S.O.A.P.

Ezekiel 2:7

“And you shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.”

Observation

Ezekiel was appointed as a watchman by God, and given responsibility to share a life-and-death message. God knew that his audience was stubborn and rebellious, and he gave Ezekiel this reminder: “Their response is not your responsibility, Ezekiel. Just be faithful to do what you’re called to do, and let me work in their heart.”

Application

There’s a fine line in obedience, between taking responsibility for ‘my part’ vs. trying to take responsibility for someone else’s decisions. I should own my choices and decisions, but I cannot own the choices of others.

This realization gives me confidence to boldly obey my Lord even in the face of rejection. My purpose in God is still my purpose, and I must trust him with the outcome rather than trying to control others. When others turn a deaf ear, I must keep speaking truth. When others turn away, I must choose obedience instead of discouragement. When others ridicule, I must be faithful.

Prayer

God, I trust you with the outcome. Give me strength and courage to serve you faithfully, regardless of what others may choose. I would rather be approved by you, than agreed with by all others.

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Jeremiah 48:30-31

30 I know his insolence, declares the LORD; his boasts are false, his deeds are false. 31 Therefore I wail for Moab; I cry out for all Moab; for the men of Kir-hareseth I mourn.

Observation

The prophet Jeremiah is recording God’s words of judgment toward Moab, because of their wickedness. God’s judgment and wrath was about to fall on them…yet God says that He was ‘crying and mourning’ for them. His righteousness demanded that there be a correction and consequence for their wickedness…but His love still mourned for them as people that He had created in His own image.

Application

When we talk about righteousness, holiness, wickedness, and judgment…it’s easy to just stop when we get to judgment. Wickedness is wickedness, judgment is judgment…end of story.  But that’s not how God sees it! Yes, there are times when His righteousness requires a correction of those who have turned away from him…but He mourns for those He must judge.

In my interaction with those around me, it can be easy to get very task-oriented and process-oriented. “If you do ‘x’, then I’ll have to do ‘y’.”  When I let myself become focused merely on tasks and processes, I start to become hard-hearted toward those that that I’m dealing with. I become just a little bit less loving, a little bit less caring, a little bit less merciful.  There are some lines that must be drawn, and some boundaries that must be enforced: but if God can mourn as His judgment falls on the wicked Moabites, then I must learn to care just as deeply for those around me.

Today I choose to let my heart rejoice, celebrate, mourn, grieve, and ‘feel’ for those around me–instead of reducing my interactions to mere processes and tasks.

Prayer

God, help me to love the way that you love! Help me to care about people: Not merely when they do what they should…but even when they turn away from you and when they let me down. Thank you for loving me, even when I’ve turned away from you!

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As Jesus said in Matthew 6:10, “Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven!”

Jeremiah 14:11-12

The LORD said to me: “Do not pray for the welfare of this people. Though they fast, I will not hear their cry, and though they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.”

Observation

What a curious instruction God gives in Jeremiah 14:11 – “Do not pray for the welfare of this people!”

Why would God not want him to pray for them? What reason could God have for not wanting the prophet to pray God’s blessing on them?! Quite simply, God didn’t want Jeremiah praying prayer that were misaligned with His plan. God’s desire was not simply to bless them here on earth: He wanted to draw their hearts back to Him, so that their eternal future could be blessed.

Application

As I navigate situations in life, I often find myself praying for specific outcomes: “God, bless that person in this way.” Or maybe: “God, you see the healing needed in this situation…and here’s how you should heal them.” Or sometimes: “God, you see the problem over here…and here’s how you should fix it.”

The problem with praying this kind of prayer, is that I’m going beyond identifying the need and asking for God’s help: I’ve now begun to insert my own ideas, thoughts, and plans into the situation–because clearly, I understand the situation fully and I understand exactly how it should be handled…

Instead of telling God how to be God…I must bring my prayers to Him with an open hand: “God, here’s the situation. It’s out of my control, but I know you are sovereign. I’m inviting you into the mess, and I’m asking you to resolve this in a way which fulfills your plans and desires, and brings glory to you!”

As Jesus said in Matthew 6:10, “Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven!”

Today I choose not only to bring my needs to God, but also to trust Him with the outcome. He is wise, loving, and sovereign…and I must trust Him to be God.

Prayer

God, forgive me for trying to tell you how to do your job! I invite you today into the mess of each situation that I navigate this week. May your plans be accomplished, and may you receive glory as you draw hearts to you! I trust you, and I choose to follow you instead of trying to talk you into following me.

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Psalm 107:27-28, 31-32

“…they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits’ end. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.”

“Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.”

Observation

No one likes talking about their mistakes…but God’s people are encouraged to share their inglorious moments to bring glory to God! The worst decisions become an opportunity to point the world to him, when those bad decisions are surrendered to him.

Application

I prefer to focus on my ‘wins’ instead of my losses. I’d rather draw attention to the times when I exercised wisdom, than the times I acted a fool. But those less-than-flattering parts of the journey are precisely the moments when God’s goodness and faithfulness are most clearly seen.

Today I choose to let God be glorified by my life: Not just the great parts, but all of it.

Prayer

God, thank you for being faithful when I have been faithless! I pray that you would impact someone this week through me–not merely through my victories, but through the victory that you have won. Not because of my own greatness, but because you are great!

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Isaiah 60:1 – “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.”

