S.O.A.P.

Scripture

Genesis 15:2

And Sarai said to Abram, “Behold now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

Luke 6:20-21

20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.

Observation

God had promised amazing things to Abram, and Abram believed that it would happen…he just didn’t know if God was able to fulfill the promise without help. When Sarai suggested a plausible way to help solve God’s problem, Abram jumped at the opportunity. Ishmael was a son…but not the son that God had promised. He became a nation…but not the nation that God had foretold.

In Luke, Jesus is speaking about the promises of God. Jesus encourages his followers to keep their eyes on the promises of God, but he makes an interesting statement: “Blessed are you (present tense) who are hungry now (present tense), for you shall be satisfied (future tense).

Application

In God’s eyes, His blessings are already a done deal! Whether I currently see them or not, whether they seem possible or not, whether the heir is born or not, whether I’m hungry or not…God’s blessings are already a current reality that I can count on and trust.

Instead of working and scheming to solve God’s problems for Him, I must trust that the things which are a problem to me, are not any problem to Him. He is not constrained by my limits, or limited by my constraints. The future fulfillment of His promise is a currently reality on which I can stand.

Today I choose to trust God–not only for the things that I can’t solve, but also for the times when I think I could scheme and strategize a solution. His promises are trustworthy, and I choose to be reliant on Him instead of pursuing self-reliance.

Prayer

God, thank you for this reminder of your faithfulness! Help me choose to trust you, even when I can’t see how you will fulfill your promise. You are faithful and true, and I choose today to trust your strength instead of my own abilities.

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Scripture

Genesis 12:1-2

Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.

Observation

God promised incredible blessings to Abram, not just to him personally but also to his lineage after him. But God didn’t leave any ambiguity for the purpose of these blessings: He said the purpose of the promised blessing, was so that Abram would ‘be a blessing’. Blessings were not just his to possess: ‘Blessing’ was to be his identity, and his role in the world.

Yet just a few short verses later, we see two instances where Abram’s blessings became a curse instead: Sarai (Abram’s wife) became a curse to the household of Pharaoh, and Abram’s herds began to be a curse to his nephew Lot.

It wasn’t enough for Abram to be blessed by God–he had to walk with the right heart, in order to be a blessing to others. In the case of Sarai, Abram had to learn to trust that the God who had given him Sarai would protect him from Pharaoh’s selfish demands. With Lot, Abram had to choose to depend on God to sustain his herds even while allowing Lot to take over what seemed to be the more fertile grazing land around the town of Sodom.

In both of these situations, Abram’s integrity, courage, and trust in God (or lack thereof…) was the deciding factor in whether Abram would actually be a blessing to those around him or not.

Application

God pours out His blessings on His people. In my life, in the organizations I help to lead–His blessings are so clearly seen, and so abundant! But merely ‘having’ His blessing is not enough: If I want to ‘be’ a blessing, I must use and manage those blessings in a way which allows me to be a blessing instead of a curse. The integrity of my walk, the character with which I navigate life, and the grace I show to others–all of these things determine whether I will be a blessing or not.

God’s purpose is larger than just my life. His desire is to bless the world around me, through me. Today I choose to be a blessing, by walking rightly after the Giver of all true blessings!

Prayer

God, I want to be a blessing! Help me to interact rightly with the many blessings you’ve given me: Not to view them through selfishness, or fear, or scarcity, or carelessness–but to manage them faithfully for you, so that your goodness could impact the world around me.

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Scripture

Luke 3:3-6

3 And he went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough places shall become level ways, 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’”

Observation

The arrival of the King is a monumental occasion, and not to be treated casually! The roads must be leveled and smoothed, the gates must be in good condition, and the city must be put in good order. The King is coming! Get ready!

John the Baptist came to prepare the way of the Lord – to prepare the hearts of the people, for the One who was coming. He prepared the way, for Christ to accomplish what only Christ could do.

Application

In my life, how am I preparing the way for the king? The king is coming again, and the king has plans and purposes to fulfill. Am I prepared for His arrival? Am I actively working to prepare my life for the things that God wants to do? What steps am I taking, to prepare my heart to receive the King?

