S.O.A.P.

Daily S.O.A.P Blog

The Harvest

  • March 15, 2022

Scripture
Galatians 6:9-10
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone-especially to those in the family of faith.” 
Observation
Salvation is by faith, not by works–and yet God blesses the “right things” that we do. His blessing comes in His time, not when we expect or demand it. Understanding that He is preparing a harvest of blessing should cause us to daily sow seeds of blessing into the world around us. 
Application
Life is a process of sowing and reaping. We reap what we sow, and we reap more than we sow. God’s desire is to bring a harvest of blessing in my life–and so His desire is that I would sow seeds of blessing. The seeds of blessing that I sow, become part of the harvest of blessing that He is bringing in the lives of those around me.
This week, I need to be intentional to recognize the seed that He has given me–because I can only plant from what I have. Then I need to watch for opportunities to sow seeds of blessing in those around me with perseverance, trusting God to bring a harvest in my life at the right time. 
Prayer
God, thank you for your blessings! Thank you that my salvation is not based on my works, but on my faith in you. Thank you for opportunities to display my faith in you, by becoming a conduit of your blessing in the lives of those around me! Help me to serve you with perseverance, trusting you to bring a harvest in my life at the right time. 

Interested in getting daily devotions delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe HERE!
You can also read past devotions on our website, by visiting https://www.newhopelegacy.com/soap/

In Step

  • March 14, 2022

Scripture
Galatians 5:24-25
“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” 
Observation
Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh–and now we live by the Spirit. Since we now live by the Spirit, we must keep step with that which gives us life. 
Application
My old nature is dead and gone–crucified on the day that I became one of His! His Spirit is now that which gives me life and sustains me. Christ has given me freedom where once I was a slave. I can either use my freedom to walk away from the source of life, or I can choose to walk in step with the heart of God–moving when He moves, stopping when He stops, in tune with His pace, His rhythm, His direction. How do I walk in step with Him? By watching Him closely, and paying attention to what He is doing! 
Prayer
God, thank you for freedom! Thank you that my old sinful nature is dead and gone, and that I now walk in your Spirit which sustains me!
Help me to daily keep my eyes on you, to move when you do, and to live with your pace and rhythm.

Interested in getting daily devotions delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe HERE!
You can also read past devotions on our website, by visiting https://www.newhopelegacy.com/soap/

The Guide

  • March 11, 2022

Scripture
‘Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the Lord your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly. ‘ Deuteronomy 16:18
‘If cases come before your courts that are too difficult for you to judge—whether bloodshed, lawsuits or assaults—take them to the place the Lord your God will choose. Go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who is in office at that time. Inquire of them and they will give you the verdict. ‘ Deuteronomy 17:8-9 
Observation
God has given us wisdom in His word, by which to live and make decisions. The principles of His word are to guide our daily life, rather than us seeking a new revelation and sign from heaven for every decision we face. But He has not left us unprepared or without aid in facing the hardest questions and greatest quandaries. His Holy Spirit is available to us as a resource when our wisdom and understanding runs short, to guide when we don’t have the answers.
Application
God’s will is revealed in my life as I faithfully apply God’s word and God’s wisdom in the small, daily, insignificant decisions and situations that I face. He has given me all that I need, to navigate life in a way that is pleasing to Him. The Hebrews of the Old Testament had to go through the priests in order to hear from God on questions too great for them to handle, but today I have God’s Holy Spirit living inside me as a daily guide for the situations that I face. His presence is constant, and His voice is sure no matter the situations that arise.
This week, I need to walk with confidence in the wisdom that I find in God’s word…and with the peace that comes from knowing that the Holy Spirit will guide me whenever the path gets murky.
Prayer
God, thank you for the assurance that there is no situation I could face, which is too complicated for your wisdom to handle, or too complex for your voice to guide me through. Help me to live daily with your wisdom, and turn to you above all else when I am unsure of the next step. 

