S.O.A.P.

Daily S.O.A.P Blog

What’s Wrong With Me!?


What God wants is my heart–the good, the bad, and the ugly.
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Scripture
Psalm 42:5
“Why my soul are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my savior and my God.” 
Observation
The psalmist was having an ‘off’ day, and he doesn’t seem totally sure why. Something in his soul was disturbed…but what?
Instead of trying to put on a fake smile and just keep going, he instead took his turmoil to God. “Why, God?” Why am I feeling this way?” God wasn’t afraid of his emotions, and he wasn’t afraid to bring them to God. He made the decision to be raw and real before God and those around him–and he made the decision to continue praising God, even on a bad day. 
Application
I have ‘off’ days from time to time–when there’s nothing urgently going wrong, and yet I’m just in a funk. It can be easy to feel like I’m supposed to put on a plastic smile and just power through, but that’s not what God wants. What God wants is my heart–the good, the bad, and the ugly.
What He desires is the real me, without a filter or facade. What he deserves is my praise and my worship, even when my emotions are off-kilter.
This week, I choose to remain transparent in God’s presence, and give Him glory–even when my day isn’t Instagram-perfect. 
Prayer
God, thank you for loving me–the real me, with all my flaws and imperfections. Thank you for being big enough and gracious enough to handle my off-days. Help me to remember to praise you through every situation and circumstance, because your worthiness does not depend on my emotions. Thank you for sustaining me with your joy! 

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The Overflow


My walk
with God must be a daily, regular, ongoing part of my daily life–so
that the overflow of my personal walk could be used by God to encourage
and build up His church
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Scripture
1 Corinthians 14:18-19
“I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. But in the church I would rather speak five intelligible words to instruct others than ten thousand words in a tongue.” 
Observation
Some gifts of the Spirit build those around me, others are for my own growth. All are beneficial and useful, when used properly. Paul must have operated in the gifts of the Spirit as a regular, daily part of his walk–not just as a Sunday church thing.  In church though, his focus was on doing things in a way that would bring growth to all–not just bring attention to himself.
Application
My walk with God must be a daily, regular, ongoing part of my daily life–so that the overflow of my personal walk could be used by God to encourage and build up His church. This starts with me personally spending time in God’s presence for my own edification, not just trying to pour out of an empty container. As I spend time in God’s presence, receiving from Him, this results in an overflow which can encourage and build up those around me. This is never to be for my own glory or ego, but for the growth of the body of Christ. 
Prayer
God, thank you for the privilege of spending time each day in your presence! Help me to never take this amazing privilege for granted. May my heart be open to daily receive all that you have for me, so that I could be a conduit of encouragement and edification for your family.
May you be glorified in all that I do!

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Never, Always, Every

God’s love for me has no limit!
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Scripture
1 Corinthians 13:7
“Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 
Observation
God’s love is a constant. Everything else may be moving, changing, succeeding, or failing, and yet love (real, genuine, Godly love) remains constant. “Never”…”always”…”every”…these descriptions are absolute, and without limit. This is a description of the scale of God’s love for me, and the kind of love that he desires me to show to those around me. 
Application
The world operates on calculations of limits.
“How much current can this wire carry before it melts?”
“How much weight can this beam support before it breaks?”
“How far can my truck go when the gas light is illuminated, before the engine sputters to a halt?”
God’s love doesn’t work like this! He doesn’t love me until I reach His limit–He simply keeps loving me! His love for me is unending, faithful, hopeful, and enduring.
Christ has called me to love others in the same way. My own love is often limited, sometimes runs low on faith and hope, and does not always endure. I must receive and accept Christ’s love in my life, so that my understanding of love can grow and my capacity to love can be increased. 
Prayer
God, thank you for your limitless love!
Thank you that your love is unending, faithful, hopeful, and enduring. Help me to truly accept your amazing love into the core of my being–to grasp and understand its magnitude, and let it increase my own capacity to love, as I am transformed daily to be more like you. 

