S.O.A.P.

Daily S.O.A.P Blog

Kingdom Wins

  • January 9, 2024
In spite of their imperfections, Jesus kept loving and leading his disciples–and he kept teaching them to celebrate Kingdom wins.
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Scripture

Luke 9:49-50
“John answered, ‘Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us’. But Jesus said to him, ‘Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you’.”
Observation
I’m fascinated by the subplot in this chapter. Jesus specifically gives the Twelve authority over ‘all demons’, and sends them out. Shortly after, they return and encounter a demon that they seem powerless to cast out! As they’re processing this unexpected twist, they hear about someone else who is casting out demons in the name of Jesus…and this other guy is succeeding! They try to stop the guy, but Jesus prevents them and teaches them to look for the ‘Kingdom win’ instead.
Application
I’m grateful for these glimpses of Jesus’ patience with his disciples! They battled pride, personal agendas, conflict, offense, and all the other things that I must also confront in my life. In spite of their imperfections, Jesus kept loving and leading them–and he kept teaching them to celebrate Kingdom wins.
This week, I choose to stay teachable rather than taking offense when things don’t go as I expect. I choose to celebrate Kingdom wins, so that they King would be glorified.
Prayer
God, thank you for your patience with me! Help me to be teachable this week instead of arrogant–and give me a heart to always seek and celebrate Kingdom wins, rather than personal affirmation and recognition.

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Don’t Settle!

  • January 8, 2024
God doesn’t need my expertise as a consultant or strategist. His word is certain and true–no matter the opposition or the obstacles.
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Scripture

Genesis 20:2
“And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, ‘She is my sister.’ And Abimalech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.”
Observation
This guy just doesn’t learn! Just a few chapters ago Abraham pulled this same stunt with the king of Egypt, and now here he is doing the exact same thing again. He saw what God had given him, he knew what God had promised him, yet he didn’t believe that God could defend him long enough to fulfill the promise.
Application
How often have I approached life with this same lack of faith? I see what God has done, and I know what he’s promised to do–then I panic, thinking that he’ll surely require my assistance in order to fulfill his promise!
God doesn’t need my expertise as a consultant or strategist. His word is certain and true–no matter the opposition or the obstacles. This week, I choose to trust God to sustain and defend me–and I trust Him to fulfill His promises.
Prayer
God, I choose to trust you. Instead of settling for less than your best, I choose to rely on your strength to fulfill what you want me to do–knowing that you are faithful to accomplish what only you can do.

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Delayed Obedience

  • January 7, 2024
Scripture

Genesis 19:15-16
As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.” But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.
Observation
The story of Lot is a story of continually delayed obedience. God had instructed Lot to flee to the hills, but Lot lingered in the city. The angels compelled him to leave the city, and Lot begged to be allowed to go to a different town instead of to the hills. Finally he arrived at that other town, but was afraid to remain there and ended up going to the hills as God had already instructed him. His obedience was delayed, partial, and reluctant–rather than swift, complete, and eager. In light of Lot’s reluctant attitude toward God, it’s no wonder that his wife looked back reluctantly at the place that they had left…and it’s no wonder that Lot’s daughters ultimately made some terrible and ungodly decisions as well. Lot ultimately obeyed…but his life had set the wrong example for the rest of his family to follow.
Application
There’s a little saying that I often say to my sons: “Delayed obedience…is disobedience!” Obedience that is delayed as long as possible, or fulfilled as sparingly as possible…is not really obedience at all. This is the mindset that Lot seems to have! Not eagerly and gladly following God’s command, but reluctantly and with a terrible attitude. God was trying to save his life, for heaven’s sake!
But how often have I been guilty of the same? I know what God commanded me…but I’ll delay and drag my feet. I don’t want to have that kind of attitude in my walk with God! I want to gladly and eagerly respond when he gives me an instruction, because I know that his heart is to bless me and show me mercy. Why would I not eagerly respond to a heart like that?!
This week, I choose to obey God on his timeframe…not merely when I feel like it. I choose to truly make him the Lord of my life, not just in name only.
Prayer
God, thank you for you love and your mercy! Thank you for your patience with me, when I drag my feet and delay in obeying you. I know you love me, and so I choose to follow and obey you with a glad heart. You are the Lord, the Master, and the authority to whom I choose to bow.

