I am tempted to rename this whole post series The Bible in 90 Weeks!  This session has taken me over 100 days already. I don’t know if I’ll finish before the year ends, but I’m going to try. It is definitely worth it! Here’s my SOAP for day 23!

2 Samuel 12:11 – 2 Samuel 22:18

Scripture: “During the reign of David, there was a famine for three successive years, so David sought the face of the Lord ….” ~ 2 Samuel 21:1

Observation: I can’t imagine how difficult it would be like to face a famine for a couple of days, so living in one for 3 years would surely tests someone’s faith in God. David was king at the time of the famine. There was nothing he could do but seek God. God told David why the famine was happening.

Application: I haven’t face a famine, but I do know what it is like to have difficult times. We have to remember to seek God, especially when life gets hard.

Prayer: God, I pray that the first thing we all do when we face trouble is to seek you. When we do, please hear us and answer us.

SOAP for today!

1 Samuel 28:20 – 2 Samuel 12:10

Scripture: David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God. ~ 1 Samuel 30:6

Observation: While David and his army were off in battle, their enemies the  Amalekites came into their current hometown, burned it and took all the men’s wives, children and possessions.  Everyone was so distressed that they wanted to take their aggression out on their leader – David. (Everything does turn out well for the Israelites - they go to battle and everything the Amalekites stole and everyone they took captive is returned unharmed – quite a miracle.)

Application: I can’t imagine how stressful it would be to have “coworkers” talking about taking my life. I hope I never experience that. But, if David could get strength from God to face that trial, I can find strength in God to help me through all the tough situations in my life.

Prayer: Lord, let us all find our strength in you. I pray that we will seek you for help and not look for strength from other people or things.

SOAP for today!

1 Samuel 16:1 – 1 Samuel 28:19

Scripture: But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” ~ 1 Samuel 16:7

Observation: God told Samuel this right before he told him to anoint David as king. David was the youngest of 8 brothers and not the man any person would have chosen as king.

Application: This verse gives me so much hope! I’m not particularly nice looking or strong (and definitely not tall!), but I know that if I choose to seek God he can use me for great things.

Prayer: God remind us daily that you don’t look at the things people look at and give us hearts that seek you!

This Bible in 90 Days adventure is looking like it may take me 180 days, but I am going to finish!

SOAP for today!

1 Samuel 2:30 – 1 Samuel 15:35

Scripture: “”So Samuel said to all the Israelites, ‘If you are returning to the LORD with all your hearts, then rid yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths and commit yourselves to the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.’” ~ 1 Samuel 7:3

Observation: As is common with the Israelites, they turned from God, began to worship idols and generally got their lives into a big mess because they didn’t trust God. Their enemies – the Philistines – engaged them in battle after battle and won. Honestly, the Israelties were just experiencing the consequences that they deserved. But God had compassion.

Application: The Israelites remind me of myself . I drift from God, do stupid things that get me in a mess, then feel bad and sheepishly start praying again and asking God for help again – often believing that their is no way he would ever help me. But thankfully, over and over God promises that if we turn back to him, he’ll help us. What an amazing promise! God promises too that he doesn’t show favoritism (see Acts 10:34, James 2:1) so the promises that he gives the Israelites in the Old Testament regarding to God’s character apply to me. If he helped the Israelites when they messed up, he’ll help me too.

Prayer: God, help us to believe that you will help us even if our current mess is because of our own willful sin. Give us the courage and ability to trust you.

SOAP for today!

Judges 15:13 – 1 Samuel 2:29

Scripture: “I prayed for this child and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.” ~ 1 Samuel 1:27

Observation: The Bible says that Hannah was childless year after year and was deeply troubled. She prayed for a son and eventually received one.

Application: Our prayers make a difference. I don’t know understand how it works or why, but God listens to our prayers and answers them. This account only records one desperate prayer from Hannah at the temple, but who knows how long or how much Hannah prayed before God chose to give her a son. This story reminds me to keep praying even when it seems like God doesn’t hear. He will answer.

Prayer: God, we all have needs. Please remember us and answer our prayers. Forgive us for our sins and give us peace and comfort in the midst of difficulty.

SOAP for today!

Judges 3:28 – 15:12

Scripture: “Gideon made the gold into an ephod, which he placed in Ophrah, his town. All Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.” ~ Judges 8:27

Observation: Gideon was a man of God – a n angel of God came to him and called him to service, God answered his repeated requests for confirmation of his calling and Gideon defeated the mighty Midianites with an army of a just 300 men. Gideon should have known better than to build an idol to worship. Sounds like that sin caused he and his family continual trouble. I wonder if he ever tore it down.

Application: It is easy for Christians to let sin into our lives. We have idols too – they may not be gold, but come in the form of fancy cars, jobs and money. It is wise to remember that if we allow any kind of sin in our life it will constatly trip us up. Ask God for forgiveness of your sins and repent (turn away) from the sin and don’t let it continue to bring you down.

Prayer: God, please (gently) show us the sin in our lives. Help us rid our lives of anything that trips us up – we want to be free.

Sometimes making the time to read the Bible everyday is hard, isn’t it? I know though, that when I choose to make the effort, I get a better perspective on life!

SOAP for today!

Joshua 15:1 – Judges 33:27

Scripture: “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” ~ Joshua 24:15

Observation: In this verse,  Joshua is encouraging the Israelite people to follow God even through a few chapters before God already predicted that the Israelites would reject him in the near future. I like how Joshua makes it clear to the Israelites that they have a choice whether or not to follow God.  Joshua gives a lot of good reasons to follow God, but wants to make sure they know of their freedom.

Application: It’s important to remember that people do have a choice. Christians should share their faith, live out their faith and demonstrate the love of God, but they shouldn’t try to force people to believe. In some ways it is frustrating that we have a choice (I would really like God to make me a robot sometimes and just make me do the right thing!) but having a choice is freeing too. Share, but don’t ever shove your relationship with God down someone else’s throat. 

Prayer: God, thank you for giving us the freedom to choose whether or not to serve you. I choose you. Help me to live out that choice in a way that honors you and help me remember and respect others’ right to choose.

Yes, I still am reading the Bible in 90 days – it’s just shaping up to be taking a little lot longer than 90 days to get through it! But, I am pressing on. Won’t you join me?

SOAP for today!

Joshua 1:1 – 14:15

Scripture: “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” ~ Joshua 1:7

Observation: Over and over in the first part of this book Joshua is reminded to not be afraid. Later in the book he instructs the Israelite people with the same words God spoke to him.

Application: This passage affirms the human tendency to be scared, or in my case sometimes, totally freaked out.  It also affirms the fact that God does want us to be successful and that he’ll bless us if we are seeking to follow him. (Though anyone who has followed God for very long knows that the blessings don’t always come right away!)

Prayer: God, I pray that, we will be strong and courageous in whatever situations we are in right now. Enable us to seek and obey you. Give us success wherever we go.