S.O.A.P.

Daily S.O.A.P Blog

Speak Life!

  • August 29, 2023
I want to let God use me to speak life into those around me. Not by avoiding difficult conversations, but by speaking life where death has begun to take root.
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Scripture

Revelation 3:1-2
“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.”
Observation
The church in Sardis had a reputation of life…but the reality was grim. Though appearing to be alive, they were instead dying spiritually, dying as a church family. God identified the uncomfortable truth about their situation, but didn’t just point out the problem–he pointed them back to ‘life’. He called them to wake up, and choose the life that had been freely made available to them.
Application
Everyone has ‘blind spots’. We all have things that we think or assume are true…but reality tells a different story. It takes a true friend to call out those blind spots, and bring awareness to the uncomfortable truths that would destroy us if not dealt with. There’s a difference though, between merely pointing out a problem…and pointing toward the solution. It’s easy to sit back and point out problems-but true love will point toward the solution. The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life!
This week, I want to let God use me to speak life into those around me. Not by avoiding difficult conversations, but by speaking life where death has begun to take root.
Prayer
God, thank you for loving me enough to confront the uncomfortable truths in my life! Help me to love others enough to engage the hard conversations–but always with a heart to point them toward your life, and not merely to point out a problem.
Thank you for making your life available to me! I choose to walk in your true life, instead of in the death that sin brings.

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When God Gives You a Hard Head

  • August 28, 2023
God has designed me exactly the way he wants me, to carry out the purpose for which he created me. As long as my heart is fully surrendered to him, then he will be glorified even through those aspects of me which cause me frustration when I look in the mirror.
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Scripture

Ezekiel 3:8-9
8 Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. 9 Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.”
Observation
It’s usually not considered a compliment to tell someone they have a hard head–yet that’s exactly what God told Ezekiel! In fact, God emphasizes twice in this short passage, just how extremely hard-headed Ezekiel was…because God created and designed him that way. God had a plan for Ezekiel’s life, to speak through him to a nation of people who were stubborn and hard-headed to an extreme degree–and God knew that his chosen messenger would have to be just as stubborn and hard-headed to carry the message that they needed to hear. Though we often tend to see hard-headedness as a flaw or a character defect, God saw this as one of the greatest strengths he had given Ezekiel…as long as Ezekiel used this aspect of his nature for the glory of God.
Application
Sometimes I look in the mirror and think, “Why, God?! Why did you create me this way? Why couldn’t I be more like ‘that’, or more like ‘this’?” I see the strengths that God has placed in others, and often begin to wish that I could be more like them. Surely I could serve God better if I was more like that person over there! Surely I could be more successful on my mission if I could imitate this one over here!
God’s words to Ezekiel give me so much hope. God has designed me exactly the way he wants me, to carry out the purpose for which he created me. As long as my heart is fully surrendered to him, then he will be glorified even through those aspects of me which cause me frustration when I look in the mirror.
Sometimes God needs a stubborn messenger with a hard head.
Prayer
God, thank you for instilling in me the things that I need, to fulfill your plan in my life! Help me to daily surrender all that I am to you, so that your purposes would be accomplished!

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Walking In Authority

  • August 25, 2023
Because the king abdicated his power, the prophet Jeremiah was unjustly imprisoned. Because the king abdicated his power, his family and royal officials lost their lives. Because the king abdicated his power, the entire nation suffered.
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Scripture

Jeremiah 38:5
“King Zedekiah said, “Behold, he is in your hands, for the king can do nothing against you.”
Observation
What a pitiful statement for a king to make!
“Do whatever you want to do, there’s nothing I can do to stop you. After all…I’m only the king!”
The king wasn’t omnipotent, but neither was he impotent. He carried authority and power from God, to be used for the benefit of the kingdom. Because the king abdicated his power, the prophet Jeremiah was unjustly imprisoned. Because the king abdicated his power, his family and royal officials lost their lives. Because the king abdicated his power, the entire nation suffered.
Application
God has given me both authority, and responsibility to be stewarded and used for his glory. There are plenty of things that I can’t fix about the world, but I can’t just sit back and say “nothing I can do about it!”
In my family, on the job, in my church family…there are moments when a stand must be taken for that which honors God–and these are the moments for which God has entrusted authority to me. If I step back and abdicate my role, then I and those under my care will ultimately suffer for my inaction.
Like Zedekiah, I’m not responsible to fix every problem–but I am responsible to steward and use the authority God has given me, in a way which honors him.
Prayer
God, thank you that your strength is enough! Help me never to slip into the trap of thinking that I am the savior, but also not to become complacent and abdicate the responsibilities that you’ve given me. May you be glorified in my life!

