SOAP - Matthew 6:6 (my BLOG finale?)

Well, I came across this scripture in Matthew 6:6 this morning - it says the following:

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

I am being prompted that perhaps I need to keep my prayers between the Lord and myself. I will continue to do my daily devo's and greatly encourage any of you reading this to continue on and do the same.

A few months ago I was really led to start this daily Bible blog and am now feeling like I should not continue it, at least in the format that I have been doing it - which is the SOAP (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer).

I would love feedback from anyone reading this as to what you think. In any case I am always here to help, encourage, etc. my fellow brothers and sisters and those who are searching.

Even if I do not continue this BLOG I will post the daily Bible reading plan on my Facebook account under my 'notes' section and you can also see the link to our church's webpage to get a copy of that daily Bible reading plan there. The daily reading plan and morning devo have changed my life and I cannot stress enough how important that it is. My great prayer for you is that you embark on a journey similar to the one I started back in December and get in God's Word and let Him speak to you.

Looking forward to your feedback and may God's love and blessing be yours forever,

In His service,

Dave Nuber

SOAP - 1 Samuel 19; 1 Chronicles 7; Psalm 59; Matthew 4

(S)cripture-
Matthew 4:19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

(O)bservation-
This was the call to the first two of Jesus' 12 disciples. Jesus was the ultimate leader and wanted His disciples to follow Him and not only hear what He had to say. Without hesitation, the disciples dropped what they were doing and followed Jesus to the calling of ministry for the Kingdom of God.

(A)pplication-
This verse has a two-fold meaning for me. First, I will follow Jesus and learn from Him, exhibiting what it means to be a true disciple and a fisher of men in spreading the Gospel. Second, I want to be like Jesus in that I would help others to become disciples of Christ and fishers of men. As believers, if we can follow this model then we will ultimately fulfill our calling and the Great Commission to evangelize the world.

(P)rayer-
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Son Jesus who boldly calls us all to follow Him and become fishers of men. Since this our true calling and should be the end to everything we do, help us to not take this lightly but commit fully to it. Lord, I give You everything and help me through Your Holy Spirit to be obedient and faithful to that which You would have me do for the sake of Your Kingdom. In Jesus' Holy Name I pray, Amen.

SOAP - 1 Samuel 18; 1 Chronicles 6; Psalm 11; Matthew 3

(S)cripture-
1 Samuel 18:14 In everything he did he had great success, because the Lord was with him.

(O)bservation-
David was a man after God's heart and committed himself fully to obeying and serving Him - this is what gave him success.

(A)pplication-
I want to be successful like David was; not success on my terms but God's terms and in His timing. Success to me would be to use the gifts I've been blessed with and use them to fulfill His purpose for my life and perform the work of His Kingdom with everything I have and to the best of my ability. The goal is that when I stand before Him one day that He would say 'Well done good and faithful servant'.

(P)rayer-
Father, thank You for Your great gift of eternal life through You Son Jesus and that our future is secure. While I am on this earth help me to achieve success on Your eyes - to fulfill Your calling and purpose and to do Your will not mine. Please always be with me and lead me through Your Holy Spirit with power that I would stay on the path to success and have the strength, courage, and conviction to win for Your Kingdom. I love and praise You and pray these things in Jesus' name. Amen.

SOAP - 1 Samuel 17; Psalm 9; Matthew 2

(S)cripture-
1 Samuel 17:50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone: without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

(O)bservation-
God can do anything in those who trust and serve Him faithfully. Against huge odds this shepherd boy armed with only a sling and a stone killed Goliath, a huge warrior over nine feet tall and fully dressed in battle armor and traditional weapons of war.

(A)pplication-
I will trust in God that no matter how long the odds are according to human perspective in any situation, that they are not too great for Him. He is all powerful and can do anything, using anyone to do His will.

(P)rayer-
Father, I trust in You and love You. Help me to always be obedient to Your calling no matter what lies in front of me. Please lead me through Your Holy Spirit with His power and please grant me strength and courage to carry out Your divine will. Thank You Lord for Your love and blessing and help me to glorify Your Holy Name. Amen.

SOAP - 1 Samuel 15, 16; 1 Chronicles 5, Matthew 1

(S)cripture-
Matthew 1:21 She will give birth to a son and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.

(O)bservation-
This dream Joseph had confirmed the prophecy written in Isaiah. Even though Joseph had secretly planned to divorce Mary when he found that she had become pregnant he changed his mind as a result of what the Lord told him in the dream. He obeyed in faith, beyond his own understanding, and gave Mary's son the name Jesus - the name above all names and Savior from our sins.

(A)pplication-
I desire to have the faith and obedience of Joseph - to trust God and do His will when He speaks to me even if it is beyond my human understanding. Praise God for His Son Jesus who came to this world to save us and I want to be able to share this message with others.

(P)rayer-
Lord God, thank You for sending Your Son to save us - for Your great gift that redeemed us back to You. Help me to model Joseph in my faith and obedience and in doing so that I would carry out Your will and bring You glory. I love and praise You and in the name of Jesus Christ I pray, Amen.

SOAP - 1 Samuel 14; 1 Chronicles 4; 2 Corinthians 13

(S)cripture-
2 Cor 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

(O)bservation-
It is important to remember and acknowledge the Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Our Lord exists in these three Persons and it is a delightful mystery that cannot be explained or understood in terms of human rationalization. Rather, as Christians we experience and know each of these person in a special way through reading of the Scriptures, prayer, worship, and fellowship.

(A)pplication-
I want to know more deeply each of the three Persons of the Lord. I have been a Christian my whole life and have mostly known God and Jesus, but the Holy Spirit has been mysterious and relatively unknown to me. Only in the last few months, after a meeting with a pastor at church, have I really started to know more who the Holy Spirit is and that I can fellowship with Him. This is an exciting time in my life as I come to know Him more and more.

(P)rayer-
Father, You are so amazing. You desire for us to know You more and I pray with all my heart and soul that I will be able to do that - to know You just a little better and reflect more of who You are every day. Thank You for the Holy Trinity - for each of Your Persons who show us grace, love, and fellowship and may we as believers be able to know You better as we carry out Your plan on this earth until we are called home to You. I love and praise You and pray these things in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

SOAP - 1 Samuel 13; 1 Chronicles 2, 3; 2 Corinthians 12

(S)cripture-
2 Cor. 12:10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

(O)bservation-
In any worldly hardship we can draw strength knowing that we are covered by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is sufficient to cover everything. It is only through Him that we are strong in all things and in weakness Christ's power is made perfect. Without weakness and hardship we would not know how much we need Him.

(A)pplicaiton-
In times of weakness I draw upon the grace of Christ to strengthen me. By these trials and hardships we are refined by the process and receive the power of Christ to strengthen us and become more like Him. For this reason, even though they are unpleasant, I welcome the trials of life as an opportunity to grow and become more like my Savior.

