9 MAY 22 Monday SOAPS DEVO

 9 MAY 22 Monday SOAPS DEVO

(Scripture, Observation, Apply, Pray, Share)

Reading Plan: Psalm 41, 52; Proverbs 9; Exodus 32:1-20; Matthew 5:1-10

S- Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.  Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt. Proverbs 9:7

O- God gives wise advice in order to save us pain and frustration.  We have to choose our battles and better understand people from a spiritual level.  The mocker and the wicked are not prepared for the truth, righteousness, or the things of God.  They will only respond with hate.  It is better to pray for them and model the action desired and help those that can be.

A- I will heed the wisdom of the Lord and save myself some pain.  I will pray for those that run counter to godliness and continue to live as a model for others to see.

P- Lord, we run into people that mock our faith, principles, and life.  We want to get back at them through rebukes and correction, but that just smacks us in the face.  Lord, please change the hearts of the mocker and the wicked so that they may hear, see, and live. Help us to obey your direction so that we bring you glory, amen.

S- P, J

7 MAY 22 Saturday SOAPS DEVO

 7 MAY 22 Saturday SOAPS DEVO

(Scripture, Observation, Apply, Pray, Share)

Reading Plan: Psalm 30, 32; Proverbs 7; Exodus 25:1-22; Matthew 4:18-25

S- While I was at the window of my house, looking through the curtain, I saw some naive young men and one in particular who lacked common sense. Proverbs 7:6-7

O- The passage looks at a story of a man who didn’t use wisdom or common sense and ended up dead.  God gives believers spiritual sense and notifies us before we step into sin.  The Holy Spirit will prick us so that we escape it if we listen and obey, but wisdom means nothing if you don’t obey.

A- I will listen and obey what the Lord tells me in his Word.  I will listen to the Holy Spirit’s guidance in daily life to do what he desires and his correction when I head toward sin. 

P- Lord, I know that any time that I have sinned against you that I had a moment of clarity before to escape and go another way.  I haven’t always listened and obeyed.  For that, I am sorry.  I do pray that you will give me ears to hear and a willingness to do.  In your name, amen.

S- dmc, fb, 

6 MAY 22 Friday SOAPS DEVO

 6 MAY 22 Friday SOAPS DEVO

(Scripture, Observation, Apply, Pray, Share)

Reading Plan: Psalm 105:1-22; Proverbs 6; Exodus 24:1-18; Matthew 4:12-17

S- What are worthless and wicked people like? They are constant liars. Proverbs 6:12

O- The most common sin that God hates and even detests is lying.  People lie to protect themselves from punishment, or someone else, for self-image, to impress people, or to evade conflict to name a few.  All of it is sin and breaks trust in a relationship and causes more damage as the lie mutates.  God commands us to be people of truth.

A- I will commit to being a person of truth and reconcile with those to whom I have lied.  

P- Lord, your word stings of rebuke when we see ourselves clearly in it.  We can point the finger at others, but in reality, we have all sinned against you in this manner.  We are all liars and need your forgiveness and empowerment to be people of truth.  Grant it Lord that our mouths would glorify you in our everyday life.  Amen.

S- L, S, 

5 MAY 22 Thursday SOAPS Devo

 5 MAY 22 Thursday SOAPS DEVO

(Scripture, Observation, Apply, Pray, Share)

Reading Plan: Psalm 37:1-18; Proverbs 5; Exodus 20:1-12; Matthew 4:1-11

S- You will say, “How I hated discipline! If only I had not ignored all the warnings! Oh, why didn’t I listen to my teachers? Why didn’t I pay attention to my instructors?

O- When I talk to people who mock the gospel, promote sin, or are indifferent, I think of this verse.  At some point, it will be too late for them and they will stand before God in judgment.  While some will respond in disappointment others will be angry.  We cannot open the ears or soften a person's heart that is hard against God, but God can.

A- I will share the good news without filtering and pray for them to have ears to hear and prepared hearts.  I will not be offended by people who reject the message or spew hostility but leave them in the hands of God.

P- Lord, I have been the one in the past that didn’t listen to wisdom and warnings and suffered the consequences.  I ask that you help those that come to mind who mock and reject wisdom or the gospel, for the results are devastating. Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy. Amen.

S- J, V

4 MAY 22 Wednesday SOAPS DEVO

 4 MAY 22 Wednesday SOAPS DEVO

(Scripture, Observation, Apply, Pray, Share)

Reading Plan: Psalm 28, 28; Proverbs 4; Exodus 19:16-25; Matthew 3:13-17

S- Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.  Proverbs 4:23

O- The heart is the center of who we are and contains our identity.  When you were a child, your parents guarded your heart against the world, the flesh, the devil, and imprinted on you the ways of God in hopes that you might become a child of God.  When you left their care, it is up to you to use the tools given to embrace God’s identity for you.  Everything else will fight that so you must actively guard your heart.

A- I will guard my heart, my identity in Christ, and your ways with God’s help.  I will remain devoted to the development of my life, to your will, and seek you above all.

P- Lord, you give us wisdom so that we can navigate through life and respond to the adversaries we face even our own desires.  You call us to die to self and follow and love you with all our hearts.  Help us to guard our hearts and defend us day by day. Amen.

S- V, A, K