Be Still

SOAP #12 – Be Still!

Scripture:

“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.” Psalm 37:7-8 ESV

Observation:

God is concerned about attitudes. It’s all to easy to get upset about what others do or don’t do, especially when evil plans are being carried out. Anger, fretting, and fussing are not part of God’s plan for His children. Angry thoughts and words not only hurt other people, it hurts the one who is angry. God’s admonition is to “be still” and to “wait patiently.”

Application:

It’s easier to get upset about what others do or don’t do than it is to be still and rest in the Lord. But I have a choice. Will I patiently trust God? Or will I fuss and fret? Instead of getting upset with other people, I can quietly trust and wait for God to do HIS good work in my life and in the lives of others.

Prayer:

Thank You, dear Lord, for reminding me NOT to fret and fuss, which is my natural tendency. Forgive my irritability and my judgment of others. Give me grace to quietly rest everything in You. Help me patiently wait for Your intervention and help, instead of getting angry at others. I want be still and know that You are God. Amen.

What an Amazing God!

SOAP #11 – What an amazing God!

Scripture:

”I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies..” Psalm 18:1-3 ESV

Observation:

These strong picture images of God describe His immense power and loving care. This God---a rock, a refuge, a fortress, a deliverer, a shield, a stronghold--is able to rescue and help at all times and in all situations. God is worthy of all praise and worship and thanksgiving.

Application:

My almighty God cares about every difficulty, challenge, and threat in my life. He is the one I can run to, the One I can depend upon, the One who guards and shields me in times of trouble, danger, or discouragement. My response, like David’s, is to call upon the Lord, praise Him and trust His saving power in my life.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, thank You for all the ways You bless my life with Your presence. I trust You to be my strength. I run to You. I lean on You and totally depend on You. Help me serve You each day without fear of the future. I rest in You. Hear my prayer and receive my thanksgiving for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

FIRST Priority

SOAP #11 – FIRST Priority

Scripture:

Jesus said, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:33-34 ESV

Observation:

Jesus addresses basic worries of food, drink, clothing. Those were major issues in his followers’ daily lives. Today people have the same worries, but in a much-expanded version as jobs end, bills pile up and prices rise. But there is only ONE solution to worry: “Seek first the kingdom of God.” Jesus says this is to be our focus. Then God will take care of what we need.

Application:

It’s all too easy for me to worry about tomorrow and the things that “might” happen. It sounds too simple to put God and His Kingdom first. But I know God is faithful and will keep me in perfect peace as I focus on Him, not on my troubles or worries. As I make God and His kingdom my FIRST priority, I can relax in His care, instead of worrying.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, forgive me for the times I have worried and fretted about “tomorrow” and its troubles. Help me focus on You and Your Kingdom. Give me sensitivity to what You want me to do right now. Give me Grace to seek You first and then help me place my life and everything else in Your hands. Thank You for Your promise. Amen

MUCH Fruit

Scripture:

Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser…every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit….Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” John 15:1-4 ESV

Observation:

The vine and branches analogy is a reminder of total dependence on the Lord. There is no life in a branch without the flow of the Vine’s life. Just as a branch separated from the vine will dry up and die, so apart from Jesus there is no life or fruitfulness. Father God, as the vinedresser, “prunes” each vine, not as a punishment, but to make it more fruitful.

Application:

Jesus urges me to “abide” and live in Him. Why? So He can fill me and enable me to fulfill my purpose and be all I can be as a fruitful branch. How amazing that Jesus wants to live in me and produce fruit through me. I am not able to produce lasting fruit unless I receive my life, my strength and my purpose from and through Jesus. So how can I make sure I’m living in Him? By reading His Word, “feeding” and meditating on it, and taking time to communicate with Him all during the day.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, forgive me for the times when I’ve made decisions, done things, and worked on my own, I need Your life, Your strength, and Your direction. Let Your life flow in me. Fill me with Your Spirit. By Your Word, prune and shape my thoughts, my actions, my plans. Produce fruit—much fruit—in my life that will bless those around me. Thank You for being my Life, my Source, my Vine. Amen.

Call to Prayer for Our Enemies

SOAP #9 – A CALL TO PRAYER for Our Enemies

Scripture:

Jesus told His disciples, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:44-45 NKJV

Observation:

Some of Jesus’ first teachings challenged His followers to cultivate a new set of character traits. Jesus gives bold directives to His followers: love, pray, give, bless, and serve. We are to act and react in love—like our Father in heaven.

Application:

The past weeks have again revealed people who hate Americans, who hate Christians. I am challenged by Jesus’ words to pray for those who want to destroy and bring down our country. And I need His help so I can display His love and forgiveness everywhere I go and to everyone in my life.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, I come in Jesus' Name to pray and intercede for the enemies who plan and plot destruction against our nation. By Your mercy and love, turn their hearts and minds. Reveal Yourself to them. Confound every evil plan. Also help me forgive all who hurt me as I seek to be a demonstration of Your love in my world today. Amen.

Anticipating our Savior's Second Coming

SOAP #8 – Anticipating our Savior’s Second Coming

Scripture:

Jesus told the apostle John, “ Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done, as I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Revelation 22:12-13 ESV

Observation:

The promise of Jesus, which Apostle John recorded is a message of encouragement to all Christians of all times. It contains three great reminders to us: 1) Jesus WILL return, 2) Jesus sees all and will repay those who have served Him, 3) Jesus is EVERYTHING. He is the “A” to the “Z”, the beginning to the end.

Application:

Ending the old year gives us an opportunity to look back on what transpired these past 12 months. And it’s interesting that God looks back, too. He knows all the prayers we’ve prayed. He’s seen all the times we served, often without a word of thanks from the recipient(s). He’s seen our “secret” giving. He alone knows the “price” it has cost us to do His will. And Jesus reassures us that He will repay us all for what we have done.

Prayer:

Thank You, Lord, for the reminder that YOU are coming again and that You plan to reward all the giving and serving and sacrifices that have been made in Your Name. Help me not get weary in well-doing. I rely on You to take me through every day, every task, and through this coming year. Once again I commit my life to serve and glorify You. Help me be Your faithful servantl, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Out with the Old, in with the NEW

SOAP #7 – Ending the “Old Year”

Scripture:

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. . . He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’ And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’" Revelation 21:3-5 ESV

Observation:

The Apostle John’s account of his heavenly vision gives us great hope for our future eternal life with God. How different everything will be when we live with God in His eternal home. No more troubles, sadness, pain, or death. All difficulties of our present life will end as a whole NEW life begins in God’s presence.

Application:

The end of this “old” year brings reflections, thanksgivings, resolutions, and sometimes remorse. But it’s also another year closer to going “home.” It’s good to reflect on what that means: a new existence fully in God’s presence, and full of NEW life, because God is the One who makes everything new.

Prayer:

I thank You, Lord, for the past year filled with Your grace, mercy, faithfulness, and forgiveness. You’ve walked these 365 days of 2009 with me and I trust You for another year in Your presence. I’m thankful for Your loving promise to make all things new in me, in my family, and in all areas of my life while I wait expectantly for the day when everything is completely NEW in You. Amen.