How S.O.A.P.Y. Works
In the 13th chapter of John's Gospel, Jesus washes the feet of the disciples. In fact, he tells them that unless he washes them, they can have no part of him or of his ministry.
Just as we daily wash ourselves with soap and water, so we should daily allow the Word of God and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit wash over our souls. In doing so, we are cleansed - our lives are transformed so that we can transform the life of the church and the lives of others.
Life Journaling is a way of beginning and maintaining this daily discipline of reading and applying the words of the Bible to our lives.
Our goal is to have every person who has a leadership role within the life of Divine Street United Methodist Church using the SOAPY method of daily reading the scriptures.
Our secondary goal is that as many people who are members and regular attendees join in this experience of learning how to be self-fed on the Word of God.
What Is S.o.a.p.y.
It is an acrostic for the method used to Life Journal:
Scripture
Observation
Application
Prayer
Yield
It is easy to get S.O.A.P.Y. and begin Life Journaling:
The first step is to get a scripture reading bookmark. It should have come with this brochure, or you may contact the church office for one. Second, get a journal. It can be a simple notebook, or you may prefer to purchase a blank journal from your favorite bookstore. Now, you are ready to begin.
Here's how to use the S.O.A.P.Y. method with your Life Journal:
Keep the first couple of pages in your journal blank. Write as a heading on the first page "Table of Contents."
- A. Find the Bible reading corresponding to today's date from the Bible reading bookmark. Turn to the passage in the Bible, asking the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you. Mark off each daily reading as you complete it to keep yourself accountable.
- B. Read the passages. As you are reading, take note of anything the Lord impresses on you as a personal word to be applied. When you read with an open heart, God will give you words of encouragement, direction, and correction (2 Tim. 3:16)
- C. When God has revealed a special lesson of life to you, record what God has just shown you in your journal.
- 1. Title the page.
- 2. Scripture: Write down the verse you have chosen as a lesson for the day.
- 3. Observation: Write down what the lesson is for you that day.
- 4. Application: Write how this lesson applies to your life
- 5. Prayer: Write a prayer to God concerning this lesson and your life.
- 6. Yield: Write what you must yield in your life for this lesson to become alive in you.
- Record the entry by date, scripture, topic, title and page number on your Table of Contents page.
- Conclude your daily devotional time by praying for those who may be on your prayer list or the prayer list of the church.
Example of a Life Journal Entry:
Date: January 11, 2007
Title: Scripture Becomes Light to Mind, Heart and Body
Topic: Daily Scripture Reading
S: Luke 11:34
Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eye is healthy, your whole body is full of light, but when it is bad, your body is full of darkness.
O: What I read determines the kind of light or darkness which will fill my mind and my body. I become what I think.
A: This morning as I read this scripture, I became aware again how important this time in scripture is for me each day. I begin my day with reading God’s Word for me. This daily reading is what really changes my life to be more like Jesus, and this reading shapes my heart so it will be more useable by the Lord.
I know that if I miss a morning because I have an early trip to make, then there is a loss in my life, and I find a small amount of darkness comes into my life.
I can hardly imagine how my life would have been without this daily time in the Word so my mind and body can sample the light of God and my heart can be shaped and made more useable to the Lord.
P: Father, thank you for the gift of your Word. Thank you also for the light it brings into my mind and body as you teach and encourage me each day to be a follower of Jesus. Amen.
Y: I will not skip a day of this discipline because I need this light in my heart and mind and body.