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Which Way?

  • August 23, 2023
I want my life to be defined by the God that I point people toward, not merely by the enemies that I stand against.
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Scripture

Jeremiah 31:6
“For there shall be a day when watchmen will call in the hill country of Ephraim: ‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.'”
Observation
The job of a watchman is to warn of danger–so why would the watchman be calling the city to go up to Zion?
The people needed the watchman to warn them of danger–but equally important was the question of where they were being called ‘toward’. It was not enough that they defend against attack–they needed to continue drawing closer to God.
Application
It’s easy to see danger in the world, and sometimes there’s even a sense of gratification to take a stand against issues and attacks. But the deeper question is, what am I calling people ‘toward’? Am I merely taking a stand against what is wrong, or am I pointing people toward the savior?
I want my life to be defined by the God that I point people toward, not merely by the enemies that I stand against.
Prayer
God, thank you for this reminder! Help me to daily point people to you, instead of merely taking a stand against unrighteousness. Help me this week to see the opportunities you give me to point people to you!

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The Voice of Truth

  • August 21, 2023
I know that God loves me, and so I know that his voice is the voice of love even when he speaks things that I don’t like. This week I choose to listen for the voice of the Father instead of the voice of my own preferences, so that I can walk in his blessing.
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Scripture

Jeremiah 27:9-11
So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your fortune-tellers, or your sorcerers, who are saying to you, ‘You shall not serve the king of Babylon.’ 10 For it is a lie that they are prophesying to you, with the result that you will be removed far from your land, and I will drive you out, and you will perish. 11 But any nation that will bring its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will leave on its own land, to work it and dwell there, declares the LORD.”’”
Observation
God’s people wanted to hear a message of deliverance, freedom, and blessing. What they got was a message of judgement, discipline, and bondage. Their rejection of the one true God led to them being separated from the blessings that he wanted to give them. The message that they received from him was not the message they wanted or expected to hear…but it was still the voice of God speaking. Though the message wasn’t what they hoped for, God’s voice offered a way for them to again walk in his favor.
Application
God’s voice doesn’t always speak what I want to hear. Whether because of correction that he is bringing, or because he’s stretching me out of my comfort zone…his voice doesn’t always say things that I like. It’s easy to fall into the trap of listening for a voice saying what I want to hear, and assuming that it’s the voice of God–but he has not promised to say what I want to hear.
I want to hear the voice of God. I don’t want my life to be led by an echo chamber of voices that agree with my preferences, opinions, and desires! I know that God loves me, and so I know that his voice is the voice of love even when he speaks things that I don’t like. This week I choose to listen for the voice of the Father instead of the voice of my own preferences, so that I can walk in his blessing.
Prayer
God, thank you for speaking truth instead of merely agreeing with my preferences! I know that you love me, and so I choose to listen to your voice and walk in your ways instead of seeking voices that merely agree with me. I would rather experience your love through your correction, than live my life ruled by my own selfish wants.

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Giving and Receiving

  • August 2, 2023
It’s easy to get so focused on the small things God asks from me, that I miss the fact that what He truly wants is to give me something: his love, his grace, his blessing, and his provision.
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Scripture

John 4:10
“Jesus answered her, ‘If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you ‘give me a drink’, you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.'”
Observation
The Samaritan woman was shocked that Jesus asked her for a drink–but Jesus told her that the real objective wasn’t about what he asked from her…but about what he wanted to give her.
Application
Sometimes I look at God and say “you want WHAT from me?!”
It’s easy to get so focused on the small things he asks from me, that I miss the fact that what He truly wants is to give me something: his love, his grace, his blessing, his provision…
There is truly nothing that I could give to God that he lacks–so the only direction things can actually flow is from him to me.
This week I choose to willingly give what God asks of me, eagerly anticipating and confidently asking to receive all that he wants to give me.
Prayer
God, thank you for giving me so much! I could never repay you, but I choose to cheerfully give what you ask of me. I want to receive all that you want to give me!

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

Searching and Finding

  • August 1, 2023
God is not hiding or concealing himself. He is eagerly looking forward, anticipating the day that we turn to him–not just those who are ‘called by his name’, but all mankind.
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Scripture

Isaiah 65:1
“I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, “Here I am, here I am,” to a nation that was not called by my name.”
Observation
What an amazing, sad, inspiring passage! God is not hiding, or concealing himself. He is eagerly looking forward, anticipating the day that we turn to him–not just those who are ‘called by his name’, but all mankind. Yet how sad, that many have chosen to ignore and disregard the savior as he calls “here I am!”
Application
There have been moments on the journey when it seemed like God was nowhere to be see. As I’ve looked back on each of these moments, it’s become clear that God never went anywhere. He is unchanging! The only question is, ‘where is my heart in relation to him?’
He wants me to seek him. He desires to be pursued by me–and the truth is, he has already sought me and pursued me, so that I can find him!
This week, I want to see God and discover all that he wants me to find. I want to know him the way he wants to be known, and find him just as he wants to be found.
Prayer
God, thank you for making a way for me to find you. I choose to seek you with my whole heart, and I want to know you better each day.