(P)rayer-
Father, please continue to do Your refining and purifying work in my life. Thank You for Your Son Jesus whose grace is sufficient to cover everything. Help me as I go through the trials of this world and to remain strong and be a great witness to others - to carry out the work of Your Kingdom regardless of my personal circumstance. I love and praise You in Jesus name, Amen.

SOAP - 1 Samuel 11, 12; 1 Chronicles 1; 2 Corinthians 11

(S)cripture-
1 Sam. 12:24 But be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.

(O)bservation-
How many great things has God done for us? Our lives are the result of His creation and our re-birth is because of His great love and mercy through the blood and resurrection of Christ. We were all purchased with the blood of our Lord Jesus and we are thus commanded to love God with all our hearts and to serve Him faithfully.

(A)pplication-
I could never count all the great things God has done for me. I give myself as a living sacrifice to His Kingdom - to be always open to how I am led by His Holy Spirit and to take the gifts and blessings He has given to me and multiply those in faith to bring Him glory. We are called to be excellent and prosperous in what we do; to soar with the eagles and not waddle around with the turkeys. May God be glorified by our actions as we fulfill His purpose with strength and courage.

(P)rayer-
Father, I bow down before You as my Creator and Sovereign Lord of my life. I give You everything and please help me to use what You've blessed me with to multiply and advance Your Kingdom in faithful service to You. I love You Lord and thank You for my salvation and eternal life through Your Son Jesus Christ. I praise You and exalt Your Holy Name forever and ever. Amen.

SOAP - 1 Samuel 8 - 10; 2 Corinthians 10

(S)cripture-
2 Cor. 10:18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.

(O)bservation-
Our true approval is not based on what we think of ourselves but what God does. Any such human boasting has no value in the context of eternity and what is truly important. To that end, we should always seek out what God's will is for each of our lives and commit ourselves fully to doing the Kingdom's work and receiving God's approval.

(A)pplication-
I want to please God. Nothing matters to me except what is righteous and holy and to be pleasing in His sight. My true reward is in Heaven and spending eternity in God's presence and I want His approval in the testing ground of this world we live in.

(P)rayer-
Heavenly Father, I long to have Your approval and to be in Your favor. You have blessed me so richly and I turn that all back to You in praise. I pray that You would lead me through Your Holy Spirit to be engaged in the things You want me to do and to be excellent and prosperous so that I can glorify Your Holy Name and be pleasing to You. It is not my own commendation or that of anyone else in this world that I seek, but Yours. Lord, I love and praise You for all things and in all things. In Jesus' name, Amen.

SOAP - 1 Samuel 6, 7; Psalm 72; 2 Corinthians 9

(S)cripture-
2 Cor. 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

(O)bservation-
This gift, of course, is His Son Jesus Christ. God was the very first giver and also the giver of the most significant gift of all time. A gift so big that it can neither be fully described nor comprehended. The gift of Jesus, His blood on the cross, and His resurrection make our salvation possible. All anyone has to do to receive this gift is to ask for it - to repent and ask forgiveness of your sins and to ask Jesus into your heart. Sadly, many will miss out on this gift because of their hardened hearts but praise be to God for choosing His people to receive this most awesome gift of all.

(A)pplication-
I am truly blessed and humbled to know that God chose me to receive this gift. I am so very thankful for my salvation and I know that I cannot ever fathom what it fully means, which is why it is so exciting to be a believer and disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(P)rayer-
Father, thank You for finding me, calling me, and saving me. Your gift of grace and love through Your Son Jesus is truly beyond description and I am in awe because of how You chose to do this and redeem Your children back to You. Lord, I give You everything and please use me to advance Your Kingdom and bring You glory by doing Your good works that You've laid out in advance for me to do. I love and praise You forever and ever and I pray these things in the name of our blessed Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

SOAP - 1 Samuel 3 - 5; Psalm 77; 2 Corinthians 8

(S)cripture-
2 Cor. 8:12 For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.

(O)bservation-
We are called to act with generosity toward others and to give freely. However, what is truly important is not the amount of our gift but our willingness to give - this is the measure of a person's true generosity and what God looks for. God doesn't need our money and it is probably better if we don't give at all if the attitude of our hearts is not right. God freely gave us salvation through His Son and made us rich even though we were poor, and we are called to give to others as our means allow and with true generosity so that we can be a blessing to others.

(A)pplication-
When I give anything I will always check the attitude of my heart to make sure it is right before God. I want my gifts to be acceptable to Him. I just need to remember that I need to give according to my means and what is important is true generosity and not the relative size of the gift. God has richly blessed me and I desire to be able to bless others according to what I have been given.

(P)rayer-
Lord God, I thank You so much for my many rich blessings - most importantly for my salvation and gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. As I have been blessed, help me to give accordingly to be a blessing to others - to always give with a willing heart so that my gifts are acceptable and pleasing to You. Father I give You everything because by Your great love and mercy You sent Jesus to give everything for me - thank You for my new life in Christ and please use me to be a blessing to others. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

SOAP - 1 Samuel 1, 2; Psalm 66; 2 Corinthians 7

(S)cripture-
2 Cor 7:1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

(O)bservation-
God has given us the ultimate promise through the blood of Christ that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. If we really think about this we realize how awesome it truly is. Accordingly, we should purge sin from our lives and be totally consecrated and dedicated to Him. Being holy before the Lord also means that we are separating ourselves from the commonplace.

(A)pplication-
I want to remove things in my life that are sinful or could become sinful and to be careful not to put myself in places or situations in which it would be difficult to resist the temptation to sin. By being with other believers we can all help each other with this as well as develop and maintain accountability before the Lord. I want to perfect my holiness by being totally committed and consecrated to Him in all that I do - every area of my life.

(P)rayer-
Father, I am Yours. All that I have and who I am I give to You as an offering. Please use me to do Your will and guide me through Your Spirit in helping me to remove things that could contaminate my body or spirit so that I can be holy before You. Thank You for Your Son Jesus and Your great promise of eternal life through Him. I love and praise You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

SOAP - Ruth 3, 4; Psalm 64, 65; 2 Corinthians 6

(S)cripture-
2 Cor. 6:3 We put no stumbling block in anyone's path, so that our ministry will not be discredited.

(O)bservation-
Christians need to live a life which is a reflection of our Lord Jesus. Even though we are human and will stumble we need to endeavor to be good examples and witnesses of the joy and peace we know - sharing the Gospel of Christ in love with others and doing nothing to discredit it.

(A)pplication-
A big part of this is making sure that we remain righteous before God at all times and do away with any duplicitous behavior. If we strive for this then in good conscience we can know in our hearts that we are bringing honor and glory to God and the Good News of Christ.

(P)rayer-
Father, help me to live a life that is glorifying to You and will never discredit You in any way. Thank You for Your love and saving grace that covers me when I do stumble. Help me to keep my eyes fixed on the cross and to run the race that You have laid out for me, so that I can honor Your Holy Name and not tarnish it. I love and praise You in Jesus' name, Amen.

