“There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42 (NLT) The heart of this ministry is to inspire a love for God’s Word and encourage the discipline of daily Bible reading and SOAP journaling. 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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Restoration | Carrie Newell
S~ Then this city will bring me joy, glory, and honor before all the nations of the earth! The people of the world will see the good I do for my people and will tremble with awe. Jeremiah 33:9 (NLT)
O~ A message from the Lord to the prophet Jeremiah. The Lord was getting ready to restore Jerusalem after the people had turned to sin and away from the Lord.
A~ I guess this hit me because of the story or restoration here. The city was doing its own thing, sinning against God. Yet, He doesn’t hold a grudge. He gives them consequences, then moves on. Sometimes I feel like I can’t let go of where I am. Not good enough. Too sick to matter. Too weak to make a difference. Grumpy. But God knows I can. I don’t need to be perfect- I just need to ask him to restore me, and He will gladly do so. I just have to get past my own self-punishment to see that he’s waiting for me with open arms.
P~ Father, thank you for never turning your back on me! Thank you that no matter where we are or where we’ve been you want to restore us! Father, help me to let go of all my insecurities and come running into your arms, ready for restoration!!! Amen.
Spiritual and Eternal | Michelle Myers
S~ They had not worshiped the beast or his idol, and they had not received the mark of the beast on their foreheads or on their hands. Revelation 20:4 (NCV)
O/A~ I may not always recognize it, but the “mark of the beast” is something I can have everyday, if I am not careful. The condition of my heart, mind, marriage, family, finances, health, etc. can easily be the visible marks to show who I am worshiping. If my finances are a mess, because I am over spending or spending on sinful things, that is the mark of the beast. If my health is a mess, because I eat too much, smoke, and don’t exercise, that is the mark of the beast.
I have experienced times, where I had messes and it was not because I was worshiping the beast or his idol. It is during these times, that God and His goodness are hard to understand or my belief may be tested. This is especially true for me, when I am seeing other people carelessly live selfish, reckless lives, or are hurtful and prideful beyond understanding; yet don’t seem to struggle with the day to day challenges of this world. They worship the beast, but also don’t have the signs of him in their lives. What I have come to understand, is there are marks of the beast, they just aren’t apparent to me. They may be hidden by these people. They may be sugar coating their daily struggles or hiding or denying their internal struggles. What I have also learned about this, is that these hidden marks will remain on them, and they will never be able to experience God’s awesome healing power or growth in their spirit…. and that is where it truly counts.
I also know that when unfair circumstances seem to hit me, and I struggle with understanding; my job is to keep the faith, stand on the promises of God, and open my heart to the Holy Spirit, and allow Him to show me what lesson I am supposed to get out of it. Honestly, it often takes me a long time of going around the same mountain before I get this. I’m getting better at it, but the process in me, because of me and my flesh, still takes longer than I would like it to.
P~ God, thank you for your wisdom and your patience. Please continue to help me see the spiritual and eternal aspect of life. Help me remember that there is so much more going on than what I can see, feel, or hear; and there is so much more to life in this world, besides positions, possessions, and people.
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