S.O.A.P.

Daily S.O.A.P Blog

Boundaries

  • March 24, 2023
Boundaries don’t create distance—they define how to walk closely in unity together.
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Scripture

Joshua 18:11-12
“The lot of the tribe of the people of Benjamin according to its clans came up, and the territory allotted to it fell between the people of Judah and the people of Joseph. On the north side their boundary began at the Jordan. Then the boundary goes up to the shoulder north of Jericho, then up through the hill country westward, and it ends at the wilderness of Beth-aven.
Observation
God wanted to give the Israelites an inheritance to be a blessing–but boundaries were necessary. Without boundaries, the blessing would have turned to bedlam. Without boundaries, the blessing would have led to conflict and disunity. The boundary didn’t create disunity or distance between the tribes–instead it defined how they were going to walk in unity together.
Application
Just because God initiates a thing, or gives a thing, doesn’t mean that it will flow along perfectly with no opportunity for conflict. We are imperfect people, and can allow even the blessings of God to become a curse if we don’t use Holy Spirit wisdom. Healthy boundaries may not ‘look’ holy at first glance to some people…but the reality is that they are pleasing to God, and one of the ways we can fulfill Christ’s prayer for unity in his church. Healthy boundaries don’t create distance between healthy people–rather, they allow for closer unity without conflict.
This week, I need to seek God’s guidance to create and enforce healthy boundaries in my life–so that I and those around me could enjoy the fulness of God’s blessings in our lives.
Prayer
God, thank you for the wisdom that I find in your word! Help me to walk in unity this week with those around me, employing healthy boundaries so your blessings would never become a curse in my life.

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A Question of Rights

  • March 21, 2023
Marriage is not about what we ‘demand’, but about what we give.
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Scripture

1 Corinthians 7:2-4
“But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights, and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.
Observation
Marriage is not about what we ‘demand’, but about what we give. Paul tells husbands to give their wife her rights, not to demand their own rights…and vice versa. This seems so backwards from our world’s perspective of rights–but this is the kind of love that marriage must be built on.
Application
It’s easy to slip into a mindset of “I want, I need, I expect” in marriage. This is how earthly relationships work–with a list of the things I expect to get out of it. God has instituted marriage to be more than that–because it is a symbol of our relationship with God himself!
This week I choose to honor God in my marriage by giving instead of getting, and serving instead of demanding to be served.
Prayer
God, thank you for loving me! Help me to honor you in my marriage by loving the way that you love. Create in me the heart of a servant!

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Defeat and Victory

  • March 20, 2023
The thing that had been an insurmountable problem without God’s anointing, was no longer something to fear now that the hearts of the nation were aligned with God.
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Scripture

Joshua 8:1
“And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Take all the fighting men with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, his city, and his land.”
Observation
The Israelites had just experienced defeat in battle for the first time–and it shook them! God dealt with the hidden sin, and now he was sending them back to face the exact same enemy again! Understandably they were nervous–but God told Joshua, “Don’t be dismayed!” The thing that had been an insurmountable problem without God’s anointing, was no longer something to fear now that their hearts were aligned with God.
Application
Past failure can be a deadly enemy. Not because it holds ‘real’ power, but because it can stop us in our tracks and discourage us from continuing to walk forward. If allowed, past failure will prevent future victory. Yet God told Joshua, “Don’t be dismayed!”
A heart submitted to God doesn’t have to fear the failures of the past. A heart aligned with God is free to face the enemies of the past, with confidence in God to provide the victory.
This week, I need to examine my heart when hesitations and fears arise. Am I letting past failures hold me back from stepping forward into the victory that God wants to give me, or am I confidently following his leading as I surrender my heart to his?
Prayer
God, thank you that my past failures do not define my future! Thank you for bringing me back into alignment with you each time I stray, and empowering me to overcome the obstacles that once overcame me. May you be glorified in my life as I live through your strength instead of my own!

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The Power of the Spirit

  • March 17, 2023
Paul didn’t lead people to faith in his own oratory skills or charisma, but rather to faith in Jesus Christ.
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Scripture

1 Corinthians 2:3-5
And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
Observation
Paul led people to salvation through Christ all over the known world of his day–but not with convincing arguments, elaborate philosophies, or doctoral dissertations. Paul didn’t try to ‘convince’ people to put their faith in Jesus–he simply walked in the power of the Spirit. He didn’t lead people to faith in his own oratory skills or charisma, but rather to faith in Jesus Christ.
Application
We live in a world of marketing experts. From toothpaste focus groups, to market research firms, to PR experts…the public are accustomed to messaging that is dialed-in, nuanced, focused, and persuasive.
They are also accustomed to hearing smooth-talking salesmen representing products that can’t back up the sales pitch!
The presentation of the gospel should not be like this. It requires no manipulation on my part, no massaging of the data, no shady fine-print. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God to salvation! It is an expression of the love of God expressed in power and action, to transform the life of every person who puts their faith in Jesus Christ.
This week, I need to pray for anointing and boldness to walk in the power of the Spirit–because THAT is how hearts are led to saving faith in Christ.
Prayer
God, thank you for your Spirit in me! Thank you for the power to walk in your ways. Help me to fully utilize every gift and talent you’ve given me for your glory, but never slip into the trap of thinking that my own skill or talent would be enough. I need the power of your Spirit, and those that you’ve called me to reach also need to experience the power of your Spirit–not merely a smooth sales pitch! Use me this week I pray, to make a difference in your kingdom!