SOAP - Ruth 1, 2; Psalm 53, 61; 2 Corinthians 5

(S)cripture-
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

(O)bservation-
God sent His only Son Jesus Christ to redeem His people. By God's grace and love Christ was sent to this world to carry man's guilt and sin to the grave and then God raised Him again on the third day. When we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior we don't have to live in the guilt and shame that sin brings. When we ask Jesus into our hearts, repent of our sin, and ask forgiveness then we receive it - the old person is gone and we are made brand new in Christ.

(A)pplication-
Praise God that I can shed the ways of my previous life - for God's great love and mercy that makes me brand new. Since I have this new beginning I never want to look back but always ahead, in great anticipation of the things that God has in store for my life. My great desire is to serve Him who gave me this new life and glorify His Holy Name.

(P)rayer-
Father, thank You for my new beginning - that I don't have to be condemned, but that I am free. I praise You Lord that You cared enough about Your children to redeem us back to You. Jesus, thank You for Your sacrifice at the cross - that You suffered for my sake, even though I am completely unworthy. Father, thank You for raising Jesus from the dead and with Him that You also created a new life in me and made me worthy. I give You everything and will always be committed to serve and glorify You. I love You so much and I praise You forever, Amen.

SOAP - Judges 19 - 21; 2 Corinthians 4

(S)cripture-
2 Cor. 4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

(O)bservation-
Even though it may be hard to fathom because of the way we as humans perceive it now, any kind of suffering or trial we face in this world is minuscule compared to the glory we will experience in heaven. For we as believers, this is such an exciting element of our faith - we can endure this world because of God's promise for our future.

(A)pplication-
While I am on this earth I will do God's will and trust in Him in all situations - no matter how much suffering or persecution that may involve. But I greatly anticipate the eternal glory that awaits when Jesus returns to take us home.

(P)rayer-
Lord God in Heaven, I know that no mind can conceive what it will be like in Heaven but I know that it will be awesome and amazing beyond our wildest dreams. Until that day Father, please help us to withstand all the trials and suffering of this world as we do the work of Your Kingdom. Thank You for all the blessings we have now and most of all for our salvation and eternal life through Your Son Jesus Christ. As I come before You this Easter morning I am humbled by Your great love and mercy and thank You for my new life because Jesus is risen! I love and praise You forever, Amen.

SOAP - Judges 17, 18; Psalm 89; 2 Corinthians 3

(S)cripture-
2 Cor. 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

(O)bservation-
Paul is comparing contemporary believers in the New Covenant with Moses - Moses wore a veil to hide his own fading glory as he got older but we as believers are to have unveiled faces to reflect God's glory and not hide it. Christ came to this earth and shined with all of God's glory and radiance. As believers, we are being transformed every day to be a little more like Christ and therefore a better reflection of God's glory. God sent His Holy Spirit to help guide us in our lives and enable this transformation.

(A)pplication-
I want to be a reflection of God's glory and to not hide that. I look forward to every day with anticipation of how God will use me and lead me through His Holy Spirit. All my life will be a work in progress - it is a journey and not a destination. I want to become and fulfill everything that God intended for me - to live every day as a product of His handiwork, being continually transformed into His likeness and reflecting more and more of His glory that He showed us through Christ His Son.

(P)rayer-
Father, help me to be a reflection of Your glory - to not hide that but be a witness to others. Please do Your work in me and use me to glorify Your Holy Name as You lead me through Your Holy Spirit. Lord, I am completely Yours and look forward to the transformation process so that every day I can become a little more like You. I love and praise You and pray these things in Jesus' name, Amen.

SOAP - Judges 13 - 16; 2 Corinthians 2

(S)cripture-
2 Cor. 2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.

(O)bservation-
As believers we are soldiers in God's army and He is our Supreme Commander. We march in Christ - spreading the Gospel of salvation through God's great love and mercy. This Gospel of Christ will be spread everywhere so that all nations will have an opportunity to hear it - some will accept it joyfully and gain eternal life while others, tragically, will reject it and condemn themselves to death.

(A)pplication-
I am proud to be a foot soldier in God's army - ready to do the work of spreading the Gospel of Christ and advancing to take territory for the Kingdom as I am led with power by the Holy Spirit. I want the Gospel of Christ to permeate the earth and I am also open to my godly training to help me be a better soldier, equipped to fight the good fight the best I can.

(P)rayer-
Father, please guide me in my training to be the best soldier I can be for Your army and to work with other believers in the united goal to take the Gospel to the corners of the earth. I want to glorify Your Holy Name and please lead me in taking territory that You have called me to take for Your Kingdom. Lord God, I praise You and thank You so much for my salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. To You be the glory forever and ever, Amen.

SOAP - Judges 11, 12; Psalm 50; 2 Corinthians 1

(S)cripture-
2 Cor. 1:9 Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.

(O)bservation-
Paul writes of a recent time when he was physically in a position in which he thought he would die, but he also acknowledges that it happened for a reason. Believers and non-believers alike on many occasions have asked the question 'why would God allow something like this to happen? and I believe that this, at least in part, is the answer. God loves His children but He also allows us to be put in positions in which we are tested to the max to see if we really will trust and rely on Him. We can say all day long that we will but it is not until extreme hardship comes that the answer to this question can truly be revealed.

(A)pplication-
Personally, this last year-and-a-half has been just about the most trying time of my life. Even as I write this I am in the midst of extreme hardship. But I trust in God and know that He loves me, will protect me, and will provide for me. This hardship will not last forever and I know that it is for a reason and that I will be better when I come out the other side. In all situations and circumstances God works for the good of those who love Him.

(P)rayer-
Father, thank You for Your love, protection, and provision in my life. Thank You for times of pressure, which You use in our lives to help us. They help to perfect us into a more functional part of Your Kingdom. Please God, do Your work in me - in my heart and in my spirit - so that I may be better equipped to do all of the great work that You have laid out for me and so that I can glorify Your Holy Name. Lord God I thank You, love You, and trust in You and give You all of my praise. I pray these things in the name of our blessed Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

SOAP - Judges 9, 10; Psalm 49; 1 Corinthians 16

(S)cripture-
Judges 10:14 Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble.

(O)bservation-

We serve a very loving God but He is also very jealous. We are commanded to have no other gods before Him - if people worship other gods, that is the greatest sin that can be committed against our Living God. In this verse, even though God has protected and provided for His chosen people time and time again and led them to the Promised Land, they still forsook Him and worshipped other gods. God had enough and made this statement to His people. Other gods consist of inanimate objects and evil spirits - doomed is the person who worships any of these or expects protection from them in times of trouble.

(A)pplication-
My great refuge and hope is in the true Living God - the God of Abraham who sent His Son Jesus Christ to redeem and restore us. I will never put anything ahead of God. He has always protected me in times of trouble and great distress and provides for my needs in all situations. Because of His amazing grace and mercy I am truly free, and my life is fully committed to serving Him and doing His Kingdom work here on this earth.

(P)rayer-
Father, from the bottom of my heart and depth of my soul I declare that there are no other gods before You. Thank You for always being there and hearing my prayers - for providing for me and protecting me in times of trouble. I commit everything to You because You alone are worthy of all praise and worship. I love and trust in You and thank You for being my God, my loving and merciful Father in Heaven. In Jesus' name, Amen.

