S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge Day #12 April 12, 2022 "Delighting in Tough Times"

S. 2 Corinthians 12:9-12 (NIV) 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 11 I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the “super-apostles,” even though I am nothing. 12 I persevered in demonstrating among you the marks of a true apostle, including signs, wonders and miracles.

O. Paul was able to endure hardships, troublesome times and in things he was weak at - because of the grace that he received from the Lord Jesus. He knew what he could and could not do. The things that were beyond his control - he leaned into God’s grace. It is by leaning into God’s grace that He is able to show His power even more.

A. I am so blessed by God through not only the gifts He has given me directly but also by the grace He extends me through difficult time, times that are simply beyond my control. He further brings people who have experiencees and skills that I do not have that further reflect His grace and power.

P. Thank you Father for your word today. Thank you Lord Jesus for your grace in my life which makes perfect your power because I trust in you. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me to delight in such opportunities to receive such grace. In Jesus’ name.

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge, Day #11 April 11,2022 "God's Truly Amazing Grace"

S. 1 Samuel 12:20-24 (NIV) 20 “Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart. 21 Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. 22 For the sake of his great name the Lord will not reject his people, because the Lord was pleased to make you his own. 23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. 24 But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.

O. God is so gracious to His people. Despite Israel’s failures, He is still willing to lead them and to bless them. This is in the face of them asking for a King (God had been their king but they are essentially kicking God to the curb) and they are worshipping idols. Yet God extends His grace to them. He asks of His people to worship Him (revere Him), to serve Him faithfully with a whole heart and to remember all He has done for them (If He’s done it in the past, He’ll do it again.)

A. God’s grace really is amazing. Despire my failures, God simply wants me to get up, hold his name in high honor (worship) and for me to serve Him with a whole heart, knowing this - He has blessed me in the past and He will continue to do that again.

P. Thank you Father for your amazing grace. Throughout your Word it is so evident that you simply desire your people to serve you with a whole heart, to worship and adore you, and to enjoy your blessings. Holy Spirit fill me and lead me to continue to serve God with whole heart devotion and to enjoy god’s ongoing grace and blessings. In Jesus’ name.

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge Day # 10, April 10, 2022 "Demolishing Strongholds"

S. 2 Corinthians 10:4 (NIV) “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”

O. Paul had prayed and hoped that some of the believers who were disobedient to God’s word would be obedient so that he would not have to across to them as “hard” or “bold” when he would visit them. However, he maintained his stand that he would continue to trust God in this wafare by fighting or using God’s ways to wage the spiritual warfare. Paul maintained that the spiritual war was about breaking down strongholds that was against God and to take captive any ungodly thoughts.

A. I must allow the Holy Spirit to help free me and keep me from any thoughts that make me a prisoner of my flesh or the enemy’s wishes. The tools that God has give us are many: asking the Holy Spirit to flow His gifts through us to serve others, scripture reading, memorization, prayer (intercessory and warfare). We must not accept the “status quo” of allowing ungodly thoughts to capture us; rather we must be actively seeking that divine power through the practice of those spiritual disciplines I just listed.. When we do this, we are able to break down walls and experience freedom from the captivity the enemy seeks to impose on us.

P. Thank you Father for this vivid picture of spiritual walls being broken down and freeing people from captivity to obedience to Christ Jesus. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me to experience this in my life and to help others also break down any walls that have kept them locked into disobedience of God’s direction. In Jesus’ name.