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These are a few of our SOAP notes from today’s reading. We encourage you to read and journal on your own first, then join us in conversation about what God revealed to YOU today. Click HERE to go directly to the daily reading if you wish.
Don’t Give Up! | Deanna George
S~ Why, Lord, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? (1)
But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted;
you consider their grief and take it in hand. (14)
You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, (17) Psalm 10:1, 14, 17 (NIV)
O~ God doesn’t always intervene immediately, but that doesn’t mean that he doesn’t see what I am going through or hear my cries.
A~ Seasons of life can be very hard. There are days when I wonder when God will “fix” a problem. I question if he is even present or knows what I am facing. I don’t need to wonder because he does see me and my troubles! He hears my cries! He will encourage me to persevere! This encourages me to not give up! Things may not improve on my time table, but God is on my side the entire time. He has not left me. I need to look for his support and encouragement. It may come through friends, the Bible, a song, or even a complete stranger. I need to gain strength through God’s presence and encouragement.
P~ Lord Jesus, thank you for telling me that you see and hear me during all seasons of my life. I appreciate that you will listen and encourage me. Thank you for telling me to never give up. I can get impatient and question your presence. Please open my eyes to your support and encouragement, especially when I’m having a hard time letting go of my situation. I am choosing to look for your presence instead of dwelling on the situation.
Lord, You Know | Luisa Penaherrera
S~ Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will listen to their cries and comfort them. Psalm 10:17 (NLT)
O~ These verses remind me that God sees and cares.
A~ I need to really trust God.
P~ Father, you call me to trust, help me do this. Thank you for loving me.
Jesus JOY! – Robin Laney
S~ But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. John 17:13 (ESV)
O~ Jesus prays for believers, those following him at the time and those who would follow in the future. In this particular verse, he prays that we all have the joy he experiences.
A~ First of all, Jesus prayed for me and all of his followers for all time. Passionately. He prayed for joy. Not just any joy…HIS Joy. When I think about what gave Jesus joy, the Holy Spirit comes to mind. I don’t know he could face the cross with joy unless empowered by him. His joy was the fruit of the Spirit. Jesus rejoiced in the salvation of men and women and in the sovereignty of the Father, which brought about the ability of individuals to recognize him as God’s salvation. And he found joy in serving his Father, being under His authority and delighting Him.
There are so many things in which I look for joy; family, friends, circumstances and pleasures of this world. While these things are all certainly great gifts of God, true joy – Jesus Joy – is only found in the things of God. The ministry of the Holy Spirit, salvation, God’s sovereignty, and living to serve God in a way that delights Him. I notice that when I am disappointed and feel like there is no true joy, I have taken my focus off of my Creator, Savior, salvation, and purpose. I suppose that when Jesus prayed for me and other believers’ joy, he had in mind that the same things that gave him joy would be what brought it to us as well.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Philippians 4:4
In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. Luke 10:21
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22
It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isaiah 25:9
His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ Matthew 25:21
P~ Pure JOY is only found in You, Father. Thank You for the reminder, today! May I always seek Your joy first and then enjoy the many good things of this world that You have given me. Sharing You, serving You, trusting You. These things bring great joy.
My Personal Cups | Michelle Myers
S~ Jesus commanded Peter, ‘Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?’ John 18:11 (NIV)
O~ When the men come to take Jesus away, Peter goes all savage on one of them, and cuts the man’s ear off. I am sure he saw it as trying to protect Jesus, and the right thing to do. However, Jesus sees the big picture. He knows that He is supposed to be taken. He knows that the pain and suffering He is about to endure, isn’t punishment, but is meant to glorify God.
A~ This whole, “drinking from the cup that You have given me” thing, often makes enduring some of the YUK in marriage, parenthood, finances, health issues, etc. a lot easier. I had to get past the “Why God?”, and realize that many of these things were because I was supposed to glorify You, by “drinking from the cup You have given to me”. I also had to realize that “going savage” on people with my responses, wasn’t glorifying You. There is a way, You want me to go about “drinking from Your cup” and Jesus modeled it throughout his life.
P~ Thank you God for this shift in perspective. It definitely is not how the world rolls, but it is how You roll. There is a much greater purpose behind it, than one that can be fulfilled in this world. Please help me remember this. Please help me do things and respond to things, in a manner that glorifies You. Even when the cup You have given me to drink from is confusing, painful, exhausting, unwarranted, etc.; please help me drink from it, in a way that models my faith in You.
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