SOAP - Judges 8; Psalm 42; 1 Corinthians 15

(S)cripture-
1 Cor. 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

(O)bservation-
We need to stand unswervingly to the Truth that we know in our hearts - Jesus is the Son of God, He was crucified, dead, buried, and resurrected by God on the third day and currently sits at His right hand, the place of honor. Christ is coming again to judge the world and everything in it and to gather up all believers into Heaven. Because of this we know that our work for the Lord on this earth is not futile and we need to be fully committed to working for the cause of the Lord. If we do this then we will receive our reward when Christ returns.

(A)pplication-
I hold fast to my belief in Christ and that He is coming again to take me home. I want to store up my treasure in Heaven and not in this world. However, while I am on this earth I will be committed to doing the Lord's work, whatever that is, as I am led by His Holy Spirit.

(P)rayer-
Father, thank You for Your Son Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior - for His atoning blood which redeems us to You for all eternity. Help me to have the understanding of the work You want me to do as I am led by the Holy Spirit and to have the strength and courage to carry out Your plan. I love and praise You and my great hope and treasure is in You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

SOAP - Judges 6, 7; Psalm 52; 1 Corinthians 14

(S)cripture-
Ps. 52:8 But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever.

(O)bservation-
If we stand on God's word then we too can be like the olive tree. The olive tree is very hardy, lives for hundreds of years, is not easily uprooted, and bears lots of fruit when it flourishes. In a similar way, when we trust and obey and abide in God we will not be uprooted when hard times come and the winds of temptation and evil blow. When we flourish in righteousness before God then we bless others with the fruit we bear and can provide shade to those facing the scorching heat of his world. God's love for His people is unfailing - as believers we can all be assured of our salvation through the Blood of the New Covenant, which is Christ, because God is supremely trustworthy.

(A)pplication-
I place my hope in our Living God and know that my future is secure through the atoning blood of Christ who obediently went to the cross and redeemed all who believe by His death and resurrection. I want to be like the olive tree - by the power of God to be able to withstand the hard times and winds of temptation and evil and to be a blessing to others with the fruit I bear and the shade I can provide.

(P)rayer-
Father God, I trust in You completely and please help me to flourish according to Your will so that I can bring You glory. May I be a blessing to others - not for any selfish reason I may have but in complete obedience to You as I am led by Your Holy Spirit. Help me to be Kingdom-focused in all I do - to understand the work that You have laid out for me to do on this earth and to be a good and faithful servant in actually doing it. Lord God, I praise and thank You for Your unfailing love. I am truly blessed and I pray these things in Jesus' name, Amen.

SOAP - Judges 4, 5; Psalm 39, 41; 1 Corinthians 13

(S)cripture-
1 Cor. 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

(O)bservation-
Paul writes of three eternal principles here in Corinthians. He elaborates further on these in his first letter to the Thessalonians and talks about their work produced by faith, labor prompted by love, and endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. The greatest of these three, however, is love. This is so because God is love and we were created in His image. He poured out His love for us by sending Jesus to die for us... and Jesus' greatest commandments for us are first, to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and also to love others as ourselves. All other talents and gifts we possess do not surpass love - love supersedes and outlasts everything and is the governing principle that all believers are to live by. Love should characterize who we are as God's redeemed children and everything we do.

(A)pplication-
Indeed I want love to govern everything I do and who I am. Since God is love and I am created in His image there is no greater thing I think I can do to honor Him. I want to obey Christ's two greatest commandments for our lives to love God and to love people and I am so thrilled to be part of a church in which we openly profess this as our mission statement. I don't want love to be a word that sits on the shelf but as an active part of everything I do.

(P)rayer-
Father God, thank You for Your incredible love for Your children. You created us in Your image and sent Jesus to redeem us because of Your great love and mercy. Help me to be a reflection of Your great love in everything I say and do. I love You with every fiber of my being and help me to honor You also by loving others as myself. You are so awesome and I will sing Your praise forever. I pray these things in Jesus' blessed name, Amen.

SOAP - Judges 1 - 3; 1 Corinthians 12

(S)cripture-
1 Cor. 12:18 But in fact God has arranged the parts of the body, every one of them, just as He wanted them to be.

(O)bservation-
Just as it is with our human bodies, there are many parts with many different functions in the church - the body of Christ. We are all unique and have received different Spiritual gifts for use in the church and this is all according to God's plan. The beautiful thing about this is that through diversity we can accomplish God's unified purpose for the church.

(A)pplication-
As I ponder the Scripture, I have a greater appreciation for the church at-large. If we all had the same gifts then we would not have the skills to accomplish God's plan. In His divine and infinite wisdom He created us with a variety of gifts so that as a whole we we can have unity in the mission of the church. All people in the church are vitally important and we need to identify and utilize the gifts that God gave us in accordance with His purpose for the church.

(P)rayer-
Father, thank You for how You have created each one of us to be different and with unique gifts. As a church, help us to always embrace our diversity and understand that this helps us to be unified in our mission to serve You. I praise You for what You've blessed me with and help me to fully discover and use the gifts I've been given so that I can bring You glory. Lord, I give You all my praise and I love You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

SOAP - Joshua 23, 24; Psalm 44; 1 Corinthians 11

(S)cripture-
Joshua 24:15b But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

(O)bservation-
In Joshua's final address to the Israelites, he makes this testimony. He says to each of them that they need to make a decision on who they would follow - one of the other gods of the time or the true Living God. Joshua knew he was close to his death so he renewed the Israelites' covenant with God, but first he required them to renew their commitment.

(A)pplication-
This is the commitment of my life. I have no problem sharing it with others and want everyone to know that we serve the Lord. God has poured out His love and grace for us and we give everything, including ourselves, in service to Him.

(P)rayer-
Father God, thank You for Your grace and unfailing love for Your children. I love You with all of my heart, mind, soul, and strength and commit myself and my household to serving You. You provide all that we need and our salvation and place in Heaven is secure through Jesus Christ Your Son and we will accept Your calling and fulfill our purpose in life as we are led with power through Your Holy Spirit. You are so awesome and we will serve no other. In Jesus' name, Amen.

SOAP - Joshua 21, 22; Psalm 47; 1 Corinthians 10

(S)cripture-
1 Cor. 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

(O)bservation-
We are created by God and we are all shaped for service by Him - everything we do should be directed to the purpose of glorifying God. In addition to what Paul writes here to the Corinthians, Peter says when we speak we should do so as one speaking the very words of God and when we serve to do so with the strength God provides. We are all blessed with so many gifts and talents - God provides for our needs and allows us to prosper. We should be living sacrifices to God who gave us eternal life through Christ and to direct our energy and efforts to bringing Him glory.

(A)pplication-
My life is committed to serving God and bringing Him glory. I am not perfect and certainly stumble in my walk with the Lord, and for this reason I am so thankful to be covered by His grace. I want to keep my eyes fixed on the prize and to run the race in this life in humble obedience and powerful service to God so that I can glorify His holy name.