Today I choose to invest time in preparing my heart, for the coming of the King. I cannot do what He can do–but I can either help or hinder Him in His work. I choose today to make sure that my heart is prepared to receive Him! I choose to remove the things which would hinder Him and slow Him down. I choose to take a walk through the streets of my life, and look for clutter and rubbish to remove. I choose to keep my heart in an attitude of humble submission–so that I am prepared to receive Him in His glory.

Prayer

God, I can’t wait to see you when you return! But I know that you are actively at work right now in my life and in this world–and I want to facilitate your plans, instead of hindering them! Help me to prepare my heart to receive you each day, instead of letting the streets of my heart fall into disrepair. You are my King, and I welcome you in!

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Genesis 4:6-7

6 The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 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 for you, and you must rule over it.”

There are many theories about why God didn’t accept Cain’s offering–but the answer appears to be very simple: Cain didn’t ‘do well’, and thus his offering was not acceptable in God’s sight. God reminded him: “Do well, and you will be accepted!”

This ‘doing well’ included the giving of offerings to God, but it also included the necessity of manning up and ruling over the sin that lay in wait for Cain. God knew the temptation Cain was about to face, and gave him an opportunity to exercise self-control. God didn’t say “It would be so nice if you were able to rule over sin…” Instead God gave an instruction: “You MUST rule over it!”

It is so much easier to blame others for the outcomes I receive, rather than taking ownership! If I can keep pointing fingers outward, then I don’t have to take responsibility!

This passage reminds me that God has equipped me with all that I need, when I rely on Him. In my own strength, I am not sufficient to the task of ‘doing well’ and ruling over sin in my life. But with the strength of my Maker, I am equipped with all that I need for a victorious and overcoming life!

I choose to live each day of 2026 with a heart to do well before God. I choose to rule over sin, which means I must rule over my own passions and desires. I choose to submit my life to Him, that I may be under the authority of the one who gives me strength.

God, I want to do well in your sight. Help me today to rule over sin, instead of letting sin rule over me! I know this is only possible through your strength and your authority–so I choose to submit my life to you, and acknowledge you as my Lord.

Scripture

Genesis 1:1-3a

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 And God said…

Luke 1:1-2

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us…

Observation

In the beginning, God said. In the beginning, God created. In the beginning, God caused the beginning of all things. And here thousands of years later, Luke is chronicling a new beginning again, by the One from whom all good beginnings come. Not the beginning of creation, but the beginning of the story of the Savior!

God is a God of new beginnings today, just as He was at the beginning of time. He is not satisfied with the status quo, He is not focused on the past. He is speaking new things and creating new possibilities. He is opening new doors and new opportunities!

Application

As I stand at the beginning of a new year, I feel expectant for what the coming months will hold. So much of 2025’s urgent clamor now seems insignificant, and the priorities and goals that seemed lofty at the time, now seem to have faded. This doesn’t discourage me, because there is a constant which makes all the difference: the God who underpins my life and my existence, the One in whom I live, move, and breathe. He is constant and unchanging–and that means I can look expectantly forward to the new beginnings this year will hold, because my God is the God of new beginnings.

Today I choose to let go of the tattered self-focused remains of last year, in favor of the constant and unchanging newness of life in Christ. I can’t wait to see what He has in store for me in 2026!

Prayer

God, thank you for the new beginnings that you have ordained for me this year! I welcome your plans and your purpose in my life, and I choose to bring glory to you: the unchanging One, the God of new beginnings!

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Ephesians 5:28 – “In the same way. husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.”

Paul draws a direct connection between the way a man loves his wife, and the way a man loves his own body. It would be unnatural and harmful to not take care of one’s own body-and it is just as harmful for a man not to love his wife in the right way!

“Husbands should love their wives as their own bodies” That makes me stop and consider: It these two things are connected, then what does the state of my body reveal about my love for my wife?

Am I diligent and intentional about taking care of my body and my physical condition even when it’s not convenient or easy? Or do I claim to value this body as a gift from God and then neglect it, take it for granted, and do the bare minimum required to keep it functional?

