The Promise

Scripture:

Isaiah 48:16-17
Come closer and listen. I have always told you plainly
what would happen so you would have no trouble understanding.
And now the Sovereign LORD and His Spirit have sent me with this message:
The LORD your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, says; I am the LORD your God,
who teaches you what is good and leads you along the paths you should follow. (NLT)

Observation:

The LORD our God created us to walk in His presence as Adam and Eve did in the garden. He wanted to draw us close to Himself as a Father is to his children. But because sin entered into the picture we can no longer walk in His presence, for He is a Holy God and cannot co-exist with sin and ungodliness. But because of His great love for us He sent His Son, the Holy Spirit, and His Holy Word to guide us in our life-journey so that we could once again stand in His presence and be His children.
When we humbly ask God to forgive us our sins, He does. When we ask Him to transform our lives, He will. When we ask Jesus Christ to be the Lord of our lives, He becomes our Shepherd. When we ask Him to create in us a new life and free us from the bondage of sin, He unleashes His Mighty Power to redeem us!

Application:

When I turned my life over to God, He opened my eyes so I could see and soften my heart so I could understand the world around me. And amazingly, the Holy Spirit gave me the ability to discern His truth from the lies of the world—lies that pull us deeper into darkness to hide the Truth. When I humbly decided to trust God with my life, He slowly and lovingly revealed the Truth and began to teach me all that I needed to transform my old sin filled life of darkness into a brand new life filled with the Light of God’s glory. Understand this, my friends; Our awesome God, the LORD Almighty, is all knowing (1 John 3:20) who stands for everything that is good (Luke 18:19) and holy (Isaiah 6:3). And when we follow the ways of our LORD, we are assured an abundant life that will richly prepare us for an eternal life of fellowship with the Father of Life; forever walking in His presence as His children and He…forever being our God—A bond that will never again be broken!

Prayer:

Thank you, Lord God, for being our Redeemer, our Teacher, and the One who saves us from death and becomes our eternal Guide. I am so grateful that you are transforming my life into a life that brings hope and glory to You. Nothing will ever lead me away from the Truth, even in my darkest moments of doubt, for the hope You bring into my life is the strength that keeps me alive and persevering with joy in my heart!

Soap #19 - Reason to Trust and Rejoice

SOAP #19 - Reason to Trust & Rejoice
Scripture: Psalm 34:17-19, 4-5
“When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears 
and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
 and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all." Psalm 34:17-19 ESV

Observation:
What encouraging promises the Lord gives to any person going through times of trouble and discouragement! The Lord hears every call for help. The Lord delivers from all trouble. The Lord is with those who have broken hearts. The Lord saves those who are crushed in spirit. The Lord delivers his people from ALL their afflictions.

Application:
Feeling overwhelmed and discouraged tonight. But why do difficulties discourage me? Have I forgotten what the Lord has promised? I want the psalmist’s testimony in verses 4-5 to be my triumphant statement of faith: ”I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.”

Prayer:
Thank You, dear Lord, that You care about my every need. Deliver me from this season of discouragement. Lift up my crushed spirit. Transform my discouragement into joy, and my fear into faith. I want to look at You alone and be ‘”radiant”—full of hope and confidence and trust, knowing I will never be ashamed of trusting You. I pray in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

#18 - Surprise Ending

SOAP #18 - Surprise Ending

Scripture:

The disciples went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore (yet the disciples did not know it was Jesus) and said to them, "Children, do you have any fish?" They answered, "No." He said, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they did what he said, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" John 21:1-14 ESV

Observation:

After the resurrection the disciples go fishing. As fishermen, they knew how to fish, but all night they caught nothing. When Jesus tells them to cast their net out again, they may have hesitated, thinking this would never work. But when they obeyed, they snagged a far bigger catch than they imagined. Their nets couldn’t contain all the fish. Then John understood—it was the Lord Jesus whose word they obeyed.

Application:

Sometimes in life it seems we try and try, making every attempt possible, but to no avail. This incident reminds me that God can do “exceeding abundantly above all that I ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). This miraculous catch of fish is a great reminder to never give up, even when nothing seems to be working. With God, all things are possible.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, keep my ears intent on hearing Your voice. Instruct me what to do in every situation. Give me faith and confidence in Your intervention and power in my daily life. I want to look at You and not at my circumstances. Amen.

