S.O.A.P.

At High Point Church, My desire is that every believer would not just attend church on Sunday, but also receive from God daily out of His Word. As we read God's words, we begin to see how God responds to things. Doing daily devotions re-patterns the way we think and transforms the spirit of the mind. Then when we face similar situations as Jesus did, we begin to respond in the same way. 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 your connection group or spouse. Through discussion, you may be able to look deeper into what God is speaking to you, gain new insight and even encourage others.

How to Journal- S.O.A.P.
You’ll need three items (Bible, Pen & Journal) or use a program like Youversion.com to store your journals and show you a daily reading plan. Here is a simple way to journal every day! (Click here for a Download Soap 365 Daily Journal to aid you in your process.) Pray before you begin that the Word will Come alive!

S for Scripture- Open your Bible to your reading for the day. 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. Don't know what to read? Try a daily reading plan. But remember the goal is change not quantity. Here is a screen shot from Youversion .com showing the daily reading plan

O for 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. Look for the one word or phrase that screams at you off the page.

A for Application- Personalize what you have read, by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now. Perhaps it is instruction, encouragement, a new promise, or corrections for a particular area of your life. Write how this scripture can apply to you today.

Here is another shot of a journal entry I did in Youversion.com

P for Prayer- This can be as simple as asking God to help you use this scripture, or it may be a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you. Remember, prayer is a two way conversation, so be sure to listen to what God has to say! Now, write it out.

Tell me how this goes for you? We as a staff are sharing every week our S.O.A.P.ing experience. Elizabeth and I have enjoyed asking each other what the other is being challenged in. It is a great way to grow together!