overwhelmed, the Word of God offers solutions for every situation. Don’t entertain anxiety—it leads to self-doubt and other struggles.
Let’s Pray
As we prepare to pray, I want you to take these words seriously and mean every word you say.
Prayer Points:
1. Father, thank you for saving me. Thank you for making me Your child, and for sending Jesus to die for my sins.
2. Lord, have mercy on me and forgive my shortcomings. Help me to live for You in Jesus' name.
3. Lord, ignite Your fire and the Holy Spirit within me. Help me live for You all the days of my life.
4. I decree that I will not live a wasted life in Jesus' name.
5. From today, I am soaked in Jesus, and my path in life is directed by Him.
6. I decree that I am guided by the Holy Spirit in my choices, my academics, my friends, and everything that concerns me.
7. Lord, help my parents as they raise me according to Your will; never let me stray from Your purpose.
8. Lay your hands on your head and decree: I will not die untimely; I will live to fulfill my purpose in Jesus' name.
9. Lay your hands on your chest and decree: My thoughts are aligned with Christ; no worldly thoughts will have a place in me.
10. Lay your hands on your head and declare: I will never become a victim of depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts.
11. I decree that I will not become a negative statistic in Jesus' name.
12. Over my present and future, I will shine as a light on a hill and will never be hidden.
13. From today, I will not declare negativity over my life or anyone else's in Jesus' name.
14. Lord Jesus, from today, keep me under the shadow of Your wings. Make me a mighty arrow in Your hands in Jesus' name.
Amen!
