S.O.A.P.

Daily S.O.A.P Blog

Joy on the Journey

Scripture
James 1:2-4
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” 
Observation
Trials: I’ve had many, and I don’t like them. James says to count them as joy though, because of what they produce. Trials bring perseverance, and perseverance results in maturity and completeness. Uncomfortable processes produce healthy outcomes when they are surrendered to God. 
Application
God wants me to be mature, and complete in Him. Because of this, He will allow me to navigate uncomfortable circumstances in order to produce the results that he desires in me. If I am surrendered to Christ, then the outcome will be a good one. The decision for me is whether or not I count it all as joy.
This week, I choose joy! I choose to let God accomplish the growth that He desires in me.
Prayer
God, thank you for loving me enough to accomplish your growth in me! Help me to walk in your joy, even when facing discomfort-because I trust your love for me. 

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Desires and Instincts

Scripture
Jude 1:18-19
“…In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires. These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.” 
Observation
Those who follow their own desires sometimes want to do so from the church pew. Rather than going their own way, they instead stick around just closely enough to cause division.
Unity comes from Spirit-led desires and a priority on the health of the Body instead of a focus on self. 
Application
Being ‘in the church’ is not enough, if my heart and my life are not surrendered to God. No matter how spiritual I sound, the outcome will be division and discord if my desires are not surrendered to the Spirit.
Natural instincts will not achieve the Spirit’s desires for my life.
This week, I need to choose to surrender my desires to God so that I could be an agent of unity, and not discord. 
Prayer
God, thank you for the leading of your Spirit! Help me to daily submit my desires to yours, so that You would be glorified in my life. 

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The New Covenant

Scripture
Hebrews 10:16
“This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” 
Observation
The new covenant established by the blood of Jesus is not written on stone tablets, but on our hearts. God is not looking for people who will merely follow a list of rules, but rather those who will walk by faith in relationship with Him. 
Application
I can’t reduce my walk with God to merely a list of “do’s” and “don’ts”. Rule books lead to loopholes. Instead of walking as far as I can away from God and looking for every available loophole, God desires for me to walk as close in relationship to Him as I can. This new covenant is a covenant of love, not legislation. 
Prayer
God, thank you for your covenant of love which you have written on my heart! Help me to walk closer each day in relationship to you, instead of trying to see how far I can stray. Thank you for your mercy, your grace, your love, and your power! 

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Certain and Sure

Scripture
Titus 1:2
“In the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time.” 
Observation
Before life began, God promised us eternal life. Before we ever faced sin, and death through sin, the promise of eternal life was ours. His promise came before our problem! His word is certain and sure, and His promises are trustworthy. 
Application
I don’t know what life has in store, but my Father does. I don’t know what challenges will arise today, but my Father does. I don’t know where my humanity and imperfection will be revealed, but my Father does. I can trust that He knows my needs before I do, and He has already promised to supply all that I need.
This week, I choose to walk in the confidence and peace that I am walking in the promises of the almighty God. 
Prayer
God, thank you for your promises and your provision! Thank you for knowing what I need, and for being my source and my supply. 

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Learning and Living

Scripture
1 Timothy 4:16
“Watch your life and your doctrine closely. Persevere in them because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” 
Observation
Doctrine is important. Equally important is the way I live my life. It is not enough to merely have head knowledge about what God’s word teaches–it must be lived out in daily life. 
Application
It can be easy to get narrowly focused on points of doctrine. Doctrine is vitally important, but it is only half of the equation. I must also “live out” God’s principles in my life–because true transformation doesn’t come from mere knowledge. It comes from walking daily with the Savior and letting Him be the Lord of the decisions I make and actions I take.
Godly talking, plus Godly walking, leads to God-sized change. 
Prayer
God, thank you for the sacred truths found in your word! Help me live with daily discipline to not only learn about you, but also walk daily with you. 

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Simple

Scripture
Philippians 3:1
“Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.” 
Observation
Paul repeated himself a lot. It wasn’t from being absent-minded or forgetful, rather it was a very intentional decision on Paul’s part to keep coming back to the basics over and over again, for the good of those to whom he was speaking. Instead of getting frustrated at having to repeat himself, Paul instead embraced the simple power of the gospel. 
Application
The gospel is not complicated, and living for God isn’t too complex either. Instead of over-complicating things, I must consistently point people back to the simplicity of the God who loves us, and gave His life for our redemption. Paul was not concerned about repeating himself, and neither should I be.
As I keep the message simple and point people back to Christ, He will do the hard work of transforming us each into His image. 
Prayer
God, thank you for the simplicity of the gospel! Thank you for your patience in pointing me back to your grace over and over again! Help me to keep the message simple each day, as I share your good news with others. 

