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.
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Fear God more than man | Trisha Baker
S~ I put in charge of Jerusalem my brother Hanani, along with Hananiah the commander of the citadel, because he was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do. Nehemiah 7:2 (NIV)
O~ This man was chosen because his fear for God meant that he would make righteous choices because he was more worried about what God would think rather than what men would think.
A~ Integrity is determined by the choices a person makes. The choices a person makes is determined by what they believe the most important thing in their life to be. If God is the most important thing in someone’s life then the choice which is the most pleasing to God is the one they will choose. If what someone else will think of their choice is the most important thing to them, then they will make the choice which is people pleasing even if it is not the choice which will make God happy. The problem with choosing what will make people happy is that this choice very possibly could have a bad effect on our lives and the lives of others for a long time. Bu if we choose to make the decision to make God happy, then whether people are happy or not, our God is happy with us and he will ensure a good future for us. Many times the choice which will make God happy can be a very scary choice to make because it usually means stepping out in faith, but the effect it will have on our life will be amazing and filled with blessings. We have to determine every day who we are more worried about, what God thinks of us and our choices or what people think of us and our choices. God should always win in that decision making process!
P~ Father God, help me to always remember you are the one that my heart should fear and not man. Help me to remember Lord that when the days of my life are over, you are the one who will judge my heart and not the people that are around me every day. Help me to remember I am only responsible for my own choices and so I should always concentrate on you and what you are leading me to do. I think you Lord that making good choices will bring about your blessings even if in the moment making a choice which will make you happy is very scary. Thank you for your daily strength. In your precious name Amen.
Trust People? Trust Feelings? | Kim Chipman
S~ Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. Psalm 146:3 (NIV)
O~ Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ. Galatians 1:10 (NIV)
A~ I do this. I know I do.
Recently I was with a group of people that made me feel insecure. They didn’t do anything, I just felt it. I started questioning all kinds of things about myself. How quickly my identity just left me.
Why do I put so much value in people’s opinions to start with? Why do I trust my runaway feelings? What do I really trust?
P~ Lord, help me to remember who I am. I’m such a forgetter. I love You!
Why? | Deanna George
S~ So, as the Holy Spirit says: Today, if you hear his voice, Hebrews 3:7 (NIV)
O~ What am I going to do when I hear the Holy Spirit’s voice? Obey? Procrastinate? Question? Ignore?
A~ Have I hardened my heart so much that I don’t even hear the Holy Spirit? No I haven’t, but I have to admit that I can ignore it like a pro. Why do I do that? Do I really think my ideas or plans are better? Is the Holy Spirit encouraging me to get out of my comfort zone? What is the root cause of my reaction today? God wants me to respond with yes, I hear you and I will obey. On the days that is hard, I need to ask myself why. Why is it hard for me to say yes? What is stopping me? Am I being asked to do something I consider unpleasant? Does it scare me because I haven’t done it before? Is it going to interrupt my to-do list? Each day can be a different reason. I need to to figure out the reason and face it head on. Am I in control or do I want God to be in control. I need to learn to face my insecurities, allow my day to change, and step out in faith. If God is asking me to do something, then he already knows I can! Believe him! Trust him!
P~ Lord Jesus, my mind gets in the way of acting on the Holy Spirits guidance and instructions. I am going to try to get to the root of my no so that I may turn it into a yes. It is going to take multiple times to turn this into a habit, so please keep this scripture in the forefront of my mind. Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit! I need him!
Community | Nikki Metzger
S~ But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:13 (NIV)
O~ The author believes we need daily encouragement from others so sin doesn’t creep in and take over our hearts.
A~ I believe this! If I’m not in touch with my people who love Jesus, I go about life on my own, and eventually I’m adrift in my faith. And there has never been a season of spiritual growth in my life without others praying and encouraging me.
As I step into a new work environment, I hope I find other believers so we can encourage each other daily.
P~ Father, thank You! We were never to do life alone! I love how You designed us! Open my eyes to my work places. Let me encourage others and they me because we want to bring You glory!
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