S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge Day 6, April 6, 2022 "God Provides and Rewards"

S. Psalm 65:2-4 (NIV) 2 You who answer prayer, to you all people will come. 3 When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions. 4 Blessed are those you choose and bring near to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house, of your holy temple.

O. David writes and perhaps sings this song rejoicing in God’s forgiveness. He states that God helps us overcome our failures and past. He prepares for us a pathway of blessing. God deisres to bless those who walk close to Him in victory over failure.

A. I will continue, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to walk close to God. I desire His presence to surround me and to lead me. I know as I do, He blesses me with all that is good, with all that I need to live a blessed life. God is truly a giver and a rewarder.

P. Thakn you foather for your word and for your forgiveness. I praise you that you truly are a giving God - a rewarder. holy Spirit fill me and guide me to walk in the Father’s forgiveness and to enjoy the blessings of that life. In Jesus’ name! Amen!

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge - Day #5, April 5,2022 "The Urgent Appeal of God's Messengers"

S. 2 Corinthians 5:20 (NIV) We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”

O.Paul teaches that God uses us as His ambassadors. An ambassador here is an older person (part of the root word comes from presbueterein or elder) who is to act as an established diplomat or statesman. We are God’s messengers and the message we bring is fairly straightforward - “Be reconciled to God.” Reconciliation is to be brought back into God’s favor. The message is direct with urgency.

A. I will continue to reach out to people in as many ways as possible (preaching, teaching, blogging, podcasting, personal witnessing, etc) encouraging them to be brought back into favor with God. I will use, as one former preacher said, “every available means and every available method to reach every available person” for Christ. I will not stop. I will continue to work with this same sense of urgency. God has called me to be a front lines warrior for Him and trust Him as I enjoy the Blessed Life He has for me.

P. Thank you Father for this word today. Thank you Lord Jesus for the ministry and message of reconciliation. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me to urgently reach out to others that they may be brought back into your favor. In Jesus’ name!

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge - Day #4, April 4, 2022 "God Leads Through Strategic Planning"

S. Judges 20:38 (NIV) 38 The Israelites had arranged with the ambush that they should send up a great cloud of smoke from the city,

O. God was willing to give victory to Israel (v.38). Israel would need to develop a plan and then trust the Lord to work the plan with them. Earlier God had promised them victory but it did not appear that they had made a “strategic plan.”

Simply said, we need to what we can do and leave the rest in the hands of God. I am reminded of Proverbs 21:31 “The horse is prepared for battle, but victory belongs to the Lord.” We are to do our part and then trust God to bring the victory.

I am also reminded of Nehemiah. In the first few chapters of the book of Nehemiah, he hears a report of the walls of Jerusalem being broken down. He has a passion to go and repair them. He begins praying about this and prays for 4 months; however during the 4 months of prayer, he is planning, preparing, and strategizing of what things are needed and the expenses involved. After this period, he trusted God to provide and God did!

A. As I lead in my church (you can also apply this to your vocation or your family life), I need to plan strategically for our next steps (while of course enjoying the moment we are in) and then trust the Lord to bless the plans with His favor and leading.

P. Thank you Father for your word today. Thank you that you desire to cooperate in our plans in this battle. You encourage us to develop our plans and then to entrust them into your hands for your favor, blessing and or victory. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me to develop the next steps and then entrust them into the Lord’s hands for His victorious leading. In Jesus’ name!