S.O.A.P.

Daily S.O.A.P Blog

Ownership

  • February 15, 2022

Scripture
Leviticus 25:23
“The land must not be sold permanently, because the land is mine and you reside in my land as foreigners and strangers.” 
Observation
The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof. All that we have is his, he has simply entrusted it to us. This knowledge was to affect the way that the Israelites interacted with the land, and managed their resources–because it truly all belongs to God.
Application
All that I have is his. He has given me the responsibility of managing the things he has placed in my hands, but it still all belongs to him. My home, my possessions, my finances, my wife, my children, my job…it is all his. Knowing that it all belongs to him should cause me to take my responsibilities seriously, so that he would be pleased with what he finds when I return these things to his hands.
This week, I need to direct my focus. Not to merely use the things I have for my own enjoyment and fulfillment, but with the intentionality of seeking God’s desire and purpose for the things he has placed in my hands. 
Prayer
God, thank you for entrusting all of your blessings to me. Help me to never forget that all I have belongs to you, to be used for your glory. 

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Now What?!

  • February 14, 2022
Scripture
Acts 21:11-12
“Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the gentiles’.”
“When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.” 
Observation
God spoke…and it sounded like bad news. If Paul continued on to Jerusalem, he was going to be arrested. The people reacted with understandable concern, and begged Paul not to go. …but God had not told Paul not to go, He merely warned Paul what would happen when he got there. Paul received the word that God had given, and then had to use Spirit-led discernment to decide what he was supposed to do with that information. 
Application
God speaks in many different ways, and His voice is always there for me to hear when I stop and listen. Merely “hearing” God’s voice is not enough however–I must also seek discernment to understand what to “do” with the things that God says. Do I “go”? Do I “stop”? Do I “wait”? Or do I simply “pray”?
He will let me know, if I seek understanding.
Instead of treating God’s word like an Ikea assembly manual (read the first page and ignore the rest), I need to continually seek understanding to live and move in the way He desires. 
Prayer
God, thank you for your word and for leading and guiding me. Help me to live with wisdom and understanding, so that I would respond in the right way when you speak. 
 
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You can also read past devotions on our website, by visiting https://www.newhopelegacy.com/soap/

Unseen

  • February 11, 2022

Scripture
Leviticus 16:17
“No one is to be in the tent of meeting from the time Aaron goes in to make atonement in the Most Holy Place until he comes out, having made atonement for himself, his household and the whole community of Israel.” 
Observation
The high priest’s role was very visible and public in many ways–and yet the most important, irreplaceable responsibility he held was to be carried out in private and out of view. Public service to God is important, but the most critical things are those that happen when no one else is watching. 
Application
There are public and private aspects to my life, the things that are seen and unseen. The way I live visibly, matters immensely–how am I representing Christ to the world? What kind of impression do people have of Christ, based on the way I serve him? And yet the even more critical things are those areas of my life that are not visible to the world around me. Do I worship Christ with the innermost parts of me? His desire is that there would be no difference between what is seen and unseen in my life.
This week, I need to be intentional to worship God daily in the secret places of my heart. 
Prayer
God, thank you for seeing every part of me. Help me to daily surrender to you and serve you with every part of my being, every part of my heart. 

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Another Perspective

  • February 10, 2022

Scripture
Leviticus 13:1-3a
“The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “When anyone has a swelling or a rash or a shiny spot on their skin that may be a defiling skin disease, they must be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons who is a priest. The priest is to examine the sore on the skin, and if the hair in the sore has turned white and the sore appears to be more than skin deep, it is a defiling skin disease.” 
Observation
Why didn’t God simply give the people instructions on how to examine their own sores? Why was this a job for the priest? Sometimes we each need an outside perspective, because we cannot always accurately see our own issue. The priest was to provide neutral, unbiased truth, even when the truth was uncomfortable and inconvenient. 
Application
I need mentors and leaders in my life who care enough about me to tell me uncomfortable truth. I need their input in my life, because I can’t always see my own problem accurately. Once they speak truth into my life, I need to have humility to receive what they say, and take responsibility to respond with appropriate action. 
Prayer
God, thank you or Godly mentors and leaders in my life who have perspective to see the things that I haven’t noticed. Help me to live with humility to accept what they speak into my life, and give me wisdom and determination to respond and react in the right way. 

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Heart to Heart

  • February 9, 2022

Scripture
Leviticus 10:16,20
“When Moses inquired about the goat of the sin offering and found that it had been burned up, he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar…”
“When Moses heard this, he was satisfied.” 
Observation
Moses was upset that his instructions had not been followed perfectly. He was angry with the priests, but took the time to inquire about what had happened. When he heard their reply and understood their desire to honor God even through unexpected circumstances, he was satisfied. 
Application
Sometimes life takes twists and turns, and things don’t go as we hoped or planned. When this happens, frustration and anger are a natural response. Even in my frustration though, I can choose to handle things in a healthy way. When I take the time to communicate and hear the heart of the other person, I create room for us to see “heart to heart, even if we don’t see eye to eye.” (…as Pastor Jon Burgess often says).
Healthy communication opens the door for healthy outcomes. 
Prayer
God, help me to respond in a Christ-honoring way when things don’t go according to plan. Help me to communicate well, and to listen for the other person’s heart so that we could grow through the challenge, each of us closer to you. 