(P)rayer-
Father, I commit my life and everything I do to You. May You be glorified by my words, thoughts, and actions. Help me to be obedient to what You call me to do and to do Your will with power through Your Holy Spirit. Lord God, my hope is in You and I give You all of my praise - I love You and desire to bring You glory in all I do. Thank You for blessing me so richly. In Jesus name, Amen.

SOAP - Joshua 18 - 20; 1 Corinthians 9

(S)cripture-
1 Cor. 9:23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

(O)bservation-
In this verse Paul is alluding to some of the things that he does for the Kingdom, including how he has become all things to all men. He became like those he was ministering to in order to reach them and worked by all possible means so that some of them might accept Jesus as Lord and Savior and be saved. In doing this he, of course, always remained under Christ's law and his hope was that he would share in the blessing of preaching the Gospel - which includes the realization that he has been faithful to Christ in his preaching, seeing others come to Christ and get saved, and having the Lord say 'well done good and faithful servant.'

(A)pplication-
My desire is to live my life to glorify God - as a living sacrifice to He who created me and also brought me new and eternal life through Christ. To live for the sake of the Gospel and be Kingdom-driven in all I do. To fulfill the great commission that Jesus gave to all of us - to make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In being a humble, obedient servant to Christ as well as a mighty warrior for God's Kingdom through the power of the Holy Spirit, my hope is to also be able to share in the blessing that Paul wrote about.

(P)rayer-
Father God, I commit everything to You and please help me to live fully for the Gospel and Your Kingdom every single day. You are my Great Hope and my Great Reward - help me to be a witness to others through my words and actions so that they would have a chance to hear the Gospel of Christ, accept it, and be saved. Please use me and shape me for service to do Your will and lead me with power through Your Holy Spirit to do Your Kingdom's work. Lord God, I love You and praise You and pray these things in Jesus' name, Amen.

SOAP - Joshua 15 - 17; 1 Corinthians 8

(S)cripture-
1 Cor. 8:9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block for the weak.

(O)bservation-
We are all at different 'stages' in our walk with God. When we accepted Christ as Lord and Savior we were saved from the pit of Hell and redeemed to God to live for eternity in Heaven. However, some have become believers recently and some long ago, some have studied and searched the Word very diligently and others not so much. Because of this some have faith and conviction that is stronger than that of others - even though we are all believers and covered by God's grace. For this reason, those who are stronger and perhaps more free in their faith must be mindful of their brothers and sisters who are weaker and be careful that their own actions would not cause others to fall into sin and defile their own faith. If the stronger believer causes the weaker believer to sin, then he too sins against Christ.

(A)pplication-
I will be always mindful of all my actions in any environment I am in. I want to be a great witness for Christ whether I am around believers or non-believers and to do my best to reflect His glory.

(P)rayer-
Lord God in Heaven, I praise You for the way in which You have been working in my life, for how You have been leading me through Your Holy Spirit, and for the freedom I have through Christ. I pray that I would be a reflection of You in all that I do - to be a great witness to the world and to not cause anyone else to stumble in their own walks with You. I am truly blessed and I love and praise You. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

SOAP - Joshua 12 - 14; 1 Corinthians 7

(S)cripture-
1 Cor. 7:21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don't let it trouble you - although if you can gain your freedom, do so.

(O)bservation-
God needs believers in all walks and stations in life. Paul urged Christian slaves to live contentedly in their situations and to take comfort in knowing that they had become truly free in Christ. However, he did also say that they should gain their freedom if they could. In a similar way today, God says we should be content in the positions we are in. The thing that matters most is that we have eternal life through Christ Jesus. God put each of us in our present positions for a reason and we should live contentedly there. But, there is also nothing wrong with seeking to improve our condition - God wants us to soar on wings like eagles and to live life to the full. We need to do this prayerfully and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in these instances. God wants to prosper us, do great works through us, and give us the desires of our hearts, but we need to seek Him first and be content in all situations knowing that it is only because of Christ's sacrifice that we are truly free and have eternal life.

(A)pplication-
I know God has a great plan for me and I want to be open to whatever that is. However, I do not want to go where He does not want me to go, so I will wait on the Lord and be obedient to how I am led by His Holy Spirit. I will continue to pray for His will to be done in my life and that I would be a mighty warrior for His Kingdom in whatever He calls me to do - for His glory and not for mine.

(P)rayer-
Father, thank You for always providing for me. Paul says we are to be content in our present situations, but You also say You know the plans You have for us - plans to prosper and not to harm us - and that You will give us the desires of our hearts. Lord, I am truly blessed to be your child and for my salvation made secure by Jesus' blood - this is the most important thing to me. But Lord, help me to understand where You are leading me in this life, that I would be obedient to Your calling, and follow where You lead me through Your Holy Spirit. I trust in You and want to be humbly obedient to Your calling and direction. I love and praise You and ask these things in Jesus' name, Amen.

SOAP - Joshua 9 - 11; 1 Corinthians 6

(S)cripture-
1 Cor. 6:20 you were brought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

(O)bservation-
We were all bought at a price, and the ransom that was paid was Jesus' blood. Our great reward of salvation is through Him - Christ died so that we would have life and have it to the full. As believers, our future in Heaven is secure for all eternity after we leave this world. However, while we are in the world we are called to honor God with our bodies. Our bodies are sacred temples where God dwells. We need to care for our bodies out of reverence for Him and so we are fit and ready to accept our calling from God - to have the strength and energy to do the work that is laid out before us. We are also to honor God by not defiling our bodies, especially by engaging in anything sexually impure or immoral.

(A)pplication-
I know that my life and my place as an heir in God's Kingdom was bought at a heavy price. I want to honor God by caring for my body - by continuing with the personal fitness plan I started five weeks ago so that I am physically able to do any work God calls me into. I think by exercising and eating right that it causes me to be in a better mental state as well... and this creates positive momentum in all I do. I want my able body to be used in whatever capacity He calls me into. My body is a sacred place where God resides and I want to take care of it and use it to glorify Him who made me.

(P)rayer-
Father, I am fearfully and wonderfully made and I want to take what You've created in me and bless and honor You with it. Such a high price was paid for me and I am eternally grateful for my salvation. I give You everything, including my own body, and please help me to honor You by humbling myself before You and being obedient to do Your will as I am led by the Holy Spirit. Thank You for who You created me to be and help me to reflect Your glory in all I do. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

SOAP - Joshua 7, 8; Psalm 69; 1 Corinthians 5

(S)cripture-
1 Cor. 5:12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?

(O)bservation-
The ultimate judge of this world - both believers and non-believers - is God. As believers we are not called to pass judgment on those not in the church, but we are called to share the Gospel of Christ with all nations in the hope that they will accept it and believe. As believers, we are called to judge and exercise spiritual discipline over other professing believers in the church. If we see a brother or sister in Christ living in unrepentant sin then we must point that out to help them to realize it. This must be done so that it cannot be construed that we condone this type of behavior and hence dishonor the name of Christ and cause questions to arise concerning the true character of our own testimonies. We all sin and fall short of God's glory - as believers we need to recognize when we sin, repent and ask forgiveness, and know that we are covered by God's grace through the blood of Jesus Christ.

