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Identity, Belonging, Purpose

Start the Day with Soap #4

Written by Forrest Coulter on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Start the Day with SOAP

Quiet Time Helps #4

 

We have added a lot to our direction for spending time with God.  These are just meant to help you.  None of this is aimed to take your heart out of spending time with God.  God wants your heart and God wants you to get to know Him.  As you get to know God, He will make changes in you from the inside out.  And that is way cool beans.  That is our goal, to see God work in us and through us so we can get to know Him better and to make an impact in our world.

 

Scripture.  Choose the passage.  Have a plan, don’t make it a random passage in the Bible.

Observation.  What does the passage say?  What is difficult to understand?  What does it say to me?

Application.  How do I apply these verses?  Is there something to give God thanks for?

Is there is a sin to avoid?

Prayer.  Simply end your time with God talking with Him.

 

  1. Scripture. Keep it simple.  The S, Scripture, is John 17:4.  I want you to look it up on your own.  You can look it up in your written Bible, using your index.  It is the Gospel of John, Chapter 17, verse 4.  Go ahead and try it.

 

After you have tried it, double check yourself by looking it up online at Biblegateway.com or Biblehub.com.  Use the NIV or NLT translation if you can choose.  See if the verse is the same you looked up in your Bible.  You may have another Bible App and that is cool.

 

Go ahead…John 17:4. Read it.

 

  1. Observation. Think about what the verse says.  What instruction does it give?   If you have a journal or notebook, write down some thoughts.

 

  1.   How do I need to apply these verses?  Is there something I need to do?  Is there a sin I need to confess?  Is there a promise from God to claim?  According to the verse, how can I become a stronger follower of Jesus?

This is what we talked about on #2.  SPACE

 

S  Is there a sin for me to confess?

  1. is there a promise for me to claim?
  2. Is there an attitude for me to change?
  3. Is there a command for me to obey?
  4. Is there an example for me to follow?

 

Take a few minutes to ask these questions about these verses.

 

Finally,

 

  1. Prayer. Prayer is simply talking to God.  Be real and genuine with Him.  He can even handle it if you are mad at Him.  Go ahead and tell Him all you are feeling.  And be still and listen to Him.

 

I want to give you one more simple way to remember this.  CHAT

 

Confess

True confession is agreeing with God about your sin.  It includes repentance, doing a 180 from your sin.  Repentance is not just being sorry for being caught, but sorry for breaking the heart of God.  Examine your heart. Admit your faults.  Be teachable.

 

Honor

 

Honor God by praising Him for who He is.  You can do this by reading verse of praise or singing a song to God.

 

Ask

 

Ask God for your needs.  Praying for your own needs, both daily and crisis needs.  Also, pray for the needs of others.  Be specific!

 

Thank

 

Express gratitude for God has done!  Write it down so you can remember how God has answered your prayers!

 

 

Now you try it on your own!  Remember, just talk to God.  Look at the ingredients above.  Not every prayer has to include all the ingredients.  Just remember, be honest.  Don’t try to sound religious or churchy.  Just be real as you talk to God.