Interested in getting daily devotions delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe HERE!
You can also read past devotions on our website, by visiting https://www.newhopelegacy.com/soap/

Faith in Action

  • March 10, 2022

Scripture
Galatians 5:6,13-14
“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 
Observation
I am not saved by works, but by faith. My faith in Christ though, should result in me interacting differently with the world around me. Real, living faith is displayed in the way it affects action. The faith we are commanded to have is a faith which results in Christ’s love being shared with the world. 
Application
My faith in God is not supposed to be limited to merely a hidden, private change which goes unnoticed by everyone around me. Christ desires that my faith in Him would result in me becoming a conduit of His love to the world around me. This kind of faith changes the way I see people, the way I speak to people, the way I care for people, the way I love people.
This week I need to watch for opportunities to live out my faith in God, by loving people. 
Prayer
God, thank you for loving me enough to take action! Help me to grow in my faith in you, with a faith that causes me to love the way that you love! 

Interested in getting daily devotions delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe HERE!
You can also read past devotions on our website, by visiting https://www.newhopelegacy.com/soap/

Disproportionate Favor

  • March 9, 2022

Scripture
Deuteronomy 11:22-23
“If you carefully observe all these commands I am giving you to follow–to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him and to hold fast to him–then the Lord will drive out all these nations before you, and you will dispossess nations larger and stronger than you.” 
Observation
Honoring God, leads to disproportionate favor and blessing. This is not a heavenly quid pro quo, but rather the lavish generosity of a heavenly Father who desires to bless us. Our obedience and faithfulness to Him is a compounding cycle of growth upon growth, and blessing upon blessing. 
Application
God has given me the ability and the freedom to serve him. He has given me every resource that I need, to do what He has commanded me to do. I must be faithful to Him with my mind, my heart, and my actions. As I walk in obedience to Him, He will pour out disproportionate favor and blessing on my life. This week, I choose to love the Lord, obey Him, and hold fast to Him. 
Prayer
God, thank you for your favor and your blessings in my life! Help me to make the daily decision to honor and serve you in all I do, and hold fast to you through every season. 

Interested in getting daily devotions delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe HERE!
You can also read past devotions on our website, by visiting https://www.newhopelegacy.com/soap/

The Giver

  • March 8, 2022
Scripture
Deuteronomy 8:17-18
“You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.”
But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your ancestors, as it is today.” 
Observation
Blessings come from God–both the blessings that arrive ready-made and complete…and the blessings that arrive through careful and wise use of the blessings He’s already given.
Forgetting the giver of the blessing does not lead to a blessed outcome. 
Application
God has blessed me abundantly! He has blessed me with the resources that He’s placed in my hands, and He has blessed me with the ability to experience further blessing by wisely using the blessings I already have. All of it comes from God though!
I must make the daily decision to “remember the Lord my God”, from whom all blessings flow.
This is an active choice on my part, to walk in humility and gratefulness instead of pride and discontent.
Prayer
God, thank you for the blessings you have given me! Help me to make the daily decision to remember you, and walk in humility before you. Thank you for not only blessing me with resources, but also with capacity and ability to grow into further blessing.
Help me to use these blessings wisely for your glory. 
 
Interested in getting daily devotions delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe HERE!
You can also read past devotions on our website, by visiting https://www.newhopelegacy.com/soap/

Clear Communication

  • March 7, 2022

Scripture
Deuteronomy 5:22
“These are the commandments the Lord proclaimed in a loud voice to your whole assembly there on the mountain, from out of the fire, the cloud and the deep darkness; He added nothing more. Then He wrote them out on two stone tablets, and gave them to me.” 
Observation
God values clear communication. He spoke on the mountain “in a loud voice”, then said “nothing more”…but then he went ahead and gave them not just one written copy of his expectations, but two copies–written on stone, unchangeable, and permanent.
God wanted to leave no room for anyone to miss what He had said. If it was important enough to say, then it was important enough to say clearly. 
Application
Communication is important! I know the thoughts running through my head…but no one around me does, unless I clearly communicate it to them.
I need to be deliberate and intentional with my words, instead of spouting poorly-communicated and half-formed ideas. If it is important enough for me to say it, it is important enough for me to say it clearly.
Clear communication and expectations pave the way for positive outcomes.
This week, I need to listen carefully to the things that God has taken such care to speak to me…and then I need to speak with that same intentionality as I interact with others. 
Prayer
God, thank you for taking such deliberate care to speak clearly to me! Help me to hear and understand your voice. Teach me to communicate well with others, so that your plans would be fulfilled through my life. 