(A)pplication-
I will be careful to not pass judgment on anyone outside of the Faith. This does not mean that I will compromise what I believe, but I will let God take care of the ultimate judgment of the world. Within the church, I know we need to be careful to make sure that we honor Christ in all that we do. If something is going on with any believer that goes against this then it needs to be pointed out and dealt with - we cannot condone unrepentant sin and immorality in the church which would degrade and dishonor the holy name of our Living God.

(P)rayer-
Father God, I know that You are the final and ultimate judge of this world. Help me to never pass judgment on those in the world and to leave that to You. Please guide all of us as a body of believers to keep Your church pure and holy and pleasing to You. In the instances where we need to judge other believers or things happening within the church, help us to do that prayerfully and as we are led according to Your Word and Holy Spirit. Father, I thank You for my brothers and sisters in Christ - what an awesome family I have - and I pray for peace and unity in Your church among all believers. I love and praise You and I pray these things in Jesus' precious name, Amen.

SOAP - Joshua 3 - 6; 1 Corinthians 4

(S)cripture-
1 Cor. 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

(O)bservation-
The Kingdom of God is present on this earth in all who believe - it is embodied in our dynamic new lives in Christ and also through our humble obedience to Christ and His church. Living a life in the Kingdom is not characterized by idle talk born of human thought, but rather by the true power that comes from the holy Spirit. God sent His Holy Spirit to this earth with all power after Christ ascended to Heaven and He resides with each one of us today. Therefore, each believer in the Kingdom of God carries with him or her the power of the Holy Spirit and it is up to each one of us to allow the Holy Spirit to lead our lives so that we can use that power to do God's work and bring Him glory.

(A)pplication-
I want so much to be closer to the Holy Spirit and allow God's power to be used through me. God is not glorified by any of our human words, but rather by our acceptance and openness of being led by the Holy Spirit and going forward with that power in all that we do. I am totally open to however God will lead me through His Holy Spirit and know that this power is what represents the Kingdom of God.

(P)rayer-
Father, thank You for sending Your Holy Spirit to the world to lead all believers with power. I pray that I would always be open to how the Holy Spirit leads me and that this power could be used through me in whatever You call me to do so that I can glorify Your holy name. Your Kingdom is not about talk but about power that only comes from You through Your Holy Spirit - help me to be a witness and a representative of this in whatever capacity You call me. I give You everything and praise You forever. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

SOAP - Joshua 1, 2; Psalm 37; 1 Corinthians 3

(S)cripture-
Psalm 37:7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

(O)bservation-
The Lord's plan for us is to be prosperous. However, God's plans are always according to His perfect timing. Sometimes this means that we have to wait patiently for Him. In certain matters we cannot rush into things and we are certainly not called to follow in the footsteps of those who 'succeed' by their ungodly actions. We are to wait patiently on the Lord - He wishes to prosper us and not harm us and the doors that we are supposed to walk through will open at the appropriate time, according to God's timing and His will.

(A)pplication-
I need to focus on this and committing my heart to believing more fully in God's timing. I don't want to forget that God's plans are to prosper me. I want to wait on Him because He knows all, sees the future, and will lay out a path to prosper me - I trust in His pure and perfect will but I need to be better on waiting patiently on Him.

(P)rayer-
Father, please give me the strength and discipline to wait patiently on You. Many times You desire action from us, but You also require us to be still and wait at other times. Help me to discern when to wait patiently and to also recognize when doors are opening and that it's time to take action. Your will is perfect and I want to honor and serve You according to Your calling. I know Your plan is to prosper and not harm me and I want to be Your good and faithful servant, glorifying You in all that I do. I love You and trust in You - In Jesus' name, Amen.

SOAP - Deuteronomy 32 - 34; 1 Corinthians 2

(S)cripture-
1 Cor. 2:12 We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.

(O)bservation-
As believers, we do not have the spirit of the world in us but we have God's Holy Spirit. We live in this world, but we are freed from our sinful natures and we no longer have to conform to the ways of the world. God set us free by sending Jesus to die on the cross for us and raising Him from the dead - breaking the grip that the world has on us and releasing us from the power of sin, evil, and death. As believers, we have the Holy Spirit in us - to teach us what is godly and lead us in doing God's will. Through the Holy Spirit we can come closer to God and know the things He has freely given us. We have a deeper appreciation for Jesus' sacrifice and our salvation, the gifts that God has given to each one of us, and the things that God has planned for us both now and in the future.

(A)pplication-
I completely humble myself before God, giving Him everything and asking that He lead me through His Holy Spirit in everything I do. I don't want to miss a single opportunity of doing His will or what He has planned for me. My desire is to intimately know the Holy Spirit, who intimately knows God, and to be led by Him and have a deep understanding of everything that God has freely given to me.

(P)rayer-
Heavenly Father, I pray that Your Holy Spirit would lead me in all that I do and that I would more fully know and understand what You have freely given to me. I already know that I am so blessed and it is only through Your love and grace that I have the most precious gift salvation through Jesus Christ. Please lead me through Your Holy Spirit that I would be a mighty warrior for Your Kingdom - and that I would prosper, achieve, and soar at great heights in accordance with Your will and thereby glorifying Your holy name. I love and praise You. Amen.

SOAP - Deuteronomy 30, 31; Psalm 40; 1 Corinthians 1

(S)cripture-
Psalm 40:10 I do not hide Your righteousness in my heart; I speak of Your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal Your love and Your truth from the great assembly.

(O)bservation-
God is perfectly righteous and faithful in everything He does and in dealing with His children. King David realized how awesome this was and did not want to keep it to himself, but rather to live a life filled with praise to our glorious God. On many occasions God has shown His love and faithfulness to His people and David was not ashamed to let others know about it.

(A)pplication-
God has shown His perfect righteousness and faithfulness to me on many occasions as well. I do not want to bottle this up inside me but rather to be a witness to His awesome love, grace, and faithfulness - to give Him all the praise that He so richly deserves and desires from us. When I go to our great assembly - that is, our church - I go with an attitude of worship and praise for our great God and not one of 'what's in it for me'. God has been so faithful to me and I want to keep living a life of praise to Him.

(P)rayer-
Lord God in Heaven, thank You for Your righteousness and faithfulness to Your people. I give You all of my praise and worship for Your love and grace that You pour out for us. Please help me to never hide any of this in my heart but to always express freely how blessed I am by You. Because of Your great love You sent Jesus to save us, to redeem us and deliver us from the pit of Hell, and for this I could never express enough gratitude and praise for You. Thank You Father and I love You. Amen.

SOAP - Deuteronomy 28 - 29; Galatians 6

(S)cripture-
Gal. 6:4-5 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.