Jesus said that sweet water and bitter cannot flow from the same source-so I cannot be undisciplined and slovenly in one area of my life, and think that I can at the same time be intentional and purposed in another area. I can’t eat poorly, live lazily, and manage my life carelessly–and then think that I can at the same time value and love the woman whom I am called to love “…as Christ loved the church”!

Today I choose to live with self-discipline and intentionality, so that I can truly show love in the right way.

God, thank you for my wife! Help me to love her in the same way that you love the church: completely, sacrificially, intentionally, and selflessly. Help me today to make the intentional decision to value and care for the blessings that you’ve given me!

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Scripture

Ephesians 4:1

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called”

Observation

Paul says that his readers have a calling on their life: not because they’ve earned it by their walk, or proven that they are worthy-but simply because God has chosen to call them. Now Paul instructs them to walk in the right way: not so that God can call them, but because He has already called them!

A right walk doesn’t earn a calling: It follows a calling.

Application

What a difference this shift in perspective makes! My walk matters: Not to earn the favor of my Father. but because I already have it! He has forgiven me, redeemed me, washed me, adopted me, and called me: How could I not respond to a love like that, with full surrender in every moment and every decision?

Today I choose to walk in a manner worthy of my calling-not to try to be worthy of being called.

Prayer

God, thank you for calling me! I want to live my life in a way that expresses my gratitude to you! May each decision I make today be worthy of the call you have already placed on me!

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Scripture

Romans 8:5-8

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

Observation

Paul says that the difference between a life according to the flesh or the Spirit, begins in the mind. It doesn’t start with actions, or words, or emotions, or circumstances, or anything else: It starts in the mind.

The mind that is ‘set on the flesh’ is dead even while it lives–and it lives in a state of hostility toward God. A mind that is hostile toward God, cannot produce a life and a heart which are submitted to His authority…nor can it lead to an eternity with Him!

The mind that is ‘set on the Spirit’ is a mind which stays submitted to Him, and reliant on Him. The mind that is set on Him, makes decisions which result in actions that honor Him. The mind that is set on Him experiences peace even in the middle of the storm, because that mind is covered under His authority which supersedes any other influence or force encountered.

Application

Where is my mind ‘set’? Is my mind fixed on the temporary anxieties of this world, and on all of the voices vying for attention and authority in my life? Is my mind simply allowed to drift with the winds of circumstance, happy in one moment and wracked with doubt the next?

Or is my mind fixed and set on the eternal God who created all things, who loves me beyond measure, who created me for a purpose, who redeems and strengthens me, and who has empowered me to do all that He expects from me?

When my mind is fixed on things of the flesh, I cannot be at peace with God. But when my mind is fixed on God, I cannot be shaken by any other power or problem.

Today I simply choose to set my mind on my King. He is strong, He is love, He is mercy, He is truth, and He is more than enough for me.

Prayer

God, thank you for this reminder of the importance of my mindset. Help me today to keep my mind fixed on you instead of on the things of this world. You are worthy of my attention, and my highest allegiance–no matter what else may be happening around me. Show me and remind me when my mind begins to wander, so that I would remain rooted in your peace and your guidance.

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Acts 14:19 -22

“But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe. When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God.”

Paul was not part of the Walking Dead, but he was “walking wounded.” Though he was badly injured, he somehow kept walk­ing forward and persevered rather than giving up. How did he do this?

There are few things harder than getting back up after being knocked down. There are few things more difficult than walking forward through pain. But sitting and wallowing in woundedness is rarely helpful!

This passage reminds me that there is a process to healing:

It involves rest.

It involves relationship.

It involves intentional choice and focus.

It involves a humble willingness to speak encouragement to others, and to let God use every part of my story for His purpose.

Like a physical therapist who requires the patient to stretch and move. God calls me to walk forward into my healing: not so that I remain a member of the “walking wounded”, but so that my healing can be made complete.

God, thank you for this reminder and encouragement! Help me today to walk with you-not ignoring genuine wounds, but instead with a conscious decision to heal. Use me today for your glory to speak healing into someone’s life, even as your healing is continued in me.

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