Believing without "Seeing"

SOAP #17 - Believing without “Seeing”

Scripture:

Jesus said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe."

Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"

Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:27-29 ESV

Observation:

Thomas told the other disciples he had to touch the nail marks with his own fingers before he would believe Jesus was alive. But when Jesus appeared and offered his hands to Thomas, it seems that Thomas did NOT reach out to touch the nail marks. Thomas believed, and he responded with his heart: “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus said people are “blessed” who believe even though they haven’t “seen.”

Application:

How do we “see” Jesus today? Jesus calls us “blessed” if we place our trust in him without actually seeing him with our eyes. How do I obtain or develop the faith to believe in Jesus? The Bible says “by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)

Prayer:

Dear Lord, I ask You for the gift of faith. Help me “see” You with my inner being. Let my eyes focus on Jesus and sense Your presence in my life. I believe. Help my unbelief. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Looking to the Example of Jesus

SOAP #16 - Looking to the Example of Jesus

Scripture:

“Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured . . . so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted." Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV

Observation:

Jesus endured the cross and despised the shame of all his suffering because of the JOY set before him. He knew all the suffering would be “worth it” in the long run because it would set us free from the bondage and destruction of sin.

Application:

When I look at the cross and what Jesus suffered, it is an example for me today. He willingly gave his life as an offering. He took my sin and wrong-doing, then he covered me with his holiness. He took my punishment and death, then gave me the gift of new life. Now I can “run” my race with endurance. I don’t want to be a quitter.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, I thank You for the sacrificial life, death, and resurrection of Your Son. Wash me in His blood. Set me free from my selfishness and my tendency to grow weary as I run my race each day. Invigorate me with Your life. Help me not give up as I serve You and serve those around me. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.

God Brings Us Back

SOAP #15 - God Brings Us Back to Himself

Scripture:

“Fear not, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
and from the west I will gather you.
I will say to the north, Give up, and to the south, Do not withhold;
bring my sons from afar
and my daughters from the end of the earth,
everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,
whom I formed and made." Isaiah 43:5-7 ESV

Observation:

What a promise God makes to encourage the heart of every parent, grandparent and family member. When loved ones go their own way, God is the One who brings them back to Himself. He created each of us for His glory. He can rescue our family members from the hand of the enemy and redeem their lives. All those whom God has formed and made, who are called by His name, can and will be brought back by His immense love.

Application:

God sees everyone and knows every circumstance. He alone understands why each of us have strayed. And God alone knows how to draw each person into His arms of love once again. His Word gives me great hope for all my family members and loved ones. Instead of fussing and fuming about situations beyond my control, I will lift my voice in praise to the One who mercifully draws each of us close.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, I lift up each of my loved ones who have strayed “afar” from You. I know You are the One who brings conviction. It’s not my job. You are the One who stretches out Your hand in love and draws me close to You. And I praise You that You WILL do that for my loved ones. I stand and intercede for each of them now. Thank You for Your encouraging promise! Amen.

Step Ahead . . even when it's dark.

SOAP #14 - Step Ahead, even when it’s dark.

Scripture:

“And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know,
in paths that they have not known I will guide them.
I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground.
These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.” Isaiah 42:16 ESV

Observation:

God lets us know ahead of time that there are unknown, un-traveled paths ahead. Even though the way is dark and rough, and we have no idea what to do next or how we will make it through, we can trust God’s promise: God is leading. God is guiding. He is here and will not forsake us His beloved children.

Application:

Why do I experience “rough” and dark paths? God says He deliberately leads me on a path that is unfamiliar and difficult. So it shouldn’t surprise me when the “going gets tough.” Difficulties are not a sign that I am in the wrong place or that God has forsaken me. Quite the contrary. I am to expect God to turn darkness into light as I walk ahead. He is the one who will make rough places “level.” It’s His job. It’s His promise.

Prayer:

Dear Lord, I can’t see the road ahead. I feel like I’m taking baby steps as I seek to follow You. Help me trust Your promise to bring “light” into my darkness. Help me trust Your presence with me, and that You will guide me each day. I’m so thankful You will never let go of me. Amen.