S.O.A.P.

Daily S.O.A.P Blog

Carrying Joy

Scripture
 Acts 8:4-8
“Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city.”
Observation
The church was facing persecution, and the believers were being scattered across the land. This was a time of great turmoil for those who followed Christ. Amid the scattering, Philip wound up in Samaria and God used him to perform miracles and lead people to God. Despite the turmoil and uncertainty, Philip brought joy with him. 
Application
It’s easy to bring joy when everything is easy. When the road is smooth and there are no obstacles, it’s easy to keep a smile on my face and encourage those around me. But this kind of joy doesn’t really even require God! The joy of the Lord is a joy that persists even when things aren’t so easy.
Like Philip, I need to carry God’s joy with me. Joy that trusts God with the outcome, no matter the circumstances. Joy that points others toward God, instead of trying to draw attention to my own pity party when things get difficult. This is the kind of joy that can change the world, as I allow God to use the story of my life to bring Him glory.
This week, I choose to carry the joy of the Lord.  
Prayer
God, thank you for your joy! Help me to point others back to you through every season and situation, and carry your joy with me through every circumstance. 

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Overhearing

Scripture
Malachi 3:13-15
“You have spoken arrogantly against me,” says the Lord. “Yet you asked, “What have we said against You?” “You have said, “It is futile to serve God. What do we gain by carrying out His requirements and going about like mourners before the Lord Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly evildoers prosper and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it.” 
Observation
God ranks my arrogance against Him, right up on a level with me stealing from Him. When I miss an opportunity to praise Him–or worse yet, use the moment to tear His name down, it rouses His anger. It is not futile to serve God! He is generous and loving, and loves to bless His children. It wounds the heart of God when we receive His blessing, and then neglect to acknowledge the giver of every perfect gift.
Application
I don’t want to be arrogant toward God! I want to receive His blessings with thanksgiving, and point back to Him as the source of all that I have. I want God to overhear me speaking His praises, not tearing His name and reputation down. This week, I choose to look for opportunities to praise Him. 
Prayer
God, You are awesome! I want to tell the world how great you are, and not keep the Good News to myself! 

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My Very Best

Scripture
Malachi 1:11-13
“…My name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty. “But you profane it by saying, ‘The Lord’s table is defiled,’ and ‘It’s food is contemptible.’ And you say ‘What a burden!’ and you sniff at it contemptuously,” says the Lord Almighty. “When you bring injured, lame, or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?” says the Lord. 
Observation
We get what we give. If I invest my worst, I shouldn’t be surprised when I get poor returns. God was unhappy with His people because instead of bringing their best to God, they were bringing their castoffs and rejects.  
Application
God deserves the very best that I can give Him. He’s worth it! If I don’t like the quality of what I receive at church, I need to look hard at the quality of what I am offering to God. If I don’t like the way church smells, I need to check the fragrance of what I am bringing. 
Prayer
God, you deserve my best. Not me factory seconds and “B-stock”. Help me to always joyfully give to you from the best that I have! I pray that my worship and praise to you would carry the scent of incense, not the odor of diseased and rotting meat. 

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Sit, Stand, Walk

Scripture
Psalm 1:1-2
“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked, or stand in the way that sinners take, or sit in the company of mockers. But whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on His law day and night.” 
Observation
Scripture teaches us not to sin, but this passage goes a couple steps farther than that–we’re not just taught to avoid walking in sinful ways (in step with the wicked), but we are counseled not to even stand in the path they take. Standing isn’t participating…it’s merely accompanying or observing. Then we are told to avoid sitting in the company of mockers. Sitting is even less action-oriented than standing–but sitting with mockers means we hear the constant stream of mockery.
God’s blessing follows those who saturate their lives with the word of God. 
Application
God looks beyond my actions, to see my motives. He desires to bless me, but his blessing is for those who follow him heart-first. Not merely with the actions of my hands and feet, but also with my time and my attention.
This week, I choose to walk in step with God.
I choose to stand in his presence.
I choose to sit at his feet and listen to his wisdom, instead of filling my mind and my heart with the mockery of the world around me. 
Prayer
God, thank you for your blessings! I want to honor you with my time and my attention. I want to sit at your feet and listen to your voice. I want to stand with confidence on your word, and I want to walk in your ways. Thank you for leading and guiding me! 
 
