Month: August 2019

Thanks for joining me for Part Three of our scripture study using the SOAP method.
Please consider journaling your own scripture reflections as we continue to explore Bible verses based on North Point church’s recent series Out of the Shallows, encouraging everyone to take a ‘deeper dive’ into scriptures. Catch up with us on the first two installments here and here. (You’ll also find details on using the SOAP method.)

S- scripture…O- observation…A- application… P- prayer

Today’s scripture:

But he (Jesus) said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.
For when I am weak, then I am strong.  Paul, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

S- My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.

O- ‘My power is made perfect in weakness’ It makes so much sense, if you pause to think about it.  How could we ever see God working in our lives if everything was perfect and we felt we were doing it all on our  own? It’s only when we have a weakness, or a hardship, and we need God’s help that we recognize his power, and our complete insufficiency without it.

A- Examine your life – the blessings and the challenges. Find the good in every hardship. And that  ‘good’ is this: In every difficulty…GOD. IS. WORKING.  In you and through you, and for you. And for others. When you make the decision to look, it’s really not that hard to see God’s hand of Grace on even the most difficult situation. Rejoice in this truth!

P-Lord, you make all things work together for good when I trust and depend on you. Thank you for all the ways you have used the difficulties in my life to bring me closer to you. Help me use this in a positive way to help others.

I really encourage you to try this method of getting more out of scripture. As you can see above, this does not have to be a laborious, scholarly examination of the verse. So many struggle with how to get started reading their Bible, and this is a really simple approach that can be done in a relatively short span of time.

The cool part is going back after doing this for a week or two and reading your previous reflections. You will likely be pleasantly surprised. I sure was.

Using the SOAP method I’m doing a devotional called “Out of the Shallows” with Northpoint Church. This method of Bible study uses the acronym SOAP to dig deeper into scripture, rather than just casually reading through the Bible.

‘S’ is writing down the part of scripture that kind of jumps out at you, or seems to have meaning to you.
‘O’ is to observe what it is really saying, the deeper meaning or truth.
‘A’ is for application. How does it apply to your life? What can you do differently in light of this truth?
‘P’ is for prayer. What do you want to tell God or ask him to help you do about this?
Read the first scripture study here http://www.christiannotchristian.com/out-of-the-shallows-go-the-extra-mile-overcome-evil-with-good/

Jesus’ Irresistible Offer

Today’s Scripture
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Jesus, Matthew 11: 28 – 29

S – Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest… For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

O- He gives us rest. He gives us peace. Not necessarily by removing our burdens, but by replacing our yoke with his own. A yoke is defined as a harness for two animals, usually oxen, to share a burden when pulling farm equipment. But a yoke also refers to a wooden bar one places over the shoulders to carry two equally weighted loads. Think of someone carrying two buckets of water balanced on their shoulders this way. It occurred to me; we carry this type of yoke single-handedly to double the weight or burden we can carry. But when we use the other kind, to yoke animals together, it halves their burden. 

Lightening Your Load – It’s All Up to You

This scripture is beckoning us to let Jesus carry half our load. And, who are we kidding, if we let him, if we trust him, he does much more than that. Much more than his ‘fair share’. He attaches himself to us and shoulders the yoke with us. We learn a new way to live and it lifts and restores our  soul. It is as though the weight of the entire burden is taken from us, and we get the rest, the relief and the peace that only God can give.

A – Surrender to him. And now I am really directing this to myself because here is where I struggle…Oh my gosh, just do it, Sherry….. Let. It. Go. Stop trying to solve everything on your own. Stop thinking you even can. I (we all ) need to just try bringing all the concerns and difficulties of this life to Jesus, and letting him lead and guide us through it all.

P – The last words above came to me in prayer as lyrics from a beautiful song by Bethel. You can check out the lyrics and music here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VUzQrtRqDQ
“Through it all, through it all….my eyes are on you. Through it all, through it all…it is well.”

Please join me for more of this journey through Scripture by journaling your own thoughts using the SOAP method. And if you would, by subscribing with your email address in the box, top right of this page. I would really appreciate your support in this way. Your email will not be shared in any way. Thanks!