S.O.A.P.

HEAR FROM GOD DAILY

What is S.O.A.P.?

Scripture • Observation • Application • Prayer

Our desire is that every believer would not just attend church, but also hear from God daily through His Word. We believe that reading the bible daily transforms our minds and our hearts, and helps us become more like Jesus.

SOAP journaling is a simple and excellent way to both record and process what God has spoken to you. It’s also a useful tool to use at a later time when you want to reflect on and review some of the ‘gems’ that you have received. Without writing them down, you may forget those blessings and important lessons!

We encourage you to use the SOAP personal daily devotional process. SOAP is an acronym: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer.

How to SOAP

You’ll need three items, a Bible, pen & journal to SOAP each day!

S-Scripture

Write down the Bible passage you’ll be studying.

This can be one verse or several. I’ve found that writing helps me focus on each word individually and on the passage as a whole. It also helps me soak it in and meditate on it.

O-Observation

Examine the text and write down what you notice.

What jumps out to you in the passage?
Who is it written by? Who is it written to?
What’s one thing you didn’t notice before?
What seems interesting or unusual?
What comes before and after the text?
Is there repetition, comparison, or contrast?

A-Application

Apply God’s Word to your life in a practical way.

This is the part where you personalize your study of Scripture. As you read over the text, how does it apply to you? Is there a specific action you need to take or a confession you need to make?

If it’s an action, try to make it SMART: specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound.

P-Prayer

Respond to God’s Word with your own words.

Accumulating head knowledge about God is of little use; it’s heart transformation He’s after, and that’s only possible through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Pray that the seed (the Scripture you just studied) falls on good soil in your heart, so that it will take root and produce fruit. Praise God for His attributes revealed in the passage. Confess any sin that has come to light during this time of studying.

Thank Him for His Word and His care. And ask the Holy Spirit to continue growing you into a disciple of Jesus.