S.O.A.P.
Journaling / Devotion
What is S.O.A.P.?
S.O.A.P. is a very clear, and simple way to begin a daily journaling and devotional time with the Lord. As a church, we journal / devotion together by using our S.O.A.P. calendar. The S.O.A.P. calendar is a plan that provides daily scriptures to read that take you through the entire bible in 2 years! Check out the S.O.A.P. calendar by clicking the link below.
How S.O.A.P. Works
S
Scripture
Open your Bible to the reading found under today's date of your S.O.A.P. calendar. Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you that day, and write it in your journal.
O
Observation
What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you. Paraphrase and write this scripture down in your own words, in your journal.
P
Prayer
A
Application
Start your praying about what you just read with thankfulness. Come into agreement with what God has just revealed to you. Speak it over yourself. Declare it! Ask Him to reveal more to you so that you can be more like Him through His scriptures. Remember, prayer is a two way conversation, so be sure to listen to what God has to say! Take at least 10 or 15 minutes after writing to talk with God. Solidify his word to encourage and strengthen your understanding through prayer.
Personalize what you have read. Ask yourself, "how does this apply to my life right now? Holy Spirit, show me what you are saying". Perhaps it is instruction, encouragement, revelation of a new promise, or corrections for a particular area of your life. Then write down how this scripture applies to you.
Why do we use S.O.A.P.?
Well, we have a strong passion to facilitate people's alone time with the Lord. It is one of the most important parts of our Christian lives because it is the gateway to become more like Him: Christ-like.
Our daily devotions re-pattern the way we think and transform the spirit of the mind, revealing more of God that calls us into a deeper relationship rather than just hoping for a better day.
Journaling is an excellent way to both record and process what God has spoken to us. It's also a useful tool to use at a later time, to reflect on and review some of the 'gems' that you have received. Without writing them down, you may forget those blessings and some very important lessons. And while journaling is a very personal time with the Lord, you may want to share some of your daily journaling with others. Through discussion, you may be able to look deeper into what God is speaking to you, gain new insight and encourage others.
First Time Journaling? Don't Worry!
If this seems a little overwhelming, take it slow and keep it simple. No matter how you decide to do your devotions, the important thing is to show up for your daily appointment with God, because He is always waiting for you.