(O)bservation-
God created us in His image, but He also created us to be unique individuals, each with his or her own special set of gifts, talents, and abilities. God's desire for our lives is to use these unique gifts in the best way that we can to fulfill the purpose of our lives and to glorify Him. Since we are all different with our own unique gifts and purposes, we are not to compare ourselves with others. We need to look into our own hearts and at our own gifts and abilities and ask ourselves if we are living our lives according to how God made us. We each have our own places in the Kingdom and our own work to do and this is what we need to be concerned about. Our responsibility is to be the best we can each be based on how God made us and what gifts we've been blessed with - to be happy with maximizing our own potential and not measuring up to anyone else's standards.

(A)pplication-
I know that I am guilty to some degree of looking at others and trying to do what they do and measure up to that as my standard. This is not right. I started a journey a few months ago to discover my own design and get in touch with the gifts that God has blessed me with. As these are uncovered I want to put each one to work and maximize my potential according to how I am made. I am going to stop comparing myself to others and wondering why I am not being used in this way or that. Instead, I will lean into the fact that I have a very unique and specialized set of gifts, talents, and abilities and dedicate myself to finding these and putting them to work for God's glory.

(P)rayer-
Father, thank You for making me the way that You did. Help me in discovering my own design and fully utilizing the gifts You've blessed me with so that I can fulfill Your purpose in my life and bring You glory. Please reveal these gifts to me and I ask that Your Holy Spirit would lead me in everything that I do - so that I would know it's Your will and not my will or my attempt to measure up to someone else's standard. I want to live to please You and as a witness to how fearfully and wonderfully You have created me. I humbly pray these things in Jesus' blessed name, Amen.

SOAP - Deuteronomy 25 - 27; Galatians 5

(S)cripture-
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

(O)bservation-
These virtues embody Christian living and a godly life. However, we do not receive them by our own efforts in trying to follow a set of standards but rather they come from the Holy Spirit. As believers, we are celled to a higher standard and cannot just sit back and do nothing, being content in our salvation. Because we have been chosen to receive eternal salvation we must put forth every effort to live a godly life - if we do this then the Holy Spirit enables us to bear this fruit.

(A)pplication-
The Christian walk is far from easy. To receive salvation all we need to do is ask Jesus into our hearts, but to continue in living a godly life is hard work, and we must put all of our effort into it. I want my life to bear the fruit listed in these two verses, that I would be led by the Spirit in everything I do so that these things are present in me. Looking at this list I know that I have a lot of work to do, but I know that through prayer and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in me that this fruit will be produced.

(P)rayer-
Heavenly Father, please help me to be moldable before You. Please shape me into the fullest version of who You created me to be and that I would be open to being led by Your Holy Spirit to produce as much of the fruit of the Spirit as possible. I praise You that Your Spirit works within me and all of my brothers and sisters to produce these good things. Please help me to focus on doing what the Spirit leads me to do so that I would turn from my sinful nature and lead a godly life. I love and praise You in Jesus' name, Amen.

SOAP - Deuteronomy 22 - 24; Galatians 4

(S)cripture-
Gal. 4:7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

(O)bservation-
Praise God for our inheritance that He has given to us because we are His sons (and daughters). This inheritance being our salvation and eternal life in Christ Jesus, which is the most important thing we could ever have. Prior to receiving this inheritance we were all slaves, held under the oppressive nature of this world and bound by the sin that can so easily entangle us. But now that we are God's children we are truly free because of the cross. Jesus paid the ultimate price for all of us - all we have to do is receive the gift and believe in Him and we are set free. In doing this we become God's children with an inheritance in Heaven forever.

(A)pplication-
I am so blessed to know that my future is secure and that I am God's son who has an eternal inheritance. Without Jesus, we would all still be slaves. Slaves to the law - judged by it and entangled in a web of sin - and slaves to the world being subject to all its ungodliness. But God said 'no way... I will send Jesus as a New Covenant so I can redeem My children to Me and whoever believes in Him will be an heir to My Kingdom in Heaven'. This is so cool that we have such a loving and gracious God!

(P)rayer-
Father God, thank You for my inheritance! I praise You for Your grace, love, and mercy that delivered me from the slavery of sin and things of this world. I am truly blessed to be Your son and that Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice to make that happen. I re-dedicate myself to You and ask Father that You lead me through Your Holy Spirit so that I would be an obedient son and witness for Your Kingdom in order to glorify Your Holy Name. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

SOAP - Deuteronomy 19 - 21; Galatians 3

(S)cripture-
Gal. 3:24 So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.

(O)bservation-
The law that was given to Moses came from God, so it is good and holy. However, obeying the law does not provide for our salvation - that only comes by faith in Christ. No one has ever been able to perfectly keep and obey God's laws - we all fail. The law was given as an ethical and moral guide to life; it draws a line between right and wrong, identifies what is sinful, and thus produces a curse on us when we don't do what is right before God. Most importantly it teaches us that we need a Savior. We need Jesus because we are not perfect - it is only through God's grace that we are saved. Jesus came to save the sinners of this world and we are only justified by our faith in Him.

(A)pplication-
The law is from God and so it is good and holy. It is not the means of my salvation but an ethical and moral guide for my life and I will obey it out of love for God and by the power that the Holy Spirit provides to me. I am thankful that my salvation is not dependent on perfectly following the law, because none of us can do that. In God's great love for us He gave His Son to redeem us to Him - we have this blood of the New Covenant that justifies us by our faith in Christ.

(P)rayer-
Father, thank You for giving us Your good and holy laws that guide us, but more importantly for sending Your Son Jesus to save us. I praise You that I am only justified by faith in Christ and not by following a set of laws. This is only possible because of Your love and grace - Your gift that I am not worthy of but that You poured out anyhow. Help me to obey Your laws the best I can and especially to never forget that I am only saved by my faith in Christ, who came to this earth and gave His life so that anyone who believes can receive the blessing of eternal life. Thank You for this most precious gift. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

SOAP - Deuteronomy 16 - 18; Galatians 2

(S)cripture-
Galatians 2:21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing.

(O)bservation-
The fact that Jesus died on the cross means everything for those who believe. It is not by any works that we do or rules or laws that we follow that saves us, but only by God's amazing grace. God's grace and love for us was demonstrated when Christ poured out His life for us at the cross - He took the sins of man with Him to the grave. He was then raised form the dead so that we too would not be subjected to the death that sin brings, but to have eternal life. This is all because of God's grace and not anything we do, have done, or could ever do.

(A)pplication-
I am so thankful for my new life in Christ, made possible only by God's grace. I am not perfect and continue to do things that displease God, but I try my best to follow and obey Him... and I know that even when I fall God is there to lift me up and I am covered by His grace.

(P)rayer-
Father, thank You for the power of the cross - for the redemptive power of Jesus' blood that was poured out for us because of Your great mercy and love and grace for Your children. Thank You for my new beginning and that I don't have to live under the bondage of sin and longer. Thank You for my eternal life and freedom through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. I love and praise You. Amen.