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What I heard was…

Disagreements are inevitable, drama is optional.
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Scripture
Joshua 22:11-13, 31
“The rest of Israel heard that the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had built an altar at Geliloth at the edge of the land of Canaan, on the west side of the Jordan River. So the whole community of Israel gathered at Shiloh and prepared to go to war against them. First, however, they sent a delegation led by Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, to talk with the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.”
“Phinehas, son of Eleazar, the priest, replied to them, “Today we know the Lord is among us because you have not committed this treachery against the Lord, as we thought. Instead, you have rescued Israel from being destroyed by the hand of the Lord.”
Observation
What a prime opportunity for strife, tension, drama, and discord to break out! Some of the tribes had built an altar which was not approved by God for sacrifices, and the rest of the nation was ready to take up arms against them. Every party in the situation had a logical, valid, righteous reason for doing what they had done… including the guy who originally spread the rumor. Unfortunately, he was missing one critical piece of information which nearly started a civil war. The situation was ripe for tragedy, but fortunately someone was wise enough to realize that the thing which was lacking…was a conversation.
Phinehas was sent directly to the ones mentioned in the recent gossip, and God used him to avert the crisis and bring unity and healing.
Application
Disagreements are inevitable, drama is optional. When the rumor mill starts, the Godly response is for me to go directly to the other party instead of leaping into action based on a rumor or spreading the rumor farther. God can receive the glory even in very imperfect situations, if I walk in His principles and refuse to play along with gossip and rumors.
This week, I choose to be a catalyst of unity. I choose to “go directly” when rumors or issues sprout up, so that the drama is nipped in the bud and relationships can be preserved.
Prayer
God, thank you for the practical wisdom that I find in your word. Thank you for the unity of your spirit, which allows us to navigate disagreements and put an end to drama. Help me to bring you glory through my conversations-both the conversations that I initiate, and the ones to which I put an end.
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The Way We Run

Christ gives me strength for the race, and freedom to choose how I run.
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Scripture
1 Corinthians 9:26-27
“Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”
Observation
Paul lived with intention, purpose, and discipline. He cared about not only avoiding wrong things, but also about getting the right results–and he recognized that God has given each of us a large degree of choice in the results we get. Aimless running gets aimless results. Disciplined running gets disciplined results. This in no way removes the foundation of faith, divine direction, or trust in God–rather, it affirms the necessity of submitting to God and following His word.
Application
God has given me the freedom to choose how I follow Him. I can run with purpose and self-discipline, or I can cruise along on autopilot…drifting from season to season in life. He decides what the prize is, but I decide how I run.
This week, I choose to run with intention. Not perfection, but with the intentionality of knowing that God has empowered me to run the race to which I am called.
Prayer
God, thank you for the freedom and the strength to run the race to which you’ve called me! Help me to run with faith and trust in you, relying on your leading and guidance.
Help me to daily honor you through my self-discipline, living in your ways instead of merely pursuing my own desires. 
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Growth, not Inflation

Knowledge puffs up, while love builds up
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Scripture
1 Corinthians 8:1,13
“Now about food sacrificed to idols: we know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.”
“Therefore if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.”
Observation
Knowledge is great, but knowledge without love only benefits me. What feels like growth may simply be the sound of my ego inflating.
Love causes me to seek the growth of others also. Paul’s knowledge gave him freedom to eat things that may violate the conscience of others, but love caused him to consider their growth and spiritual health instead of merely doing what made his belly happy.
Application
I’m blessed to live in an era when there is no shortage of knowledge. Any random question that pops into my head, can be answered by the device in my pocket:
“How many toes does an Aardvaark have?” (4 in the front, 5 in the back)
“How much is a gallon of gasoline in Argentina today?” ($3.93)
The problem is that all of the knowledge in the world will not build us as people up into the unity and purpose for which we are called–only love will do that.
If I want to be more like Christ, then I cannot settle for the easy ego inflation of knowledge alone–I must love the way Christ loves, with a genuine, hands-on, real, practical, applied love which prioritizes the growth of the whole above my own comfort and preferences.
This week, I need to look for opportunities to love those around me–and then grow together in the love of God.
Prayer
God, you have all knowledge–and yet you loved me enough to pay the price for my sins. Thank you!
Teach me to love the way that you do, so that I could be a catalyst of growth in the world. As I walk in your love may I always be built up in you, instead of puffed up in knowledge.

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Situated for His Glory

My situation does not limit or define God’s call on me, or my ability to follow and walk with him. Rather, the state of my heart is what He is interested in.
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Scripture
1 Corinthians 8:24
“Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.”
Observation
God calls people from every situation to redeem them. His power and redemption result in a change in the state of their heart, but not always an immediate change in their situation. That external force is never enough to limit or restrict the power of God though.
Application
There are situations in my life that I may view as a limitation or restriction. Whether social, economic, relational, or anything else–my situation does not limit or define God’s call on me, or my ability to follow and walk with him. Rather, the state of my heart is what He is interested in.
As I fully surrender my heart to God, he is able to use me for his glory within my present situation–until such time as he may see fit to release me from it. Whatever my situation may be, I must trust God and allow him to continue his transformation within and through me.
Prayer
God, thank you that your power is not limited by any situation, constraint, or restriction in my circumstance. Thank you for the ability to serve you through every situation, and help me to trust you and fully surrender my heart to you.
As I surrender my heart to you, I pray that you would use me to affect each situation in my life for your glory.
 