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Strengthened In Trial

  • February 8, 2022

Today’s SOAP devotional is brought to you by Rosalind Canite
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Scripture
Acts 14:22
“…strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in faith and saying,”It is through many tribulations that we must enter into the kingdom of God.” 
Observation
The spirit of the world was and is opposed to the spirit of Christ, so they (the disciples) had to make up their minds to expect persecution and tribulations, as Paul endured when he was stoned and left for dead. Even in today’s world many are persecuted for Christ’s sake. At times I’ve asked myself how can I endure the coming days when my faith is tested. Am I ready? 
Application
I am reminded to continue to seek a deeper relationship with my Savior at all times, and stay encouraged through His word. I may not have faced such severe persecutions and trials as Paul did, but I do know the days are coming to confirm my faith. I must continue to seek Him and encourage others as well so they too will be able stand strong for Christ. 
Prayer
Thank you Father for your never-ending love. Thank you that I can make up my mind to expect persecutions and tribulations in various forms, but still remember your promise that you would never leave me. Help me to remain strong in faith so that when trials come I can meet them with fortitude, and stand unmoved in the cloudy and dark day. In Jesus name. Amen 

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All About You

  • February 7, 2022

Scripture
Acts 14:26-27
“From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.” 
Observation
Just 7 verses prior, the Jews from Antioch were inciting a riot and stoning Paul in an attempt to kill him and silence the gospel. Now here Paul is, traveling straight back to the home town of the men who tried to kill him. His courage amazes me, but it goes even deeper than just courage-because when he got there, the thing he talked about was not the suffering and injustice he had endured, but rather the goodness and greatness of God. Paul never denied or minimized his suffering or trials–but the thing that occupied his mind was the goodness of God.
Application
What occupies my mind? Life takes twists and turns, but what is the thing that I can’t wait to tell people? Am I looking for an opportunity to glorify God, or am I just itching for an opportunity to air my grievances and share my offenses to anyone who will listen?
This week, I choose to proclaim the greatness of God. 
Prayer
God, thank you for this reminder that my purpose is to proclaim your glory and lift your name high. Teach me through the hard seasons, and help me to keep this all about you–instead of trying to make life all about me. 

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That’s Refreshing!

  • February 4, 2022

Scripture
Psalm 19:7
“The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.”
Observation
I’ve never really thought of laws as being “refreshing”! Those two things don’t really seem to even relate to each other…at first glance. The reason that God’s law is refreshing, is that it makes me better. His law comes from His heart of love for me. I may be simple, but His desire is that I would be wise…and so He has given me His law. 
Application
I don’t always “prefer” to do things God’s way…that’s why I need His law to guide me. When I make the decision to obey God even despite my own preferences and desires, I reap the benefits that come along with His law. Though I am simple, I can walk in wisdom. Though I may feel discouraged and weary, I can be refreshed.
Obedience to God, leads to benefits for me. 
Prayer
God, thank you for loving me enough to give me your law. Thank you that your law is rooted in your love for me! Help me to daily walk in obedience to you so that my soul could be refreshed, and so I can walk in wisdom instead of foolishness. 

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When Hearts Unite

  • February 3, 2022

Scripture
Exodus 35:29
“All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the Lord freewill offerings for all the work the Lord through Moses had commanded them to do.
Observation
What an amazing passage of scripture! The mission was large and complex–but simple at its core: “Build a place for God to dwell”. God gave them a direction and mission, and the entire community responded to fulfill the mission given to them by God. Jewelry, gold, yarn, linen, leather, silver, bronze, lumber, cloth, gemstones, spices, olive oil, and anointing oil–the ‘whole community’ gave what they had, to be used by God to fulfill His plan.
Moses shared the vision, (35:5) and everyone whose ‘heart moved them’ brought what they had. They continued to bring their offerings ‘morning after morning’ (36:3), to the point that Moses finally had to send out a cease and desist order throughout the camp, to get them to stop bringing offerings.
When the vision is clear, hearts unite. When hearts unite, blessings flow.
Application
God has given us a mission! Our mission is to share the gospel of Jesus, make disciples, train leaders, and release the body of Christ to grow the Kingdom. There are many great things that we ‘can do’ as a church, but this is the one thing God has ‘called us’ to do.
The mission must be clear! It must be unchanging, and it must be consistently communicated. As we consistently share and live out the mission, God will draw the hearts of His people to unite together in purpose. As we unite together in following His lead, God will give us the resources and wisdom to accomplish what He has called us to do.
This week, I need to stay focused on living the mission, and sharing the vision.
 
Prayer
God, thank you for the body of Christ! Thank you for the privilege of working together on this mission that you have given us! Help us to each see the mission, catch the vision, and unite together with one heart and purpose as we follow you!

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The Power of Relationship

  • February 2, 2022

Scripture
Exodus 34:12
“Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you.” 
Observation
Relationships matter. Alignment with the right people will help propel us into the right “next”. Alignment with the wrong voices will derail us into the wrong “next”.
We need the discernment of God’s spirit to tell the difference between the two. 
Application
There is never a shortage of voices looking to unite, give advice, provide input, and walk together in life. All of these things are good and right…in the right relationships.
Allowing ungodly or toxic relationships to play that role in my life though, will hinder me from what God has in store. There are people to whom I am called to be a witness, and people to whom I am called to be an ally. Seeking God’s help to discern between the two, will save me from toxic alliances. 
Prayer
God, thank you for the leading of your spirit! Help me to walk in alignment with those who will guide me closer to you, and give me the discernment to avoid alliances with those who would draw me away from you or distract me from my calling and purpose. 

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