S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge in 28 Days - Day #4, February 4, 2023 "Creation Reveals God" Psalm 19:1-4

S. Psalm 19:1-4 (NIV) The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;  night after night they reveal knowledge. 3 They have no speech, they use no words;  no sound is heard from them. 4 Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,  their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun.

O. David writes about how even the heavenly creation speaks revelation. There is no audible voice, yet the presence of the heavens reveals here is order - there is a design by a designer. Just their sheer brilliance speaks of a creator. They reveal God as the Apostle Paul shares in Romans 1.

A. I love to look into the sky on clear nights and be amazed at the beauty, at the design, at the order. I find myself praising God that He who created and designed all of that - created me with such intracy and purpose. So I praise Him and am in awe of Him.

P. Thank you Father for your creation. Your design and order are spectacular. I praise you for that and for creating me also with such order and purpose. I praise you and will use the gifts and calling you have created me with to speak to others. I praise you in Jesus’ name!

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge in 28 Days - Day #3, February 3, 2023 - "Prepared By God to Meet Prepared People."

S. Acts 10:4-5 (NIV) ornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked.

The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter.

O. Cornelius, a gentile, prayed to God regularly and gave to those who had need. At one of his regular times of prayer he is told by an Angel to send to a town Joppa for a man called Peter. At the same time, Peter is praying and receives a vision from God. The vision is God’s teaching moment for Peter that God is now sending Peter to these gentiles that they might receive Christ and the Holy Spirit as well.

As I see this, God is preparing people (Peter) to meet prepared people (Cornelius and his household). God is preparing Peter’s heart to meet Cornelius whom God is preparing for salvation and reception of the Holy Spirit (and water baptism). God is so great! He sees situations and then in His grace, works in the hearts of others for those situational needs to be met. God prepares people to meet prepared people.

A. So many times we miss the opportunities that God has put right in front of us because we have allowed our minds or hearts to wander off, focusing on ourselves and we miss hearing His voice (and the opportunity). Peter listened. He received a word that was contrary to his earlier thinking (that God was now reaching out to unclean gentiles) which led to a great ministry opportunity. I desire to be one who listens to God’s voice, sees the opportunities unfold and then follows God in faith and obedience to allow God to use me in reaching others.

P. Thank you Father for your word today. Holy Spirit, fill me, guide me and prepare me (my heart and mind) to be available to minister to others whom you are preparing. In Jesus’ name.

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge in 28 Days - Day #2, February 2, 2023 "Observing Sabbath Even When There's More to Do."

S. Exodus 34:21 (NIV) “Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest, even during the plowing season and harvest you must rest.”

O. God teaches His people the principle of the Sabbath. We are to work 6 days and rest one day. Even when there seems like there is more work to do; we are to trust God and honor Him by resting one day.

God desires His people to keep their focus on Him and not on our own “productive” efforts. He desires to show us that we actually enjoy more blessings with less productive effort when we honor Him by observing the Sabbath. Simply put - God can do more with less. He is Jehova Jire (Our God will provide).

A. A sabbath rest doesn’t seem like “rest” to me in some ways. I seem to have energy plus and there’s seemingly always something to do. However, and for me, it’s an act of faith to simply give God that day by resting from productive efforts and to trust Him to provide as I spend a day of worshipping Him through reading, reflection and enjoying what He has given me.

P. Thank you Father that you continue to teach me more about Sabbath. I confess I do not yet observe Sabbath perfectly, but I’m willing to continue to learn to trust you with more of the Sabbath. I know with you, less is more. Thank you. I praise and honor you today. In Jesus’ name!