S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge - Day #9 - June 9, 2023 "Wise People Get the Most ouf of Life"

S. Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV) 15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

O. Paul instructs us to live carefully -with wisdom (prudence). We should, by careful thinking, get the most out of life because the days are evil. We live in a fallen world. Satan is the “god” of this age. Because of his oppressive acts and the opposition to the advancement of God’s Kingdom, we are to seek the filling of the Holy Spirit (v.18) and then do all we can to be as productive as possible with caution and wisdom.

A. I have not always been as careful as I should be. However, carefulness does not mean inactivity. We are certainly taught to get everything ouf of life (making the most of every opportunity or as it says in the KJV, “redeeming the time because the days are evil”). But with wisdom and some care, we are to be as productive as possible. This summer (so far) God has really impressed upon me the need for wise planning, listerning (counsel) and preparation.

P. Thank you Lord Jesus for impressing upon me the need for wisdom as I plan to get the most out of our ministry. Holy Spirit fill me with your wisdom and knowledge, to plan and execute well, gaining the most (best results) for the honor and glory of Jesus.

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge - Day 8 - June 8, 2023 "Daily Growing to New Spiritual Levels"

S. Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV) 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

O. Paul teaches the Ephesian church and all of us to lay aside and renounce our former way of life (apart from Christ v. 17-21) and every day to raise up our spiritual comprehension to new levels and reality. We do this by the daily transformation of our minds (positive attitudes that look forward to what God has for us). The transformation of the mind is not a “one and done” event - it is a continuous daily act on our part to take our thought process captive and thereby glorify Jesus.

A. I certainly need my mind transformed every day. It never ceasses to amaze me the attack of the enemy on my mind. Each day I (we) need to renounce the old life and each day I (we) need to raise up our thinking to new spiritual levels of comprehension.

P. Thank you Lord Jesus for the victorious life that you have provided and called me to. Holy Spirit, fill me, guide me- transforming my thinking every day that I might raise my spiritual understanding to new levels of growth. I praise you and I ask this in Jesus’ name.

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge- Day #7 - June 7, 2023 "Enjoy the Protection, Presence and Power of God."

S. Psalm 18:17-19 (NIV)

“He rescued me from my powerful enemy,  from my foes, who were too strong for me. 18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. 19 He brought me out into a spacious place;
    he rescued me because he delighted in me.”

O. This is a wonderful Psalm. It is filled with imagery of God in heaven - hearing and seeing events that unfold on earth below, followed by His response (reaching down, riding on cherebim, etc.).

David faced strong enemies - stronger than himself. But - not too strong for God who gave David support, rescuing him from harm and then blessing him greatly. Why? Because He delighted in David. David was not “sinless” but he was blameless and desired greatly to be more like God. He pursued the heart of God (David a man after God’s own heart).

A. God is willing to bless us - to lead us to spacious places when our hearts and desires are aligned to Him. God is pleased with our integrity - when we seek purity in our life. Purity brings the presence and power of God (v. 20-24). I desire to live as David in this Psalm - blamess and having purity tht I might continue to enjoy the protection, presence and power of God.

P. Thank you Lord Jesus for this amazing word today. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me to a life of purity that I might enjoy the protection, presence and power of God. In Jesus’ name!