S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge - Day 21, April 21, 2022 "God's Ever Reaching Love & Faithfulness"

S. Psalm 57:9-11 (NIV) I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.
10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;  your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;  let your glory be over all the earth.

O. David had been praing for God’s protection and provision (from Saul and those who were trying to harm him). Yet David is able to see that God has protected him (v. 6) and will continue to because of His love and faithfulness.

A. As I move forward in my spiritual life, I do at times “feel” the attacks of Satan, our enemy, who tries to plant seeds of doubt in my mind. Yet I am reminded of all that God has done for me and am reminded of His love and faithfulness. He literally is protecting me and providing for me every day as I continue to hold fast to Him.

P. Thank you Father for your word today. Thank you for the encouraging reminder of your love and faithfulness in protecting and providing for me. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me. Continue to refresh my mind and my heart with your presence, power and provision. In Jesus’ name!

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge Day 20 - April 20, 2022 "Giving to Others as God Gives To Us"

S. Matthew 7:7-8 (NIV) 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

O. Jesus is teaching on the topic of being careful to judge others in areas we do also have our own failures in. He then transitions into the topic of being givers of good things.

Jesus reminds His listeners that God is a giver of good things. We can realize God’s giving character when we ask of Him; when we Seek Him out and when we knock at His door. He promises to be faithful to help us receive, find and enter through open doors.

So, in the same way and in everything - that is what we should do for others - others should see us as givers of good things and not judgmental.

A. I will continue to practice non judgmentalism and I hope demonstrate God’s character of being a person who is a giver of god things. I am thankful for all God does for me and pray that I may pass those blessings along to others.

P. Thank you Father for your word and for being a loving giver of good things. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me to be to others as such a giver as the Father is - a giver of good things that brings out the best and blesses people. In Jesus’ name.

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge - Day #19, April 19, 2022 "Proclaiming God's Goodness All Day Long"

S. Psalm 35:26-28 (NIV) May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion; may all who exalt themselves over me  be clothed with shame and disgrace. 27 May those who delight in my vindication
    shout for joy and gladness; may they always say, “The Lord be exalted,     who delights in the well-being of his servant.” 28 My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,  your praises all day long.

O. David prayed that the Lord would protect him from those who wanted to harm to him. David had been fleeing from Saul who had tried to kill him. David also found himself among the Philistines and not many of them were glad for him to be around. So David has this song/prayer for protection. David also praised those who wanted the best for him. He was able to assemble a band of mighty men (up to 600). He prayed God’s favor and blessing to be upon those who looked for him.

David concludes by letting God know that he will proclaim the goodness of God all day long. In short, David seems to be thinking that it’s best to keep away from the negative voices (sometimes called ‘bad company’) and to be surrounded by those who are positive influences. In all of this- David will sing and teach God’s praises. He will stay focused on what God calls him to do.

A. As i serve the Lord, I will keep away from the negative influences and pray for God’s protective hand. I will surround myself with positive voices and I will proclaim the goodness of God all day long (7x a day I will praise the Lord thinking - Ps. 119:164).

P. Thank you Father for your word today. I pray for your protective hand in my life. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me to sing and teach your praises all day and every day. In Jesus’ name!