“GET OUT THE S.O.A.P.”
Pastor Augie Iadicicco

 

Here is a VERY SIMPLE, YET POWERFUL devotional method that I recently learned about from a men's retreat by Allan Meyer.  I believe it will help you:

1. get more out of your daily devotions.

2. be more regular in your devotion time. 

3. learn and remember more Scripture.

4. start a regular devotional pattern if you don’t already have one.

This practice can be transformational for you!.  It is very easy, and it builds on whatever devotions you may already have in place.  There is nothing special to buy, no complicated training and it is not a "program" that comes to an end.  It is something that you can do from now on. 
 

Here's what you'll need:

1. Your Bible

2. A pen/pencil

3. your daily planner/calendar

4. A Bible reading plan (if you need one, there are many available - try the Today's Light Bible available at the SGLC book store, or the Bible Reading plan available at our welcome center... or you can just put a bookmark in your Bible and read a number of verses or a chapter a day!)

5. A "SOAP Journal" (Can be any notebook, spiral bound or otherwise, with blank pages for writing... could even be done on the computer!)
 

Here's how it works:

1. "S"  SCRIPTURE. Read whatever Scripture is already on your plan to read for that day.  However, it is important to have a PLAN.  This method would work even if you open your Bible and plunk your finger down on a verse, but in order to receive the "whole counsel" of God, you should methodically work through all of Scripture, so you don't just tend to the parts you like.  As you are reading through your Scripture, begin to underline or highlight verses that stick out, or really speak to you.  Use a Bible that you feel comfortable marking up and making notes in.  Don't worry about summarizing anything at this point.  Just let your Spirit be open to God speaking to you through His Word.  When you are finished reading your section of Scripture, skim back over it, and note the sections that you've underlined.  What stands out to you the most?  Where do you feel God really opened your eyes today?  Whittle that down to a phrase or a verse or two of Scripture.  Then in your Soap Journal, turn to a fresh page and write down today's date, and then under that put an "S" and then write out the verse of Scripture, long hand... that is, write the very words from the Bible.  Then make a note of the Biblical Reference (Isaiah 44:1, for example).

2. "O" OBSERVATION.  Write down an "O" and then write things that you observed during your reading or study of today's text.  This can be as extensive as your study is.  Perhaps you are accustomed to following cross-references in Scripture, or looking up historical information and the broader, situational context, or even just recognizing what's happening in the preceding and following chapters and verses (immediate context) of the current book of the Bible you're reading.  Whatever you observe that helps "set the stage" for today's reading... write that down.  I find that this is the sort of thing that may be obvious to you while you are reading, but very often flees your memory when you look back at just a section or verse of Scripture out of it's original context.  Record those observations for 'safe keeping.'

3. "A" APPLICATION.  Now write an “A” and then write how God is speaking to you personally through this verse.  What is He saying that you need to hear?  What is He saying that challenges you, or perhaps that comforts and encourages you?  This section in your journal, simply helps you apply the verses of Scripture to your life and your current situation. 

4. "P" PRAYER.  Finally, write down a “P” and the prayer(s) that emerge in your heart following your devotional time.  By this point in your time with God, it is likely that you will realize that you need to make a change, to be strengthened, or just to be comforted and given hope.  Talk to God in this section.  Tell Him what's in your heart, and ask Him to give you what you need.  He longs to do this for you... He is waiting for you to come to Him.  This is the part of your journal where you don't want to 'hold back.'  You cannot hide anything from God.  By not coming to Him on your knees in your journal/prayer you are only short-changing yourself of God's power to heal, strengthen, comfort or grow you.  Write it down.  Be "Real," honest and sincere with God.

That's it.  It's a pretty easy thing to do, and the blessings are many.  In fact, the blessings can be compounded when you SHARE your devotional (SOAP) thoughts with someone else!  Try it the next time you get together in small groups, or with a new-believer you are mentoring, or at a meeting for church, or even with someone with whom you might differ theologically!  It is a great way to open the Scriptures and dig in.  This way, you are ready and 'prepared,' since God has already spoken to your heart on the topic.  Furthermore, it's a great way to help someone (even YOU) grow Spiritually, since it's a great means for accountability.  The next time someone tells you that they wish they read the Bible more, try suggesting they try the S.O.A.P. method.  Then when you see them, ask them to share something with you from their journal.  If the pages are empty - then it's clear that they haven't yet begun to really work at studying God's Word devotionally.

Oh, you may have noticed in the preceding list of “what you'll need” that your "daily planner" was listed.  You may think that it’s for you to keep track of your devotions.  It is not.  It is there for you for you to WRITE DOWN ANY 'BUSY' THOUGHTS that come to your mind while you are reading and studying Scripture.  So many people struggle with this.  If we do our devotions early in the morning, we can tend to have a flurry of thoughts flood our mind as to what we have to do during the day.  If you think to yourself "I'll remember it," and you don't write it down, what tends to happen is that your brain keeps dwelling on it, and clouds your thinking and focusing on God and His Word.  It is far better to set your Bible down for a moment, make a note of what you have to do in your planner or notepad, and then move on with your devotion.  In fact, I've found that God uses my devotional time to bring me to some of my best thoughts and ideas.  It is a good feeling if you sense that God is leading you in your daily tasks.  It gives you a greater sense of purpose.  The main thing, though, is to not let these thoughts distract you from reading and praying through Scripture.

Why am I trying so hard to get you to try this devotional method?  Because it has been truly transformational for me!  It has changed the way I approach my devotional time.  By being a more active 'participant' in my time with God, I get so much more out of it. For years I tried sitting down and doing devotions with nothing but my Bible in hand.  But there's something about bringing a pen and paper into the picture.  It means that I SERIOUSLY EXPECT God to say something to me, or show me something that day.  I ANTICIPATE that I'll encounter some timeless truth in a new way, or have my life IMPACTED by God's Word in a way that's worth noting.  I pray that it will be transformational for you too as you have many enriching times of devotion to our Lord.  May this method be a tool of the Holy Spirit to guide you deeper into His Word!