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Agency in Adversity


Christ has given me agency in adversity. He’s given me the freedom and power to walk in victory, even when I’m being wronged.
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Scripture
 1 Corinthians 6:7
“The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?”
Observation
God is grieved when he sees fighting, bickering, and warring within his body. Paul told the church at Corinth that their incessant striving to “win” showed that they had already lost. Instead, he shows that there is a victory to be found in “being wronged”, and in “being cheated”. Instead of playing the part of the victim, he instructed them to walk as a victor–even through adversity. This kind of internal spiritual victory cannot be taken by anyone else. 
Application
I hate losing. I hate being wronged. I hate coming out on the short end of the deal. It’s easy for me to be consumed by trying to “win” when I feel this way. This scripture reminds me though, that there is a greater conflict at stake–the battle in my heart. If I win the argument at the expense of the unity of the body, then I’ve truly already lost the fight that matters. Instead, Christ has given me agency in adversity. He’s given me the freedom and power to walk in victory, even when I’m being wronged.
In Christ, I am a victor–never a victim. 
Prayer
God, thank you for this reminder not to get distracted or derailed by surface-level conflict…because there is a greater conflict daily being waged for my heart. Thank you for the freedom you’ve given me to walk in victory, even when it would be easy to portray myself as a victim. May you be glorified in me, through every season and situation I face.

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The Faith Catalyst

Today’s SOAP devotional is brought to you by Carrie Phipps!
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Scripture
Mark 2:3-5,10-12 
“Some men came bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by the four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was laying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son your sins are forgiven”. Vs. 10-11 But I want you to know that the son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins. So he said to the man “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home”. Vs 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
Observation
Faith is the catalyst and the key to salvation, healing and to all the promises of God. It is by faith that this paralyzed man and his friends chose to go where Jesus was, it was by faith, that they knew that they needed to get their paralyzed friend in front of Jesus, it was by faith, that they made a way to get around the obstacles in their way (the crowds, the roof) to get their friend to Jesus. And it was by faith that Jesus could do what the Father sent Him to do-to seek and save this man who was lost (giving him salvation) and to heal him of all infirmities, sickness, and disease. If the paralyzed man’s friends had not moved by faith, nothing would have resulted. How marvelous that all that the Lord requires of us is faith–to receive salvation, become his child, to enter his kingdom, to receive healing and to receive every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Faith is the catalyst to ALL the Lord has in store for us. This is why Heb 11:6 says that without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him MUST believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. 
Application
Whenever I approach my Father through Jesus, I must come in faith knowing that if I come to Him seeking according to His word and will, it is Yes and Amen! I need to trust that God will give me His wisdom to get around and over any obstacle standing in my way to reach Him and it’s by Faith that He will accomplish in me all that I need and require and all that He came to fulfill. 
Prayer
Father, forgive me for the times that my faith is weak. Help me to know the POWER of faith in You and in Your Word. Grow my faith so that I will know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you will grant all that I ask of you that is according to your word, your will and your time. Thank you for the simplicity of your gospel based upon simple faith. It is the catalyst to move mountains and to move your hands and heart into action. 

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Yes

The question is not “Do you think this will work?”, rather the question is “Do you trust me?”
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Scripture
Joshua 1:1-2
“After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them-to the Israelites.” 
Observation
Joshua had been appointed as the leader, and now Moses was dead. Joshua was in an in-between season. God had called him and he had said “yes”…but God had not yet spoken to him to give him direction on the next step. We don’t know how long this season lasted–it could have been a day, it could have been a year. All we know is that Joshua’s “yes” came before God spoke to give him the next step. God didn’t leave him hanging though. At the right moment God spoke–and Joshua and the nation walked across the Jordan river into God’s promise.
Application
God doesn’t often give me direction before I say “yes” to Him. The call comes first–then comes the waiting. At the right moment, God speaks and the next step becomes clear. The challenge is in saying “yes” to God. The question is not “Do you think this will work?”, rather the question is “Do you trust me?” The outcome is in God’s hands, not mine. He simply desires that I trust Him, and surrender to His plan.
This week, I choose to say “yes” to God. I choose to trust the outcome to Him, I choose to let Him use my life as He sees fit.
Prayer
God, I choose to say “yes!” to you!
Thank you for the confidence of knowing that you hold my future. May your plans be accomplished in and through me, as I surrender my life to you.

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