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Obeying and Investing

Scripture
Nehemiah 10:39b
“We will not neglect the house of our God!” 
Observation
The people of God were turning back to Him. They had confessed their sins, praised His faithfulness, and pledged their obedience to God. The conclusion of their prayer is this short but powerful declaration: “We will not neglect the house of our God!”
They understood that it was not enough to privately and independently live for God behind the closed doors of their homes. Their love for God led them to care about the house of God–putting skin in the game, and ensuring that there was a place in their community where people could learn about, and talk with, the God of the universe. This was an act of obedience, and an investment in the spiritual health of their children and grandchildren. 
Application
God has instituted the church for a reason. Not for a place to live (because now He lives in our hearts), but rather as a family and as a fellowship where we are able to come and meet God, learn about God, share about God, and establish a culture and covenant of obedience to God which will outlast my lifetime. My faithfulness in supporting my church fellowship is an act of obedience to God, and a covenant of faithfulness to not only follow God personally, but also establish a trajectory of obedience for those who come after me.
This week, I need to be intentional to support my church fellowship and church family–with my calendar, my resources, and my abilities. 
Prayer
God, thank you for New Hope Legacy! Thank you for a place where I and my family can learn and grow in you. Thank you for a place where we can invest in your kingdom, to be a part of sharing the good news about your son with those who come after us! 

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Plot Twist

Scripture
Acts 1:6-8
“Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 
Observation
Even after all this time with Jesus, his disciples still had a very flawed understanding of what he was trying to accomplish. They still expected him to liberate the Jewish nation from Rome and set up his kingdom here on earth. He replied to them that he had larger plans than they had even imagined. His plans were not just for Israel, but for Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the entire earth. He was not merely setting up an earthly kingdom to compete with Rome, but rather a heavenly Kingdom which would supersede every earthly authority. 
Application
God has plans and purposes of which I am not aware. No matter how long I serve Him, His thoughts are still higher than mine and His purposes are still greater than mine. When things don’t go the way I think they should, I must trust His divine plans and trust His love for me. My own plans must always be submitted to Him, even when I believe them to be aligned with His word. This week, I need to trust God to make the changes that he desires. 
Prayer
God, thank you that you are worthy of my trust. Thank you, that your understanding and your plans are not limited by the things which limit me. Help me this week to trust you, even when things go differently than I think they should–because I know that you love me, and your plans for me are good. 

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Staying On-Mission

Scripture
Nehemiah 6:3,8
“I sent messengers to them with this reply: “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?”
“…I sent him this reply: “Nothing like what you are saying is happening. You are just making it up out of your head.” 
Observation
Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem were trying to derail Nehemiah’s mission to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. They tried to distract him from the work, and he remained focused on the mission. They tried to intimidate him by starting false rumors which would cause division between him and the king. He responded by calling them out on their lie, and boldly speaking the truth.
He continued the mission, and he let God worry about the things which were out of his control. 
Application
God has given me a mission. He has opened doors for me to step through, and empowered me to do the things to which he has called me. I know the enemy will not sit back and idly watch God’s plans being accomplished without putting up a fight, so I need to be prepared for the challenges that will arise. The enemy will attempt to distract me with urgent but unproductive (and possibly harmful) tasks. I must stay focused on the mission! If the distraction fails, the enemy will try using drama, accusations, and rumors to pull me off course. I must live a life above reproach with the help of God, and then let Him fight my battles and be my defense. God’s truth dispels lies, and His integrity brings an end to rumors.
Prayer
God, thank you for leading and guiding me step by step. Help me to keep my eyes on you, and not allow myself to become distracted from the things to which you have called me. Help me to see the difference between the “necessary” and the “urgent”, and not allow my life to be ruled by urgently meaningless tasks.
Help me to live with integrity, so that when the enemy’s accusations come against me I could stand firm on your truth, shine your light to expose deceit, and let You be my defense. 