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Smooth Talk

Scripture
Romans 16:17-18
“I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery, they deceive the minds of naive people.”
Observation
Division and obstacles. There is never a shortage of people in life who will cause these things, often for their own benefit or gratification. Paul points out that these people don’t always come with open hostility or conflict, but rather they frequently arrive with “smooth talk and flattery”. The intention behind the words matters! 
Application
There are people in my life who talk smooth, and people who are rough around the edges. It’s easy to accept or reject the words of others based on how ‘comfortable’ they make me. This passage from Romans is a good reminder that “comfort” is not a good criteria for what I accept into my life. Smooth words can hide a divisive heart, and compliments can conceal manipulation and flattery. By the same token, uncomfortable but healthy confrontation can reveal those who care enough about me to challenge me. In my own interaction with others, I need to care enough about those around me, to speak loving truth even when it causes discomfort. The goal is unity and growth–not complacency which ultimately leads to division. 
Prayer
God, help me to look past surface-level words, to discern hearts and motives. Help me to reject division, and choose unity. Help me to care enough about those around me, to speak the truth in love at all times. 
 
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Can’t Hold It In!

Scripture
Romans 10:13-14
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” 
Observation
Salvation is freely available to everyone who calls on the name of the Lord. His infinite love and mercy is available and accessible to all. This amazing news must be shared! This life changing salvation story must be told, so that the world may call on the name of the Lord. Our savior has invited us to be a part of the process of sharing this amazing news with others. God doesn’t operate in our lives for us to just live in silent appreciation of Him–we must share His story with others!
Application
God has been so good to me! He has been faithful through every storm and every season. He is there when I call on Him, and He is strong when I reach the limit of my own strength. How could I not share how good He is? How could I ever hold inside, the amazing greatness of His power and His mercy?
This week, I choose to tell God’s story.
This week, I choose to look for opportunities to tell people about His goodness!
Prayer
God, thank you for your love, your mercy, your greatness, and your goodness. Give me boldness this week to share your story with those around me. Help me to seize each opportunity to tell the world about the savior who loved me and redeemed me! 

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No Qualifications

Scripture
‘Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there. ‘ 
Observation
God cares about each one of His children. He doesn’t require us to be ‘old enough’, ‘mature enough’, ‘advanced enough’, or ‘educated enough’ to approach Him. The kingdom of heaven belongs to those who come to God with the simple love and trust of a child.  Jesus took intentional time out of His day, to express His love for the smallest of His children. 
Application
I don’t have to put on airs with God. I don’t have to pretend to be someone that I’m not, or try to impress him. He sees me exactly as I am, and loves me anyway. He desires for me to come to him with the simplicity of a child, with simple trust in his unconditional love for me.  He desires for me to be a conduit of his love to those around me–not trying to filter or limit who is ‘qualified enough’ to approach him.
He took time out of his day to show love to the least, and he expects no less of me.
This week, I need to watch for opportunities to care for those whose hearts are ready to approach him…whoever they may be.
Prayer
God, thank you that your love for me is not based on my qualifications! Thank you for loving me unconditionally. Help me to be a conduit of your love to the world around me, and to always be ready to introduce people to you–no matter who they are. 

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Walking with the Savior

Scripture
“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ‘
Observation
Jesus was frustrated by Peter’s lack of faith. It’s interesting though, that Peter’s reaction was to reach for the hand of Jesus. “Lord! Save me!” he cried.  These are not the words of someone who doubts the source of their help–this is the instinctive cry of someone who knows exactly where to turn when the going gets rough!
The problem for Peter is that he took his eyes off of what Jesus was already presently doing. Peter was already walking on the water! Jesus was already presently in the process of performing a miracle in his life.  Jesus’ desire was for Peter to keep his eyes on Him, and see what he was already doing. 
Application
God is at work in my life, and in the world around me. I need to trust Him, and trust that He is actively working on my behalf at all times. There are times that the waves will be crashing around me, and His desire is that I would simply keep walking with him. Not running to Him in a panic, but simply putting one foot in front of the other as we walk among the waves together.
This week, I need to just keep walking with the Savior.
Prayer
Thank you that you are here with me, actively working on my behalf. Thank you that You are with me through every storm, and every season. Thank You for being the wave-walker, and for being my shepherd, my guide, my healer, my provider, my Lord, and my God.

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