Interested in getting daily devotions delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe HERE!
You can also read past devotions on our website, by visiting https://www.newhopelegacy.com/soap/

Goldilocks Blessings

  • March 4, 2022

Scripture
Numbers 34:1-2
“The Lord said to Moses, “Command the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter Canaan, the land that will be allotted to you as an inheritance is to have these boundaries:” 
Observation
God’s power and resource are limitless…and yet He put boundaries and limits on the inheritance for His people. Why? God knew exactly what His people needed, to supply their needs. The inheritance He gave them was large enough to provide the resources they needed.
The inheritance was not just a gift and a resource for God’s people though, it was also a responsibility. They were to take care of the land, farm the land, and protect the land for future generations.
God put boundaries on the inheritance, so that they would not be overwhelmed with the weight of their responsibility and the blessing become a curse in their life. 
Application
God has blessed me immensely! He’s given me a wife and sons, a home, a job that I love, resources to manage, and dreams to pursue. I have exactly what God has determined that I need, and that I can handle.
I must not allow discontent to make me crave and covet what God has not given me, because He knows exactly what I need.
I also need to trust Him when I begin to feel overwhelmed, because He also knows the limits of my capacity. 
Prayer
God, thank you for giving me all that I need. Help me to live life with gratefulness, and not discontent. Help me to remember that your blessings are accompanied by responsibilities, and trust you to give me strength and guidance on the days when I feel overwhelmed. 

Interested in getting daily devotions delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe HERE!
You can also read past devotions on our website, by visiting https://www.newhopelegacy.com/soap/

Completely Different

  • March 3, 2022

Scripture
Mark 10:13-14
“People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” 
Observation
Jesus was a confusing guy! His disciples knew what it meant to be the follower of a rabbi…you listen to their speeches, you follow them around, you stroke their ego, you guard their public image, and you prevent unimportant people from tying up their valuable time.
Unfortunately for the disciples, Jesus broke the mold. He had a different mindset, a higher standard, a larger mission, and a greater love than anyone they had ever known. 
Application
God’s ways are different than mine. If I try to serve God based on my own opinions and perspectives, I will soon find myself at cross purposes with my savior. I cannot merely do things for God, I must take the time to learn his heart and let him teach me his ways.
My way is shallow, temporary, and limited.
God’s way is deeper, unending, and limitless. 
Prayer
God, teach me your heart! Teach me to see like you see, and love like you love. Thank you for loving me, and please make me daily more like you. 

Interested in getting daily devotions delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe HERE!
You can also read past devotions on our website, by visiting https://www.newhopelegacy.com/soap/

The Bare Necessities

  • March 2, 2022

Scripture
Mark 9:30-31a
“They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because He was teaching His disciples.” 
Observation
Jesus had important work to do. Not healing the sick, not raising the dead, not cleansing lepers, not driving out demons. The thing at the top of his priority list this day…was teaching his disciples. All of those other tasks were urgent, but this one was necessary. Jesus had a limited amount of time walking this earth, but the mission was important enough that it had to continue after he was gone. He could not spend all of His time driven by the urgent tasks, if he was going to set his disciples up for success when He was gone. 
Application
There will always be something critically urgent that needs to be done. There will always be someone whose legitimate issue is the top thing on their mind. If I allow my life to be controlled by what is urgent, I will let the necessary things slip by. To fulfill the mission God has given me, I must take the time to identify that which is necessary, and make sure that those things are accomplished…even if some of the urgent things must wait.
This week, I need to identify which things fall in which category. 
Prayer
God, thank you for the practical wisdom which I find in your word! Help me to not allow my life to be consumed and ruled by that which is urgent, at the expense of that which is necessary.
Give me wisdom and understanding, to know the difference between the two. 

Interested in getting daily devotions delivered straight to your inbox? Subscribe HERE!
You can also read past devotions on our website, by visiting https://www.newhopelegacy.com/soap/

Back To Top