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The Fulfillment

  • January 6, 2024
Instead of trying to figure out how to fulfill God’s promise in my life, I must instead lock step with the promise-giver…trusting that His timing is perfect, and His promise will not fail.
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Scripture

Genesis 16:5
And Sarai said to Abram, “May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me!”
Observation
Abram and Sarai were eager for the fulfillment of God’s promise. It wasn’t going the way they expected, and so Sarai jumped in to help the process along: “Here Abram–take Hagar, and have a son with her! It’ll turn out just as good as if God had brought it to pass!”
Things didn’t turn out as Sarai expected, and now she had to deal with the results of her own decisions. The promise would still be fulfilled, but there were consequences and outcomes that now had to be dealt with.
Application
I can relate to Sarai. When God’s promises don’t come to pass on my timing or on my terms, it’s easy to jump in and try to ‘fix’ the situation for God. Inevitably, my solution doesn’t turn out as well as his. I must choose to remember that God is faithful to fulfill His promise, and he doesn’t need me to solve the obstacles for him. Instead of trying to figure out how to fulfill His promise in my life, I must instead lock step with the promise-giver…trusting that His timing is perfect, and His promise will not fail.
Prayer
God, thank you for your promises! Help me to trust you when I don’t yet see the fulfillment of your promise, and thank you for being greater than any obstacle! I choose to let you bring your better fulfillment, instead of scheming and stressing to implement my own solution.

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Divine Approval

  • January 5, 2024
God’s plan will not lead me, where His grace cannot sustain me. In order to love my wife as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25), I must love with a heart of self-sacrifice rather than self-preservation. My job is to love my family well, and lead them toward Christ. Christ’s job is to be my strength and my defense as I follow Him.
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Scripture

Genesis 12:10-13
10 Now there was a famine in the land. So Abram went down to Egypt to sojourn there, for the famine was severe in the land. 11 When he was about to enter Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, “I know that you are a woman beautiful in appearance, 12 and when the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me, but they will let you live. 13 Say you are my sister, that it may go well with me because of you, and that my life may be spared for your sake.”
Observation
Abraham was quick to abdicate his God-given responsibility in his home and marriage in an effort of self-preservation. Not only did this undoubtedly damage his marriage relationship, it also caused damage to the entire community around him. He failed to believe that the same God who had blessed him with a wife, would also give him the strength, wisdom, and divine protection to fulfill his responsibility to his wife.
Application
Our world can be a risky place for men. Society has (rightfully) pushed back on toxic and unhealthy cultural norms from times past, but the pendulum seems to have now swung far the other direction–where many men have become hesitant to be who God created them to be, and to live and lead as God has called them. The societal price can be severe–either give in to the humanistic values and norms of modern culture…or pay the price of mockery, shaming, baseless accusations, and condemnation from the rabid mob.
Yet God’s plan will not lead me, where His grace cannot sustain me. In order to love my wife as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25), I must love with a heart of self-sacrifice rather than self-preservation. My job is to love my family well, and lead them toward Christ. Christ’s job is to be my strength and my defense as I follow Him.
Ultimately, I will not answer to society but rather to God himself for the way that I live and lead–and when that time comes, I want to hear Him say “Well done!”
Prayer
God, help me to love and lead my family well…not with a heart of self-preservation, but rather of self-sacrifice. Give me wisdom to follow you, and strength to persevere through every challenge. I want to receive your approval, not the temporary applause of this broken world.

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Twisted Truth

  • January 4, 2024
Speaking the truth isn’t enough. If I lack the heart of God, then even the truth that I speak will not serve his purpose. I must speak the truth, with the right heart.
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Scripture

Luke 4:41
“And demons also came out of many, crying ‘You are the Son of God!’ But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.”
Observation
Truth was being spoken, but Jesus put a stop to it. Not because it was true, but because it was twisted. The demons in these people didn’t have God’s purpose or his heart–and so even when they spoke truth, it was with an ungodly purpose.
Application
Speaking truth isn’t enough. If I lack the heart of God, then even the truth that I speak will not serve his purpose. I must speak the truth, with the right heart.
This week I choose to speak with the right heart, and not just with the right information.
Prayer
God, thank you for your truth! Help me to always speak your truth with the right heart, so that you would be glorified. May I never justify a wrong heart, with twisted truth.