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Shocking

Scripture
Ezra 9:2-4
“They have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, and have mingled the holy race with the peoples around them. And the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness.”
When I heard this, I tore my tunic and cloak, and pulled hair from my head and beard and sat down appalled. Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel gathered around me because of this unfaithfulness of the exiles. And I sat there appalled until the evening sacrifice.”
Observation
Ezra was appalled at the shocking report he had received: The leaders of the Israelite remnant had taken wives from the heathen nations around them!  This doesn’t seem like a big deal from a human perspective. After all–they were probably ‘in love’, and there couldn’t be any harm in just following their heart…right? What’s the big deal?!
The big deal was that God had given them principles to live by, and this was a specific and direct violation of the word of God. They were instructed not to intermingle with those of the nations around them who served other gods.
This remnant of the Israelites were those who had previously been taken into captivity, and God had just miraculously brought them back to their promised land, to begin restoring the nation of Israel. These people were walking in the blessing, grace, and favor of God.  Unfortunately, they wanted to continue enjoying the blessings and grace of God…while making ungodly decisions to suit their own desires.  This lack of integrity is what shocked Ezra to his core–that they would so blatantly abuse the grace of God, and use it as a license to continue their own sinful desires. God’s grace is never given as a license to continue sinning. God’s grace is given, to empower us to walk in freedom away from the sin which once enslaved us! 
Application
I need to see sin through God’s eyes. Not through the lens of my own desires, preferences, and logic–but through the lens of God’s word. It doesn’t matter if I can rationalize ‘why’ I should be able to do something…if God said ‘no’, then the answer is ‘no’.  I need to keep my heart close enough to God, that deviation from His word would be appalling to me!  Instead of trying to see how far I can go and still be covered by grace, I need to be grateful enough for God’s grace to see how close to Him I can walk.
As I interact with the world around me, I need to let God’s word guide my interactions. Just because someone else is a believer and can rationalize their actions…doesn’t mean that their actions are right and godly. There is a place for me to take a godly stand against sin in the body of Christ, and stand firm on the principles of God’s word.
This week, I need to walk with integrity in grace–not trying to see how far it will stretch, but rather trying to see how much like my savior I can grow. I need to see sin through God’s eyes, and allow the things that shock Him, to shock me also. I need to take a stand for what is right–not for the purpose of shaming and condemning people, but for the purpose of turning people back to the foundation on which we stand.
Prayer
God, thank you for your patience with me! Thank you for your grace and your forgiveness. Please help me to never use your grace as an excuse to keep sinning, or abuse your forgiveness by continuing to do the things from which you have already freed me!
Transform my mind, so that I would be shocked by the things that shock you. Give me the boldness and courage to stand firmly on your word, and point people back to you in all that I do.
 
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Praise

Our SOAP journal is brought to you today by Rae Takiue. Rae is a hard-working mama, a gifted hula dancer, and a strong woman of God. She has a passion to glorify God with her life story. 
Scripture
When Jesus heard him, he stopped and ordered that the man be brought to him. As the man came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord,” he said, “I want to see!” And Jesus said, “All right, receive your sight! Your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus, praising God. And all who saw it praised God, too.
Luke 18:40‭-‬43 NLT
Observation
This blind beggar cried out to Jesus no matter how much everyone told him to be quiet. He probably felt like the least deserving man to be healed…a blind beggar that even regular people would not give the time of day to but his desire and faith to be healed was greater than his shame or fear. He called out to Jesus and Jesus healed him, but it did not end there. He followed Jesus and praised God, and everyone started to praise God too. 
Application
Sometimes we get our miracle, or answered prayer and we forget the faith we clung to so strongly because our struggling is done. I need to praise God even on my best days because Jesus saved me on my worst days. I need to share my testimony so that others can find hope in them. 
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for all that you do for me. I don’t deserve any of this but you still cover me with your love and I am so humbled and grateful.
God help me to remember where I’ve been and what I’ve been through so I may have a grateful heart full of faith and hope at all times. God use me to show others your goodness and faithfulness to them too.
Amen!! 

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Planted In The Sea

Scripture
Luke 17:6
“He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” 
Observation
‘Planted’. It’s an interesting word that Jesus uses–I’ve seen trees planted in dirt, sand, mud, even bare rock…but I’ve never seen a tree planted in the middle of the ocean!  He doesn’t say that the mulberry tree would be ‘thrown’ into the sea…he says it would be ‘planted’ in the sea. Trees need something solid and firm in which to be planted.
Faith in God, no matter how small, is ‘enough’.  Faith in God is enough to call God’s supernatural power into the situation. Faith in God is enough to bring solidity where there is only shifting water currents and dark depths beneath.
Application
There have been moments in life when I felt like I was adrift at sea. Nothing to hold onto, nothing to stay rooted in, nothing to stop me from drifting with the changing currents of water. This passage reminds me that my security in Christ is not dependent on the circumstances around me. My security in Christ is dependent only on His love for me, and my faith in Him. I don’t even have to feel like I have very much faith in Him…even faith the size of a mustard seed is enough to keep me firmly rooted in Christ, despite the water surging beneath me.
This week, I need to keep my faith centered on Christ. No matter the challenges or the struggles, no matter the changes or the unknowns–my faith must be unwaveringly fixed on Christ alone.
Prayer
God, thank you for giving me faith! Thank you that the stability of my life is not dependent on how much or how little faith I feel like I have–but rather it is dependent solely on your unfathomably great power.  Thank you for drawing me to you, and help me to keep my attention, my hope, and my faith firmly fixed on you and nothing else.

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