Our desire is that every believer would not only attend church, but also hear from God daily through His word. As we read the Bible, we begin to understand God with greater clarity. Doing daily devotions can re-pattern the way we think, transform our mind, and help us become more like Jesus.

The SOAP journaling method is a simple way to both record and process what God has spoken to you. It is also a useful tool to use at a later time when you want to reflect on some of the “gems” that you read in Scripture. Without having written them down, we often tend to forget the blessings and important lessons given us. While journaling is a very personal time with the Lord, you may also want to share some of your daily devotions with others in the future, so having a written record can serve as a great tool. Through discussion, you may be able to look deeper into what God is speaking to you, gain new insight, and even encourage others!

Monday through Saturday you have an assigned reading in the Bible. Most days it is a chapter from a book of the Bible. You will want to have your Bible, a journal, and a pen. (Note: some prefer to use their laptop or phone to digitally journal their SOAP study)

Read your assigned passage. But take your time. This is not a race. It is a time to focus on God and how you might respond.

Now you can start your study. Use the acronym to help you journal your thoughts:

S– The S stands for Scripture- you physically write out the verse from that chapter that speaks to your heart. You’ll be amazed at what God will reveal to you just by taking the time to slow down and actually write out what you are reading!

O– The O stands for Observation- what do you see in the verses that you’re reading? Who is the audience? Is there a repetition of words? What words stand out to you? What are you observing?

A– The A stands for Application- this is when God’s Word becomes personal. What is God saying to me today? How can I apply what I just read to my own personal life? What changes do I need to make? Is there an action that I need to take?

P– And finally, P stands for Prayer. If God has revealed something to you during this time in His Word, pray about it. Confess if He has revealed some sin that is in your life. Pray a prayer of commitment. Just respond to God through prayer.

Studying God’s Word like this can take as little or as long as you have time to give. Some days it can take just 10 or 15 minutes; other days it might be longer. The most important ingredients in the SOAP method is your interaction with God’s Word and your APPLICATION of His Word for your life.

You can study on your own, but it is so much better to do this with others! We have groups that meet together to discuss the Scripture and keep each other accountable to getting the reading done. Just like an exercise partner can help push you to do better, we have groups that help you stick with the reading. All love and encouragement. No condemnation. If you’d like to join a group, send Eric and email at ekuykendall@fbs.org