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Something New

  • January 3, 2024
It’s easy to put God into a box of what he’s already done in my life. But God isn’t done yet! There are new seasons ahead, and new purposes to fulfill. As long as my answer to him is always ‘yes!’, there is no limit to what God can do.
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Scripture

Genesis 7:11
“In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened.”
Observation
600 years Noah walked the earth, and never saw a global flood, never needed an ark. 600 years…and then God did something that had never been seen before. God was not limited by the way things had always been, and now he was doing something new.
Application
I’m nowhere near 600 years old, but it’s still easy to begin to put God into a box of what he’s already done in my life. But God isn’t done yet! There are new seasons ahead, and new purposes to fulfill. As long as my answer to him is always ‘yes!’, there is no limit to what God can do.
Today I choose to say ‘yes’ to God, and keep my eyes on the horizon to see not just what he has done, but what he is doing!
Prayer
God, I choose to say ‘yes!’ to you! May you accomplish what you desire in my life, even if it is completely outside of my expectation or assumptions.

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Check Engine

  • January 2, 2024
The sudden flare of anger in my heart is always evidence of something that God wants to accomplish in me–some change or transformation that will bring him glory.
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Scripture

Genesis 4:4-7
“…and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”
Observation
Cain and Abel each brought a sacrifice to God, but only Abel’s sacrifice was accepted. Why? Scripture doesn’t say. All we know is that Cain didn’t “do well”…and because his sacrifice was rejected, he became angry. Though God was the one who rejected the offering, Cain directed his anger at his brother. He didn’t ‘rule over’ the sin which was crouched and waiting, and he committed the first murder in recorded history.
Application
Rejection never feels good. When the thing that I bring isn’t ‘good enough’, my emotions flare quickly…and anger swiftly follows. Sometimes though, the rejection is self-inflicted. Whether self-inflicted or not, that sudden flare of anger in my heart is always evidence of something that God wants to accomplish in me–some change or transformation that will bring him glory. When I reject his correction and stubbornly continue on my path, nothing good can result. Instead, I must cultivate a heart of humility which welcomes the correction he brings-knowing that he is waiting to welcome and accept me when I submit to him.
Prayer
God, thank you for the ‘check engine light’ you’ve placed in my heart. When my emotions flare and anger surges, show me the place in my heart that you’re working on so that I can choose to submit to your authority in my life. Today I choose to welcome the correction that you bring!

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Rest and Rhythm

  • January 1, 2024
Rest (like all of creation) was designed and instituted by God for his glory, and for our benefit.
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Scripture

Genesis 2:1
“…on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.”
Observation
“God rested” – What a startling announcement, that the almighty God who spoke the universe into existence should slow his pace and rest! God’s work in creation was done, but there was infinitely more work left to be done. He clearly had no compelling need to rest–he didn’t drop into his easy chair, exhausted from creating the world. Rather, he established and created something new even in his rest: He created a pattern and a rhythm, an ebb and flow to the pace of life. Rest (like all of creation) was designed and instituted by God for his glory, and for our benefit.
Application
Too often I find myself with an unhealthy view of rest. Either I avoid it as an inconvenience, or I drop into the uneasy rest of guilt, feeling as though I should still be working. This passage reminds me that rest is holy, and it honors God. Just as God hit ‘pause’ before beginning the next thing, I must be intentional to acknowledge the pause in between days, and seasons, and moments.
Rest humbles me, it keeps me healthy, and it honors God. Rest is holy!
Prayer
God, thank you for rest! Help me never to disregard this precious gift you’ve given me. This week, help me to move at your pace and at your rhythm–and help me to honor you with my ‘pause’ moments.

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The Blind Spot

  • December 27, 2023
The love of God confronts and reveals the self-blindness in my heart if I allow Him. Though the revelation is uncomfortable, it ultimately brings healing.
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Scripture
Revelation 3:15-17
“I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”
Observation
Being blind is a terrible condition. Being self-blind is far more insidious and dangerous to the soul. The one who is blind understands that they need to proceed with caution on their path–but the one who is self-blind strides confidently forward unaware that there is even an issue. The riches, success, and prosperity seem to indicate that all is well…but they hide the true and dangerous condition.
Application
I’ve been self-blind at times. I’ve confidently walked out the front door with my shirt inside out, or having forgotten to comb my hair. My issue is plain to see for those around me…but I can’t see my own problem.
The love of God confronts and reveals the self-blindness in my heart if I allow Him. Though the revelation is uncomfortable, it ultimately brings healing.
This week, I choose to seek understanding and truth from God to reveal my blind spots. I don’t want my past or present success to blind me to the issues that God wants to heal within me!
Prayer
God, thank you for the mirror of your word which reveals uncomfortable truth! Help me to always welcome your loving correction and guidance, instead of rejecting it through my own self-blindness.

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You can also read past devotions on our website, by visiting https://www.newhopelegacy.com/soap/
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