Isaiah 61:1 – “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound…”

Observation

Christ has shined his light in the darkness–not just for those who currently walk in it, but so that they can then share his light with others. His Spirit is upon His people–not only to transform them, but also to anoint them for effective service in His kingdom to share His good news with the world.

Application

I am so thankful for the blessings and anointing of the Holy Spirit! How awesome to receive His power and provision! But the things that I receive from God are not merely a ‘benefits package’ for my own exclusive enjoyment: He has entrusted these things to me so that others would also come to know him.

This week, I need to watch for ‘God moments’: opportunities to shine His light, share good news, minister healing, proclaim liberty, and help others to see the prison doors that He has already opened.

Prayer

Thank you God for your anointing, and the way you bless me daily! Help me to effectively use everything that you’ve given me, to introduce others to the Savior. I don’t want to merely enjoy a personal ‘benefits package’ from you: I want to wisely use what you’ve entrusted to me for your glory!

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Isaiah 58:6,8

“Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?”

“…Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.”

Observation

God is less interested in what I sacrifice, than he is in how I align my heart with him. The Israelites were ‘seeking God’, fasting, asking for his blessing…but they were merely asking him to bless the sinful path that they had already chosen. God wanted to bless them, but his blessing accompanies his ways. God told them to first align their hearts with his ways, and then his blessings would follow.

Application

I want to experience God, and I pray often for His blessing. But I must be mindful to seek alignment with his ways first, before I ask him to bless me.

Where am I withholding my heart from him? Am I yielding to him in my thoughts, plans, desires, disciplines, speech, and imagination? Or am I merely seeking God in ‘some’ areas, while holding back another part for me to be lord of?

Today I choose full surrender. I want to fully yield to him and fully seek him, so that he can fully bless me.

Prayer

God, thank you for this reminder that you are not Lord of ‘some’, you are Lord of ‘all’ of me. I choose today to align my heart with you, and I want you to be pleased with my life!

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Isaiah 53:7 – 7

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.

Observation

Jesus faced opposition, false accusations, violence, and malicious behavior in this sham of a trial–yet ‘he opened not his mouth’

Application

In Matthew 5 Jesus instructed us to love our enemies, and do good to those who mistreat us. This seems so far beyond my ability! When I am attacked and accused I want to lash out in retaliation, defend myself, and set the record straight. This passage challenges me to instead follow Jesus’ example, and serve the Father’s plan even when I am accused or mistreated. I must trust that God is accomplishing something greater than I can currently see or comprehend, and simply say ‘yes!’ to His sovereignty and authority.

Today I choose to glorify my Lord by surrendering to His plan…instead of becoming defensive.

Prayer

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Isaiah 52:8

The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the LORD to Zion.

Observation

These chapters in Isaiah depict a time of judgement, sorrow, and mourning for children of Israel. And yet God says that the watchmen on the wall (those alert and looking for further calamity and danger) would see the approaching salvation of God–they would see the King returning to Zion!

Application

The King is coming!!!

Prayer

God, thank you for your hand at work in the world today. Thank you for saving, for protecting, for redeeming, for transforming hearts, and for the promise of your return someday. Help me to keep my eyes focused on you, so I would not miss out on what you are doing. You have set me as a watchman: Not merely to alert people of present danger, but to call their attention to the return of the King!

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1 Peter 5:2-3

2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

Observation

I love this succinct description of Kingdom leadership! A kingdom leader is to be a shepherd–not merely a project manager. A kingdom leader is to serve with a willing heart, not out of a misguided sense of obligation. A kingdom leader is to serve for something greater than mere financial compensation and personal gain. A kingdom leader is not to be domineering to those under their care. And lastly, a kingdom leader must lead by example.

Application

This description of true Kingdom leadership makes me excited to serve, because it carries such power for accomplishing great things. Who wouldn’t want to be part of a team that functions like this! But at the same time, these verses carry a challenge in them. This way of leading can’t be put on autopilot. It can’t be faked, it can’t be done casually. It can’t be fulfilled by merely going through the motions of what worked in the last season.

Instead, it requires daily investment from my heart. It requires me to wake up each morning, relying on guidance from God’s word to inspire me and keep my own heart in check, and it requires me to listen closely to the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide me.

Today I choose to cultivate this kind of heart, so that God could use me as He would see fit.

Prayer

Thank you God for the wisdom that I find in your word! It is always timely, always on-target, and always beneficial! Help me to take these principles to heart this week, so that I could lead and serve in a way which honors you, values the mission, and values those under my care.

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Isaiah 43:2

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”

Flame and flood are no stranger to God’s people–indeed, they are to be expected! God says to expect them, but don’t merely expect trouble with a pessimistic attitude: Instead, walk in confidence that the flood waters will not overwhelm us no matter how high they rise, and the flame will not consume us no matter how hot it burns.

What peace and confidence this passage gives me! I see places in my life where flood waters seem to be rising, and I feel the temperature growing hotter in other places as flames flicker.

When this happens, it could be easy to panic and assume that either God has abandoned me, or I have abandoned Him. The truth is that if I am in Him and He is in me, then the flood and the flames are inconsequential because He is Lord of them both. The path may lead through, but it will not end there.

Today I choose to walk with confidence through the fire and flood, led by the voice of my Savior and King.

God, thank you for being Lord of all: Lord of the mountain, Lord of the valley, Lord of the fire, and Lord of the flood. Teach my heart to trust you in every season, because I know you will not fail me.

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