SOAP - Deuteronomy 13 - 15; Galatians 1

(S)cripture-
Galatians 1:10 Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

(O)bservation-
Paul gives us a great point to ponder and questions to ask ourselves. Whose approval do we want and who are we trying to please? We are 'in' this world in which we live but we don't have to be 'of' this world, not should we conform to it. Paul was not concerned with pleasing man or with worldly things, but wanted to please God and set his focus on godly things. Paul had been set free in his conversion by the redemption that is in Christ and now considered himself as a servant - or slave - to Christ. He devoted himself fully to his Master and to the works that were laid out before him by the Holy Spirit.

(A)pplication-
As believers, we need to follow this example that Paul gives us. We need to ask ourselves whose approval we want and who we want to please. Christ redeemed us all and set free from the bondage of sin all who believe in Him. Because God created me and because He sent His Son to redeem me, I commit everything to Him. I was once dead in my sin but now I am alive in Christ and will serve Him as I am led and with everything I have. I want to have God's approval and to be pleasing to Him.

(P)rayer-
Heavenly Father, thank You for setting me free through Your Son Jesus Christ. I pray that my life would be pleasing and glorifying to You. I want to serve You and not seek the approval of men or worldly things - I know that my treasure is in Heaven. Please give me the strength and courage and focus to do Your will, regardless of what the world tells me. Lord, I commit everything to You - including myself in service to You. I pray these things in Jesus' name, Amen.

SOAP - Deuteronomy 10 - 12; Mark 16

(S)cripture-
Mark 16:6 "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him."

(O)bservation-
The three women who were going to anoint Jesus' dead body were clearly shaken when they saw the large stone to the tomb was rolled away and the angel of the Lord told them that He was not there. The angel confirmed that Jesus, who was crucified, had risen from the dead just as He had previously told His disciples. As believers, this embodies our great hope. Jesus died for our sins - He bore the sins of all mankind, taking them to the cross. God then redeemed us by Jesus' resurrection, defeating sin and death and evil once and for all. Jesus now sits at God's right hand, the place of honor, until He comes to this earth again to take His people home into Heaven.

(A)pplication-
I want to make sure that everyone knows the Gospel message of Christ - that He came to this earth to save us from our sins and that this gift is available to all who believe. He came to this earth as a man to live among us and teach us, was crucified, dead, and buried, and has risen from the dead to save us all. As we approach Easter and celebrate our great Hope I want to make sure that I am acutely aware of the price Jesus paid to save me - and to continue to honor, praise, and serve Him for the rest of my days.

(P)rayer-
Father God, thank You for sending Your Son Jesus to pay the ultimate price to save us for all eternity. It is by Your power and grace that I am saved and free from the bondage of sin. Help me to share this message with others - that Jesus died for all of us, that You raised Him from the dead, and that He is alive! Lord God, I love and praise You and give You all the glory forever. Amen.

SOAP - Deuteronomy 7 - 9; Mark 15

(S)cripture-
Deut. 8:5 Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.

(O)bservation-
God is our Father in Heaven - He loves His children and will always provide for them. However, because He loves us He also disciplines us. He tests us by putting us in situations to reveal what is in our hearts and to see if we are true to our faith in Him. He may also humble us by having us go 'without' for a period of time, so that we don't rely on the things of this world but understand that He provides what we need... that He sustains us.

(A)pplication-
I am thankful for my God who does not allow me to run wild and do my own thing, but loves me enough to discipline me. I have certainly had a large dose of discipline over the last year-and-a-half or so, but I have been blessed greatly in realizing and knowing that I don't need the 'stuff' of this world. Many of the worldly things that I had a couple years ago are history, but I have been richly blessed by becoming closer to my wife and children and most importantly that I feel closer to God today than I have been in my entire life. I know that God's discipline is out of His love for me and I trust that it is in my best interest, even if I don't see it from where I'm at right now.

(P)rayers-
Father God, thank You for loving me and caring for me enough to discipline me. I am truly blessed to be Your child. I trust in You and pray that I would be moldable before You as You shape me more and more every day to be of service to You. Lord, I give You everything and humble myself before You - I know You are with me and will provide for all my needs. Please give me the strength, courage, and direction to be Your good and faithful servant to glorify Your name. I pray these things in Jesus' name, Amen.

SOAP - Deuteronomy 5, 6; Psalm 43; Mark 14

(S)cripture-
Mark 14:24 "This is my blood of the Covenant, which is poured out for many," He said to them.

(O)bservation-
While in the upper room with the apostles observing the first Lord's Supper, Jesus made this statement. He was about to go to the cross to make atonement for the sins of mankind. His life would be poured out for many and anyone who believes in Him would be able to receive the gift of eternal life. As believers, this is our great reward. As believers, this is our great commission - to share the Gospel message with others so that they have a chance to hear it, to believe and receive the cup of Christ, and to be saved.

(A)pplication-
I thank God for the cup of Christ - for His shedding of blood on the cross and His resurrection which secures my eternity in Heaven. There is no greater treasure that I have than this. My goal and purpose is to let the light of Christ shine within me, to be a great witness to others, and share the Gospel so others can hear it. Everyone needs to know that Christ poured His life out for each and every one of us.

(P)rayer-
Lord Jesus, thank You for my salvation made possible because You poured out Your life for me. You saved me from the clutches of evil and the pit of Hell and made it possible for me to be redeemed to our Father in Heaven and spend eternity with You in paradise. Please guide me through Your Holy Spirit in sharing this with others so that they too may believe in You and receive this same blessing. Your great love for us is beyond comprehension because it is so big, and for this I am truly thankful. Lord, I love You and thank You - to You and only You I direct all of my praise. Amen.

SOAP - Deuteronomy 3, 4; Psalm 36; Mark 13

(S)cripture-
Psalm 36:9 For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.

(O)bservation-
God is the source of life and power for His people - He created us, sustains us, and is our never-ending source of power and strength. By His love and grace for us, He sent His Son to redeem us - as believers we have the water of eternal life through faith and hope in Jesus Christ. God shines His light on us and we receive His blessing and deliverance, and because of this we have fullness of life and everything that it was meant to be. Part of the fullness of life is the reproduction of life in others. By sowing the seeds of the Gospel of Christ and sharing with others we are giving them the opportunity to hear the Message and accept it, for the seed to take root and start to grow, creating new life for all who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.

(A)pplication-
God is my well-spring of life - all of my strength is from Him - and it is only because of Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross and resurrection that I am redeemed and have the blessing from the fountain of eternal life. I want to share this with others - to live life to the fullest and be a great witness of God's love and grace so that others have the opportunity to hear the Gospel and also receive this most precious of gifts.

(P)rayer-
Father God, You and only You are my fountain of life - everything I have is because of Your great love and mercy and blessing. I commit myself fully to You and please use me to do Your work on this earth - to glorify Your name. Thank You for my salvation which is secure through You Son Jesus Christ and help me to sow the seeds of the Gospel so that they have the opportunity to grow in those who hear it - that they too may have the gift of eternal life. I love and praise You and I pray these things in the name of our blessed Savior Jesus Christ, Amen.