19 NOV 22 Saturday SOAPS Devotional

 19 NOV 22 Saturday SOAPS Devotional

(Scripture, Observation, Apply, Pray, Share)

Reading Plan: Psalm 107:33-43; Mal. 3:13-4:6; Jam. 5:13-20; Luke 18:9-14

Are you an observer or a participant?

S- Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. James 5:16

O- James gives reason for caring for each other as the church.  We have ups and downs in life and need to be there for each other in both.  Prayer and care go together creating a powerful corporate resilience among the people.  James’ charge is to everyone in the church, not just the clergy.  There are no observers, everyone is to be involved.

A- I will pray with those who need prayer, sing praise with the joyful, and anoint the sick with oil.  I will model and encourage others to actively pray and care for one another.

P- Heavenly Father, I rejoice in who you are and how you care for us.  I’m thankful that Jesus speaks with you about our needs and that you will work your way through our lives.  Thank you for giving us great power when we pray to bring comfort, healing, and even bring restoration to straying people.  In that, we give hearty praise to your name. Amen.

S- C, J

18 NOV 22 Friday SOAPS Devotional

 18 NOV 22 Friday SOAPS Devotional

(Scripture, Observation, Apply, Pray, Share)

Reading Plan: Psalm 102; Mal. 3:1-12; Jam. 5:7-12; Luke 18:1-8

S- Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.  They will perish, but you will all wear out like a garment.  You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end. Psalm 102:25-27

O- This speaks of the eternal nature and sovereignty of God.  It is also quoted and spoke directly of Jesus in Hebrews 1.  The Trinity is self-existent, has always existed, and will always exist.  He and his ways are the same yesterday, today, and forever.  These two passages are important for our understanding of the nature of God, but also when talking to people from other religions, especially pseudo-Christian groups like Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses.

A- I will give thanks to God for who he is and that he doesn’t change and remains the same.  I will faithfully share who Jesus is with those that have been led astray and with everyone else.

P- Gracious Lord, to know you, is to have life.  Thank you for revealing yourself to mankind and enabling us to understand and receive you.  Give us a passion for knowing you and growing in wisdom. Prepare our minds to engage the lost and the deceived so that we might save some.  In your name, we pray. Amen.

S- J, K

17 NOV 22 Thursday SOAPS Devotional

17 NOV 22 Thursday SOAPS Devotional

(Scripture, Observation, Apply, Pray, Share)

Reading Plan: Psalm 105:1-22; Mal. 2:1-16; Jam. 4:13-5:6; Luke 17:20-37

Are you chasing after your desires or God’s?

S- Come now, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make profit-yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring.  What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. James 4:13-14

O- We are designed with the purpose to do the will of God and enjoying him forever.  We chase after a desire that is outside of the will of God and we know it.  We are consumed by it, forgetting that God is sovereign and can end us at any time.  Happiness and satisfaction are not found outside of God and his will.  All other pursuits are a fool's errand.

A- I will repent of the parts of my life that I strive after that are not in alignment with God’s will.  I will focus on living for him and not myself.

P- Gracious Lord, you are sovereign and hold the keys to my future.  Forgive me for chasing my own will over against yours.  Help me to align my life with your will and seek my satisfaction in you.  Grant that my life will bring you joy.  Amen.

S- K, L

16 NOV 22 Wednesday SOAPS Devotional

 16 NOV 22 Wednesday SOAPS Devotional

(Scripture, Observation, Apply, Pray, Share)

Reading Plan: Psalm 101, 109:20-30; Mal. 1:1, 6-14; Jam. 3:13-4:12; Luke 17:11-19

Are you friends with the world?

S- You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:4

O- Culture, Ideology, and politics are the ways of the world and craft a view of God that is false and insulting.  The world promises to deliver on some need or desire but always fails, leaving people dissatisfied.  James doesn’t want followers of Jesus to get sucked into the world’s ways because it is detrimental to our relationship and our mental health.  God views friendship with the world as spiritual adultery.

A- I will examine my life to determine if I am aligned with the world’s culture, ideology, or politics. I will align myself with the Lord,  his mission, and his vision for my life.

P- Heavenly Father, examine my heart and help me not to offend you and harm our relationship.  Is there a part of me that has adopted the world’s ways or grown dependent on their solutions? Forgive me.  Give me the wisdom to discern and to live in a manner that is pleasing to you.  Amen.

S- R, R

15 NOV 22 Tuesday SOAPS Devotional

 15 NOV 22 Tuesday SOAPS Devotional

(Scripture, Observation, Apply, Pray, Share)

Reading Plan: Psalm 97, 99; Hab. 3:1-18; Jam. 3:1-12; Luke 17:1-10

Why do you serve?

S- Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? So you also, when you have done all that you are commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’ Luke 17:9-10

O- We can approach serving God with wrong motives to either gain something or do our duty.  We expect praise for doing something we ought and yet the majority don’t even do that and still expect praise or reward.  It comes down to the fact that our heart is not in it.  We obey Jesus because we love him. (Jn 14:15) The opposite is true too, plain and simple.

A- I will repent for not serving with the right heart.  I will give thanks that Jesus desires for us to be about the Father’s work and  I get to do this.

P- Heavenly Father, I give thanks that you hear my prayer and desire a close relationship.  Forgive me for not always serving you with the right motives and intentions.  Help me to remember that obedience is a reflection of my love for you. Thank you for allowing me to serve you.  In your matchless name, I pray. Amen.

S-C, M