S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge Day #18 June 18, 2022 "Devoted to Prayer"

S.Colossians 4:2 (NIV) “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”

O. Paul teaches believers to devogte themselves to prayer. Devote means to continue to do something with intense effort. As they pray, Paul adds that we are to be watchful and thankful. Watchful is the idea of being awake, alert, and responsive. Thankful is just that. Thanking God.

A. I continue to be impressed by God to not only devote myself to prayer, but to teach and lead people in prayer. I will continue to promote 21 days of prayer as well as (hopefully soon) implement Saturday prayer at our church. Further I will continue to equip people with prayer resources and encouraging them to so devote themselves to prayer. I think it’s also healthy to keep a daily prayer journal and then filling in when God moves or answers a specific prayer.

P. Thank you Father for your word today. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me to lead and equip people in our community with great prayer resources that will enable them to truly be “devoted to prayer.”

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge - Day #17 June 17, 2022 "Forgive Ahead of Time"

S. Colossians 3:13 (NIV) “Bear with each other and forgive one another. If any of you has a grievance against someone, forgive as the Lord forgives you.”

O. As God’s people, Paul writes that we are to bear and forive each ohter. We are not to hold grudges. we are not to keep one another in a state of perpetual grievance. The word “bear” means to hold up, to stay on with one another. We are not let others fall. We are to forgive as the Lord forgives us. What does that look like? God forgave us (and forgives us) before there is any action on our part. He has paved the way toward reconciliation. Both verbs (bear and forgive) are present tense which means this is something we are to do every day. This is sometimes referred to as the “clothing of a Christian.”

A. I like to think that I am a forgiving person and for the most part, I am. However, when I consider various areas of my life and actions with people, I do see I have times when I am not as forgiving as I think I am. But I am to forgive as the Lord forgives each of us. I will remember and apply this to each situation and in advance - I forgive those who may have caused me sometype of harm, so that the door of reconcilation can be opened and ready to walk through.

P. Thank you Father for your word today. What a great teaching. Holy Spirit, fill me and guide me to forgive in advance, just as I have been forgiven by you. In Jesus’ name!

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge - Day #7 - June 7, 2022

S. Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV) 20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

O. Paul encourages the church that, in the context of his prayers for them, God is able to answer them. He adds taht we cannot even begin to imagine all that He is able to do for us when we let Him work within us.

A. God has truly worked in my life way beyond what could measure or comprehend - a wife of 48 years, a family - kids and grandkids, a variety of life experiences meeting, encouraging and being encouraged by people, 30 years of pastoral ministry and pastoring 5 churches during that time with my current church, Better Life Church Newyago so remarkably blessed - and there is so much more. He is truly the God beyond all measure and human understanding.

P. Thank you Father for working in my life in so many wonderful ways. I try to count them but the list is amazing and endless. I am so thankful. I have a heart full of gratitude. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me in ways that I may continue to share the wonderful and endless list of God’s blesings in my life. In Jesus’ name!