SOAP - a way of having a daily walk with God

Daily walk with God…using SOAP

SOAP has been used widely throughout Christian communities to help people draw closer to God and be His disciples.

SOAP stands for Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer.

For many people it is best that you journal your devotion, either in a journal book or using a computerised journal. 

To begin grab your bible and your journal….

SCRIPTURE……

Each week we will have a list of daily bible readings, most of the time these will relate to Sunday’s worship service.     

Read the text for the day, it may be best to read it twice, one time at a normal pace and then a lot more slowly.

OBSERVATION……

What was God saying to you today through that scripture reading?

Was there a verse or verses that spoke more loudly to you?

Write down a summary of the reading in your own words.

APPLICATION……

Personalise what you have read by asking, How does this apply to your life right now?

Is God highlighting something to be thankful for?

Is God highlighting there is something I need to seek forgiveness from Him (and others) for?

Is God teaching me something?

Is God correcting me?

Is God highlighting a promise for me and my family?

Is God encouraging me and my family?

PRAYER……

Begin a discussion with God, focussed around this scripture passage and what comes to mind during the times of observation and application.   So your prayer may include thanks, confession, adoring and praising God, asking for clarification and guidance and placing your life and day into God’s life shaping hands.   Write down your initial prayer thoughts but keep the conversation going throughout the day….keep reflecting on what God has said and your life as you interact with creation. 

  

SOAP reading: 5th Feb 2014 - Isaiah 49:5-7

SCRIPTURE  Isaiah 45:5-7
5 And now the Lord says—
    he who formed me in the womb to be his servant
to bring Jacob back to him
    and gather Israel to himself,
for I am[a] honored in the eyes of the Lord
    and my God has been my strength—
6 he says:
“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
    to restore the tribes of Jacob
    and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
    that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”
7 This is what the Lord says—
    the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel—
to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation,
    to the servant of rulers:
“Kings will see you and stand up,
    princes will see and bow down,
because of the Lord, who is faithful,

    the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

OBSERVATION
5 And now the Lord says—

    he who formed me in the womb to be his servant
6 he says:
“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
    to restore the tribes of Jacob
    and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,

    that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

APPLICATION
God created me
God created Jesus

God creates for a purpose

The purpose of Jesus and therefore the church is to minister and mission to those in the church and those who are not part of the church family.  

PRAYER

Thankyou for creating Jesus

Thankyou for creating me and everyone else

Help me and others to live out the purpose you have created us for

Open my eyes and heart to minister and reach both those in the church family, who have been part of the church family and those who are not part of the church family.

SOAP reading 4 February 2014: Isaiah 42:1-7

Scripture:  Isaiah 42:1-7
1“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
    my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
    and he will bring justice to the nations.
2 He will not shout or cry out,
    or raise his voice in the streets.
3 A bruised reed he will not break,
    and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
4     he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
    In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”
5 This is what God the Lord says—
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
    who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
    who gives breath to its people,
    and life to those who walk on it:
6 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
    I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
    to be a covenant for the people
    and a light for the Gentiles,
7 to open eyes that are blind,
    to free captives from prison
    and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

Observation
1“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
    my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,

    and he will bring justice to the nations.
6 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
    I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
    to be a covenant for the people
    and a light for the Gentiles,
7 to open eyes that are blind,
    to free captives from prison
    and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

Application
God promises servants who work on His behalf and have His spirit to give you new perspectives and freedom to all people.
As servants God promises to be with us, to use us to fulfill His promises for all people.

Prayer
Thanks to God for the servants He has provided and helped who have opened our eyes, brought freedom and helped us have new life with God.
That as a servant I ask God for forgiveness when i have doubted His ongoing help and support and His presence and have not relied on His Spirit
That I live a life of helping others see how good life with God is.

3 February 2014: SOAP reading Luke 1:22-40

SOAP is a away of studying the scriptures...
As a congregation each week we have SOAP daily readings.....

SOAP stands for Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer

3rd February 2014 

Scripture:  Luke 1:22-40
22 When Zechariah came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
23  When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.”
38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
39 At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, 40 where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth.

Observation....what verse or verses spoke more loudly to you
25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God
37 For no word from God will ever fail.”

Application....
Watch and listen for how God acts don't assume it will be how people think.
Being favoured by God can be a daunting thing....but remember promises not to fail
Thanks to God for Him choosing others and me....
Pray that we are open to be used by God and trust God

Prayer.....
God help us to have eyes, ears and a heart that sees you at work even through situations and events that are not our natural or approach to life....
We thankyou that you don't just call us....but promise not to fail in using us...Lord may your word be fulfilled...