S.O.A.P.

Daily S.O.A.P Blog

To Be Continued

  • August 21, 2021

Scripture
1 John 2:28
“And now, dear children, continue in Him so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming” 
Observation
Continue. A short word, but it requires long-term commitment. It’s easy to start things, but not always easy to continue.
“When he appears”…Our father is going to appear. Not if, but when. I need to continue in him, so when this happens I can be confident and not ashamed. 
Application
We’ve all seen it. A parent walks into the room, and suddenly their child reacts. The candy gets swallowed, the forbidden toy is hastily hidden behind their back, and they jump to their feet with the guilty expression that we all recognize. They knew what they were supposed to do, but they didn’t continue. When the parent appeared, they were ashamed…and very much not confident.
I don’t want to live for God like that. I want to continue in him through each season and struggle, confident that he will return, and confident that I am ready, and eagerly waiting for his appearing. I must decide in the daily, mundane, everyday process, to simply continue.
Continue walking.
Continue obeying.
Continue submitting.
Continue loving.
Continue serving.
Prayer
God, thank you for the privilege of walking in you, and the assurance that you will return. Help me to continue in you each day, and in every situation so that I can eagerly anticipate your coming with confidence, and not shame.
 
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Confession and Cleansing

  • August 20, 2021

Scripture
1 John 1:8-10
“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” 
Observation
It’s a bit of a paradox. God commands us to walk in light, and not in darkness. He instructs us to keep his ways, and refrain from sin. Sin by it’s very nature are the things that are not ‘of God’.
And yet if we claim to be without sin, we not only lie in ourselves, but make God himself out to be a liar! The only way to walk closer to God, is to recognize my distance from him. The only way to become more like him, is to confess how far I fall short. 
Application
I truly fall so far short of God’s perfection. The miracle is that he knows me inside and out, and still loves me regardless! On the days that I look in the mirror and don’t like who I see looking back at me…he still loves the person I see in the mirror. I cannot hide before him. All I can do is say “here I am, God! Real, raw, and ugly. I admit my imperfection, and surrender myself again today to you.”
The truly amazing thing is that when I confess my sins, he doesn’t just forgive me–He also cleanses me from all unrighteousness!
Prayer
God, thank you for your love, your justice, your grace, your holiness, and your forgiveness! Cleanse me again today, as I confess my sin to you. Make me more like you, and help me to walk daily in your ways!
 
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Following Christ

  • August 19, 2021

Scripture
John 21:21-22
“When Peter saw him, he asked “Lord, what about him?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 
Observation
Jesus had just opened a conversation with Peter, reinstating his ministry after he had denied Jesus. Peter immediately became distracted by John, and started to change the subject. Jesus brought the conversation back on track, and told Peter that the only thing that truly mattered was whether Peter was following Christ–no matter what happened to those around him. 
Application
It’s easy for me to get distracted. It’s easy to get wrapped up in all the things happening around me. It’s easy to get so outwardly focused that I take my eyes off of the only thing that matters for the eternal future of my soul–am I following Christ? If I get distracted from that one critical thing, then nothing else matters until I get that thing right-because that is the foundation on which all else must build.
 
Are those around me struggling? Perhaps…but am I following Christ?
Are those around me walking in blessing? That’s great! But am I following Christ?
Are those around me following other things, and walking away from God? That’s sad. But am I following Christ?
Are those around me living in victory and growing in God? That’s awesome! But am I following Christ?
Prayer
God, thank you for this reminder of the “main thing”. Help me to hear you clearly, and follow you daily through every situation and every distraction. 


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Confidence In The Outcome

  • August 18, 2021
Scripture
Jeremiah 26:23-24
“They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim, who had him struck down with a sword and his body thrown into the burial place of the common people. Furthermore, Ahikam son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, and so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.” 
Observation
Uriah and Jeremiah were both given the same word from God, both obeyed, and both were in danger for their obedience. Uriah regarded God enough to obey him, but he didn’t trust God with the outcome. He fled to Egypt to save his own life, and was killed regardless. Jeremiah also obeyed, but he trusted God with the outcome and remained in Jerusalem–and God protected him. 
Application
It’s easy to slip into the same mistake that Uriah made. “OK God–I’ll obey You! …and now I’ve gotta figure out how to make this all work out.” If I trust God enough to obey him, then I need to trust him enough to leave the results in His hands. Anything else shows that my trust is not truly in the Lord. God did not need Pharaoh to save Uriah. Daniel did not require a can of mace to survive the lion’s den, and the disciples did not need a life raft in order to ride out the storm. The same God who holds my past and my present, also holds my future.
Prayer
God, help me to hear you clearly, and obey you boldly. Help me to trust you fully, with confidence that you are great enough to handle the outcome of every situation if I walk in step with you.
 
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Loving Through Pain

  • August 17, 2021
Scripture
John 19:26-27
“When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, He said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.” 
Observation
Even in the middle of extreme agony, in the middle of fulfilling his ultimate purpose on earth, Jesus was looking out for the good of his family, and those he loved. As he hung on the cross and honored his Father, he still fulfilled the commandment to honor his mother. 
Application
It can be easy to become self-focused, even in the middle of serving God and doing the things He wants me to do. When I am hurting, my pain is usually the only thing I care about. Christ has called me to love my family with a love that is outward-focused, instead of self-focused. The true test of my love is not what I do when others are hurting–but rather my response when I am hurting. This week, I need to love my family with a Christlike love that remains strong even when I would rather just focus on me.
Prayer
God, thank you for loving me! Thank you for this example of how to love my family well, instead of becoming consumed by all of the other things that can seem so much more urgent. Help me not to become self-absorbed and inwardly focused, even when I am navigating seasons of pain.
 