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

Environment and Outcome

  • July 31, 2023
A heart surrendered to God will experience the verdant growth of riverside-living, even if the environment around it looks like a desert.
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Scripture

Psalm 107:33-43
33 He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground, 34 a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of its inhabitants. 35 He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water. 36 And there he lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in; 37 they sow fields and plant vineyards and get a fruitful yield. 38 By his blessing they multiply greatly, and he does not let their livestock diminish. 39 When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, evil, and sorrow, 40 he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes; 41 but he raises up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks. 42 The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth. 43 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.
Observation
The environment produces the outcome: Rivers produce lush green growth, and deserts produce arid emptiness. This is just how the world works!
Except…things don’t work quite this way with God! With God, the environment doesn’t have to define the outcome. An evil heart in a lush environment will ultimately experience the aridness of life without God’s blessing–but a heart surrendered to God will experience the verdant growth of riverside-living, even if the environment around it looks like a desert.
Application
My environment does not determine my outcome. If my heart is not right with God, then the most abundant resources and opportunities will eventually turn out to be dry and empty. If my heart is submitted to God, then I don’t need to fear walking in the desert–because He is the source of all life, and He sustains me.
This week, I choose to walk in the peace of God, fully surrendered to Him. I choose not to trust the temporary world around me, but rather to trust the unending supply of my heavenly father.
Prayer
God, thank you for this reminder! You are my source and my supply, and I choose to walk with confidence in you regardless of where the path leads. Whether the season is vibrant and growing, or dry and dusty–I place my hope in you, and I know that you will never let me down.

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Light for the Journey

  • July 27, 2023
Trusting my own ability leads inevitably to disappointment. Trusting Christ’s ability leads me unerringly to safety.
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Scripture

Isaiah 50:10-11
“Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God. Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled! This you have from my hand: you shall lie down in torment.”
Observation
Human reasoning looks to self-reliant answers to the problems we face. Facing darkness? Light a fire!
Isaiah isn’t condemning the use of torches at night–rather, he’s pointing out the inevitable end of those who trust their own ability instead of trusting the God of light. Without His light, man’s best efforts end in pointless wandering and ultimately…hopeless torment.
Application
There’s nothing wrong with using resources available to us…but Isaiah is talking about a specific kind of darkness here. He’s talking about darkness of the spirit–the kind of darkness that leaves us wandering directionless, with no destination to head toward or path to get there. This kind of darkness cannot be solved by lighting a torch to see the path more clearly…because there is no path to see!
My natural thinking leads me to set my own direction, light my own torch, and begin cutting my own path through the darkness. This may feel logical, but it doesn’t lead me closer to God or closer to His best for me. The harsh reality is that I don’t have the ability to create a path closer to God. There are ultimately only two options: Trust my own trailblazing ability, or trust the path that Christ has already made for me.
Trusting my own ability leads inevitably to disappointment. Trusting Christ’s ability leads me unerringly to safety.
Prayer
God, thank you for this reminder of your grace and your ability to see me through! Thank you for shining your light in the darkness of my life, and for being the way, the truth, and the life! I choose to put my trust in you instead of in my own strength, and walk in your brilliant light of grace instead of the sputtering, feeble flicker of my own best efforts.

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

Attitude Check!

  • July 25, 2023
Doing the right things with the wrong attitude is not pleasing to God–my heart must complement what my hands are doing.
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Scripture

1 Peter 4:9
“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.”
Observation
God cares about the way we treat each other–hospitality is what he expects from his people. But not grudging, grumbling hospitality! God wants his people to serve, love, and honor each other with the right heart and attitude.
Application
Such a short verse, but what a heart-check! God is not merely interested in what I ‘do’…he cares about the attitude and heart I have, in doing the things I do. Doing the right things with the wrong attitude is not pleasing to him–my heart must complement what my hands are doing.
Prayer
God, thank you for this heart-check! Help me to keep my heart right before you, and not try to merely perform a list of the ‘right actions’ with a stinking attitude. May my attitude and my actions both be in alignment with you!

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

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