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Past Victory, Future Hope

  • March 16, 2023
God’s power is not proven through a lack of problems in my life…His power is proven through the way that he shows himself faithful through ‘every’ problem I could face.
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Scripture

Psalm 40:9-10
I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD. I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.
Observation
Some stories just can’t be held in–they’ve gotta be told! The writer of Psalm 40 has experienced the power of God, and he can’t stop himself from telling others about what God has done. But immediately after this verse, he goes on to talk about all the struggles he’s still experiencing, and the battles that he is still facing! The writer doesn’t wait until all of his present problems are resolved, to tell of the greatness of God: Rather he tells the story of what God has ‘already’ done, trusting that there is more that God is still doing. God’s faithfulness through past trials, gives him hope for the present battle–and that kind of hope cannot be kept silent.
Application
God has been faithful in my life. His power is not proven through a lack of problems in my life…His power is proven through the way that he shows himself faithful through ‘every’ problem I could face. I can’t wait for the day that no more issues exist, to tell the story of what he’s done–I must start today! The testimony of God’s faithfulness in my life is a reminder to me, and an encouragement to others. The same God who calmed the storm yesterday is the same God who is greater than the storm that I currently face–and his story must be told!
Prayer
God, thank you for your faithfulness in my life! Thank you for proving yourself worthy of my trust over and over again. Help me to never forget all that you’ve done for me, and give me boldness to share the story of your greatness in my life so that others would also come to put their trust in you!
Thank you for being greater than the storms I face today–I trust that you hold my future in your hands, and that no issue is too hard for you to handle.

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The Right Seed

  • March 15, 2023
Right harvest, requires right seeds.
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Scripture

Galatians 6:7-8
Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Observation
Sowing and reaping: It’s a principle established by God from the beginning of time. The law of the harvest is that you always reap ‘what’ you sow, and you always reap ‘more’ than you sow. There is a compounding effect that takes place: The seeds harvested then become next year’s seed, to be planted and harvested again and again in an ongoing cycle.
Application
I’ve reaped many harvests in my life- some good, some bad. But they are always a harvest of the seeds that I’ve planted! The harvest that I reap, reveals the kind of seed that I’ve planted. If I don’t like the harvest I’m reaping, I must choose to plant a different kind of seed. The problem is, my seed comes from my harvest! And so often I take the harvest that I don’t want, and plant it back in the ground…and reap an even greater harvest the next time.
The only place that the cycle of sowing and reaping can be broken, is at the time of sowing. The barn may be full of corn, but the farmer must choose to plant wheat if he wants wheat. My heart may be full of anger, but I must choose to plant peace if I want peace. The harvest of peace that I reap may be so small as to be laughed at…but that’s my seed for the next planting season. If I just keep planting peace, then eventually my harvest will be greater than whatever I had previously stored in my heart.
Keys for a right harvest:

True Friendship

  • March 10, 2023
True friendship requires confrontation.
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Scripture

Galatians 1:6
“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel”
Observation
True friendship requires confrontation.
In today’s reading in Deuteronomy, friendship meant “holding the line” to not allow the community to turn to other gods. In Galatians, we see Paul holding the same line when the church began to drift from the gospel of grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Paul’s allegiance was first and foremost to God, and he would have been no true friend at all to the church in Galatia if he allowed them to drift from truth without sounding the alarm.
Application
Confrontation (Godly confrontation) isn’t fun. It’s not about venting my own anger and emotions for my own satisfaction. It’s not about giving someone a piece of my mind. Biblical, covenant of grace, God-honoring confrontation is about being courageous enough to call out sin and error, so that people would be drawn back to the Savior. It’s about having the hard conversation, while leaving the door open for relationship as people turn toward truth.
This week I need to seek God’s heart for wisdom, boldness, and a Godly heart when confrontation is necessary.
Prayer
God, thank you for loving me enough to confront sin in my heart! Help me to cling to truth above all else, and care enough about those in my care to confront when necessary–with a Christlike heart that draws people back to you.

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Past Blessing, Future Blessing

  • March 8, 2023
Israel’s future success hinged on their response to past blessing.
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Scripture

Deuteronomy 8:17-19
“Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth’, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. And if you forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish.”
Observation
The nation of Israel was enjoying immense blessing from God. He had delivered them from slavery in Egypt, and was leading them to a place of blessing and stability in the promised land. Now Moses was warning them that their reaction to the prior blessings of God could cost them the future blessings of God, could cost them the future blessings of God if they didn’t keep their heart right. If they began to reflect back and imagine that the prior blessings were a result of their own greatness, they would find themselves in a condition that God was unable to bless. Their future success hinged on their response to past blessing.
Application
And Stanley once said, ‘The greatest enemy of our future success, is our past success.’ This principle seems to be echoed in this passage from Deuteronomy. What a sad thing, to lose out on future blessings from God, because of a wrong reaction to past blessings from him!
To avoid this outcome in my life, I must take time to understand the reasons and causes of past success in my life. I must daily choose to keep my heart postured rightly toward God. I must daily acknowledge him as my source and supply, and give him glory–knowing that he has greater things in store for me, if I keep my heart submitted to the Lord of all.
Prayer
God, thank you for your blessings in my life! I don’t deserve your goodness, but I’m so thankful for it! Help me to keep my heart right before you, and daily give you glory as the giver of every good and perfect gift. Help me to never sacrifice your future blessings in my life, by responding wrongly to past blessings you’ve given me. All that I have is from you!

