S.O.A.P.

Daily S.O.A.P Blog

Entrusted

  • April 5, 2022
Christ has done the reconciling, and we have been entrusted with the responsibility to share the good news with others.
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Scripture
2 Corinthians 5:18-19
“All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.” 
Observation
Through Christ we are reconciled to God. The gulf is bridged, the broken relationship is restored! This supernatural, God-sized message has been entrusted to us. Christ has done the reconciling, and we have been entrusted with the responsibility to share the good news with others. 
Application
God has already taken care of that which is beyond my ability to affect. Through Christ, I have been reconciled to God! Through Christ, the debt for all of mankind has been paid. God has not tasked me with an impossible mission, rather He has entrusted to me a life-changing message. What an amazing thought, that God in His love has chosen to trust me!
I want to live in such a way that God would someday look at me and say, “Well done!” I want to uphold the trust that He has shown me. 
Prayer
God, thank you for reconciling me to yourself, through Christ! Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your kingdom, and for entrusting such an amazing message of good news to me! Help me to daily uphold what you’ve entrusted to me, by sharing your good news with others! 
 
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The Life Inside

  • April 4, 2022
The trials and struggles are temporary, but the renewal of God’s Spirit living inside is permanent and eternal.
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Scripture
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 
Observation
Trials, troubles, and struggle are part of life and affect nonbelievers and children of God alike. The difference is that the born-again child of God has a source of daily renewal inside them, which strengthens and builds them up even as this world tries to tear them down. The result is that those external forces which should have destroyed them, instead become a mechanism of growth with eternal importance.
The trials and struggles are temporary, but the renewal of God’s Spirit living inside is permanent and eternal-as are the eternal glories being achieved for us.
Application
My walk with God is not about escaping from trouble or hardship. He does not promise me a life of ease, free from all difficulty. What He does promise me is that the source of life living inside me is greater than any struggle or difficulty I could walk through, and that He is great enough to use even the most terrible, destructive experiences of my life to accomplish eternal blessing in and through me.
This week, I need to fix my attention on the source of life each day- instead of becoming distracted and consumed with the daily struggles. 
Prayer
God, thank you for your Holy Spirit living inside me, which is greater than any trial I could face. Thank you for redeeming every circumstance of my life, as I surrender myself daily to you. 
 
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More

  • March 31, 2022

God created mankind for more than mere existence!
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Scripture
Psalm 49:20
“People who have wealth but lack understanding are like the beasts that perish.” 
Observation
Wealth and wisdom are not always connected. It is possible to be a rich fool, or a wise beggar.
This verse indicates that a life without wisdom is not much of a life at all–no matter how much wealth is involved. God created mankind for so much more than just mere existence! 
Application
I need to seek Godly wisdom and understanding each day, rather than settling merely for acquiring possessions. God created me for more! Because of His holy spirit in me, I can grow daily in wisdom and understanding rather than stagnating at my current level. This week, I choose to live for more than just earthly possessions. I choose to spend time daily in God’s presence, letting Him deepen and develop my understanding. 
Prayer
God, thank you for creating me for “more”!
Help me not to become infatuated with earthly possessions, but rather live for a higher purpose in you, as you grow my heart to be what you want me to be. 

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What’s Wrong With Me!?

  • March 30, 2022

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

  • March 29, 2022


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

  • March 28, 2022

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…

  • March 25, 2022

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

  • March 24, 2022

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

  • March 23, 2022

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

  • March 22, 2022
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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