 
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You can also read past devotions on our website, by visiting https://www.newhopelegacy.com/soap/

Knowing God

  • August 16, 2021

Scripture
Jeremiah 22:15-16
“Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He did what was right and just, so all went well with him. He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the Lord. 
Observation
Knowing God is more than just head knowledge about God. Knowing God means that my heart is burdened by the things that weigh on God’s heart. It means that His motivations become my motivations, His goals become my goals, and His purposes become my purposes. I cannot truly claim to know God, if I am unmoved by the things which move Him. 
Application
In my walk with God, I need to go beyond simply spending time learning “about” Him, and also spend time “with” Him–listening to the things that are on His mind, and the topics that are on His heart. If I truly know God, then it should show in my daily decision. Not just in the things that I “can do” or “shouldn’t do”, but also in the things that I “purpose” to do, and desire to accomplish. If my heart is in sync with my savior, then someone else’s life should be affected for the better, when my day is done. 
Prayer
Lord, teach me your heart! I want to know you–not just cognitively, but in true relationship. I want to care about the things that you care about, and let your motivations also motivate me. May people know more about you, by watching the decisions I make, and actions I take. 

The Testing Process

  • August 12, 2021

Scripture
Jeremiah 12:2-3
“You are always on their lips, but far from their hearts. Yet you know me, Lord; You see me and test my thoughts about you” 

John 12:30-31
“I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me, but he comes so that the world may learn that I love the Father and do exactly what my Father has commanded me”
Observation
There are struggles and situations that God allows me to encounter in life, to reveal the condition of my heart. These tests are not intended to push me past the breaking point and leave me injured and crippled, rather they are intended to reveal the hidden condition of my heart toward God and cause me to rely more fully on Him, so that the world will witness the depth of the love that we share. 
Application
I don’t enjoy the testing process. It’s not fun, relaxing, or enjoyable. It is, however, an expected and normal part of walking with Christ. There are situations He allows me to face, which would overwhelm me if not for His strength inside me. My reaction and response to these tests, reveals the true state of my heart. Either the love that I share with the Father is strong enough to carry me through, or else hidden cracks in the foundation will be uncovered.
His love for me is perfect and complete. When flaws are revealed, they are not flaws in His love for me-they are rooted in flaws in my love for Him.
This week, I need to watch my heart in the struggles, and in the moments of testing. Not to beat myself up over the flaws revealed, but instead to decide in that moment to step closer to the Father, and deeper into love.
Prayer
God, thank you for your love–love in the easy times, love which is revealed in the tough times. Reveal to me the flaws in my heart, and help me to walk daily close to you. May the world see you in me, through every situation! 

Will You Really?

  • August 11, 2021

Scripture
John 13:38
“Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!” 
Observation
“Will you really?” What a pointed challenge that Jesus gave Peter! Peter was promising to stay true to the point of death-but Jesus wanted to know if he would stay true to the point of life…life lived for God.  
Application
It’s easy to promise the big, distant things. “I give you my life, God!” It’s much harder to give God this moment. I’ve given God my past and my future–but am I prepared to give him my present? Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow is not yet here–my decisions today are really all that matters.
Today, I resolve to follow Christ. Not just with my words, but with every decision in every moment.  
Prayer
God, thank you for your love and your grace. Thank you that you love me enough to confront the areas of my life that have not been fully submitted to you. Help me today, to glorify you in every decision, in every moment. I choose to give you ‘today’.

I know You hold tomorrow, so I’m giving You today.
I’m giving up my will, my wants, to follow in Your ways.
I’m giving you the life I live, not just the words I say
This is my service of worship.

Motivations

  • August 10, 2021

Scripture
John 12:42-43
“Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in Him. But because of the pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God.”  
Observation
What a sad story is recorded here! These leaders saw Jesus face to face, talked with him, knew him…and even believed on him. Yet the thing that was most important to them was their status in the synagogue, and the praise of those around them.
Application
There are decision points in life–some big, and many small. The outcome of these moments is determined by my decisions, and my decisions are formed by that which motivates me. I make decisions, in order to get the things I desire. I may desire “stuff”, or I may desire money in the savings account. I may desire self-gratification, or I may desire to be generous and giving. In all of these things though, the decisions come down to a question of who I most desire to please. Do I want to please myself? Do I want to please others? Or do I want to please God? If my deepest desire is for anything other than pleasing God, then I cannot expect anything other than disappointment at the end of the journey.
This week, I need to examine my motives in the decision moments–and choose to please my heavenly Father, instead of trying to please myself or those around me.
Prayer
God, help me to see when my motivations are wrong. Help me to put Your approval and Your pleasure above all else. May I live my life for Your praise, even when it costs me the fleeting and temporary price of earthly approval.

What Christ Commands

  • August 9, 2021

Scripture
John 11:43-44
“When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice “Lazarus! Come out!” The dead man came out…”  
Observation
This miracle of Jesus seems almost incidental. Jesus never laid hands on him, never prayed for him. He never even commanded Lazarus to come back to life! What did he do? Jesus commanded him to ‘come out’, and every other part of the situation supernaturally shifted, in order that the command of Jesus would be fulfilled.  
Application
There are times in my life that Christ will command something of me which is impossible–whether because I lack the strength, or because the physical realities of the world prevent it. Either way, something has to ‘give’–something has to yield to the command of God. This means I have no excuse–because if God has commanded something of me, then the very laws of nature will surrender in order to enable the thing which God has commanded. This week, I need to obey Christ completely and without excuses. He has empowered me to do what He commands, the only thing left is for me to obey.
Prayer
God, thank you for this reminder that You alone have all authority–over life, over death, and over nature itself. Thank you for empowering me to do the things which you command! Help me to clearly hear your voice, and give me the resolve to follow your ways, your commands, and your desires.
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