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I find that offensive…

  • March 7, 2023
This incident with the alabaster flask was certainly significant enough to cause some grumbling among the disciples, but it doesn’t seem ‘that’ significant to directly motivate Judas to betray Jesus. It makes me wonder–when did Judas first allow the seeds of offense to begin growing in his heart? The outcome shouldn’t surprise me though, because that’s how offense works.
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Scripture

Mark 14:3-5,10
“And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her.”
“Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them.”
Observation
Scripture doesn’t tell us much about Judas. He was a necessary part of Jesus’ story, but we’re not given many insights into his heart and motivations. This passage is striking to me though, as a glimpse into his life and heart.
The woman in this story gave an extravagant gift to Jesus (nearly $53,000 in today’s money), and those who saw it were “indignant”, considering it a waste. Jesus defended her actions as being appropriate and beautiful, and immediately we see Judas slipping out the door to plot with the chief priests to betray Jesus.
This incident was certainly significant enough to cause some grumbling among the disciples, but it doesn’t seem ‘that’ significant to directly motivate Judas to betray him. It makes me wonder–when did Judas first allow the seeds of offense to begin growing in his heart? How long had this been festering and growing within him, unseen by the rest? How long had he allowed jealously, greed, or simply a critical spirit to grow, to the point that he could no longer even tolerate watching someone else worship the savior? The outcome shouldn’t surprise me though, because that’s how offense works.
Application
Offense, unforgiveness, and bitterness grow quietly like weeds. An irritation here, a frustration there, an unresolved tension over there…and the poisonous fruit begins to grow.
When I think back on the people that I’ve found it hardest to forgive, the ‘biggest’ issue often wasn’t the first one–it was simply the final one that I had allowed to pile on top of all the other little offenses that came before it. That’s the way offense works–one little thing on top of another, each easily resolved with a heart of humility and a conversation–but instead allowed to fester and permeate my heart like an infection.
I don’t want my heart to be ruled by offense! I don’t want to allow bitterness to grow in me until my stomach is turned merely by the sight of someone worshiping the one who deserves all worship!
So today, I choose to let go. I choose to let go of the small irritations and differences. I choose to confront awkward conversations instead of letting them linger. I choose to let God correct the things that are only up to him, knowing that he is much more effective than I.
Today I choose not to be Judas.
Prayer
God, thank you for your patience with me! Thank you for forgiving me, though you have every right not to. Help me to forgive others, and not allow offense to reside in my heart. Help me to confront what needs to be confronted, ignore what needs to be ignored, and forgive what needs to be forgiven…and give me wisdom to know the difference.

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The Right Support

  • March 6, 2023
Knowing the difference between who I am leaning on, and who is leaning on me, is the difference between fulfilling my mission or destroying those I’m called to lead.
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Scripture

Deuteronomy 3:27-28
“Go up to the top of Pisgah and lift up your eyes westward and northward and southward and eastward, and look at it with your eyes, for you shall not go over this Jordan. But charge Joshua, and encourage him and strengthen him, for he shall go over at the head of this people, and he shall put them in possession of the land that you shall see.”
Observation
Moses was having a rough day. The promised land was right there in front of him, close enough to reach out and touch it! …Yet he was not allowed to enter into the promise, because of decisions he had made. It would have been so easy to Moses to let his frustration spill over onto Joshua, and vent his disappointment all over him–yet God told him to ‘encourage and strengthen’ Joshua! Encouragement was probably the last thing on his mind, but it was necessary. Joshua was not there to encourage Moses–he was there to be encouraged, mentored, taught, and led by Moses.
Application
Relational roles and dynamics are so important especially in leading. Knowing the difference between who I am leaning on, and who is leaning on me, is the difference between fulfilling my mission or destroying those I’m called to lead.
My sons bring me great joy, but I can’t lean on them to sustain me and lift me up when I’m having a rough day. The teams that I lead encourage me daily–but it would be unfair and even harmful to expect them to carry every weight that falls on me.
Like Moses, I must be intentional to speak encouragement even when I would prefer not to. Not with a veneer of fake joy, or a facade of confidence, but rather with the genuine confidence of knowing that my strength and joy comes from my heavenly father.
Prayer
God, thank you for your strength which sustains me and your joy which daily fills me. Help me to speak life and encouragement to those around me each day–not with empty platitudes, but with the unshakeable confidence that comes from understanding who I am, and who you are.

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