Today’s Reading
Zechariah 4 - 6; Luke 12
Read at Bible Gateway
How To Life Journal
2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
Our desire is that every believer would not just attend church, but also hear from God daily through His Word! As we read the Bible, we begin to see how God responds to things. Doing daily devotions re-patterns the way we think, transforms the spirit of our mind, and helps us become more like Jesus! S.O.A.P. 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.
Special Note: If you’re new to Life Journaling and find the daily reading plan a bit overwhelming, just stick with the New Testament reading for that day. If that’s still too much, just read a paragraph or two (or at least until you find a verse that really sticks out to you).
The S.O.A.P. Journaling Method
S – Scripture
Open your Bible to your reading for the day. Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you that day, and write its address in your journal. (ie. Luke 5:5)
O – Observation
What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you.
A – Application
Personalize what you have read, by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now. Perhaps it is instruction, encouragement, a new promise, or corrections for a particular area of your life. Write down how this scripture can apply to you today.
P – Prayer
This can be as simple as asking God to help you use this scripture, or even a prayer for greater insight on what He may be revealing to you. Remember, prayer is a two-way conversation, so be sure to listen to what God has to say! Now, write it out.
Other Methods
This is simply a method to use if you don’t already have one. As you become more familiar with the process, don’t be afraid to move away from the S.O.A.P. method if you find alternatives work for you. Yet, it’s OK to stick with the S.O.A.P. method. That’s it! That’s all there is to it, so get started and let the Word of God begin to transform your life into what he has created it to be.
