A Month of Assorted S.O.A.P's for January 2014 By Nicole Collins

A Daily Wash with S.O.A.P by Nicole Collins

Scripture || Observation|| Application|| Prayer

For Today Tuesday January 7^th, 2014

Scripture: (Romans 6:3) “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?”

Observation: Martin Luther said in referring to this verse that “we merely strive to obtain the blessings of this death and to reach our goal of Glory.”

Application: The wellspring of New Life is Christ Jesus.  Remembering our baptism daily is reflection, confession, repentance and renewal.  We need to die to sin and rise to the New Life—transformation Christ has planted in the fertile soil of our hearts.  Discipline, faith, humility and love weave the lifestyle of GRACE Christ modeled for us to incorporate.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, in our lives journey to be closer to you.  Help us strive to be daily washed in our baptism. Help us to abide in you.  To thwart our old nature ways with willingness, intentionality to love, grow into the lifestyle of GRACE.  May your Holy Spirit sanctify, transform us to BE that New Creation Christ died upon the Cross for. As your servant Martin Luther says: “We live unto God, that is in our spiritual and New life to eternity.”

Amen

A Daily Wash with S.O.A.P by Nicole Collins

Scripture || Observation|| Application|| Prayer

For Today Wednesday January 8^th, 2014

Scripture: (Colossians 1:22-23a) ²²he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him— ^23aprovided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven.

Observation: GRACE has been given—how do we respond, how do we stand firm on and for our Faith?

Application: We are in the midst of an age that has Christian persecuting other Christians.  An age that has uplifted intellectual idolatry and the self against the pillars of faith and relevance in God… Now more than ever we must stand firm willingly, intentionally in our faith out of love for God and neighbor.  We need to allow the Holy Spirit to use our gifts to trample down heresy, evil and secular Epicureanism.  Have a voice—DO travel~ far and wide for the sake of the Gospel!

Prayer:  Gracious and Loving God, We are grateful for how your love and GRACE prepares us for fighting the Good Fight of Faith.  May we learn from the examples of the martyrs and the faithful, faith-filled servants willingness to the dire importance of standing firm for your Gospel, for your will.  We thank you for the Blessings of all you have given us.  May we never not be grateful for Christ and his victory to defeat sin, death and the devil by his cross and resurrection!

Amen

A Daily Wash with S.O.A.P by Nicole Collins

Scripture || Observation|| Application|| Prayer

For Today Friday January 10^th, 2014

Scripture: (Job 3:23-24) ²³Why is light given to one who cannot see the way, whom God has fenced in? ²⁴For my sighing comes like my bread, and my groanings are poured out like water.

Observation: We’ve all been, at one point or another in our lives, in Job’s shoes.  When awful things happen and we feel bewildered and even perhaps angry!

Application: We need to continue to persevere through the worst.  It is easy to say and very hard to be vigilant when in experiencing the pain of evil, hardship and loss.  God, however is steadfast, is present With us during those times.  His love is the pillar.  Stephen’s Ministry offers the best image here, the tree of Christ reaching down to those in the pit.  When we hold firmly to Christ, he helps us to pull ourselves up as well as reach out in love to our neighbors.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, help us to know and grow that your love is a pillar of strength and encouragement for our lives.  It  is you, who walk beside us, who encourages and nurtures us when we feel weak and weary.  It is you, Lord, who is the tree of life!  We cling to you.  May our hearts grow stronger trusting that whatever may befall us, we will find a path through it all.  May we see and come to know the guiding light you shine upon us.  May we be grateful for every day in every way as our lives grow in dedication to you—in GRACE.

In Your most Holy and Blessed Name we pray—

AMEN

A Daily Wash with S.O.A.P by Nicole Collins

Scripture || Observation|| Application|| Prayer

For Today Tuesday January 14^th, 2014

Scripture: (Psalm 42:5) ⁵Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help

Observation: How often do we have that little voice within us needing to reassure us of present and peace of God available to us always?

Application: Prayer is indeed power. Several times daily I go to my pocket cross and pray.  It can be anywhere for what may be silence to others is HEARD by God.  Prayer not only builds our relationship with God but fuels the soul with that kind of peace, loving strength that only the Lord can bring upon.  In short, the “how” of prayer is not as important as the “why.”  It is reconciling ourselves to be obedient to the Spiritual formation discipline of prayer that is important.

Prayer:  Gracious and Loving God, you hear the voice of our hearts reaching out to you.  The Psalmist sings: Hope in You and Praise we will again feel encouraged by your loving guidance and ever flowing GRACE.

Lift up our countenance Lord for you are indeed, the light of the World and the giver of life.

May every moment of our prayers be woven with gratitude, thanksgiving for all you have done, for all that we have been Blessed to receive. Thank You Lord for the New life you have bestowed upon me.

Christ Jesus, Our beacon of Light and GRACE perpetual—

AMEN

A Daily Wash with S.O.A.P by Nicole Collins

Scripture || Observation|| Application|| Prayer

For Today Saturday January 18^th, 2014

Scripture: (John 1:1) ¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Observation: How do we hear or perceive God as the Word?

Application: How we daily hold ourselves accountable to the authority of God’s Word is not only through Bible study and devotion but by seeing scripture in everything we do.  Much like an artist sees the world, we must allow God’s Word to paint into the stories of our lives journeys.

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, reign in our hearts with your Holy Word and Divine will.

Sanctify our daily stories with the Holy light of inspiration as seen through the Scriptures

Paint your Words of GRACE into every aspect of how we see, feel, hear and respond to one another

May we be faithful stewards of your Word

Trampling Satan’s efforts underfoot

In your Most Holy and Precious Name we pray—

AMEN

A Daily Wash with S.O.A.P by Nicole Collins

Scripture || Observation|| Application|| Prayer

For Today Thursday January 23^rd, 2014

Scripture: (Hebrews 6:19-20a) ¹⁹We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain, ^20awhere Jesus, a forerunner on our behalf, has entered…

Observation: The Soul is the internal tabernacle of the Holy Spirit. This is the place where the foundation of Grace has been laid by Jesus.

Application: Hope is an aspect of our lives lived through Grace.  We need to be hopeful, humble, and obedient to God’s will for our lives.  Christ Jesus most powerful work upon us starts within the internal church of our hearts. Hope motivates our loving and Gracious response to our most loving and Gracious God.

Prayer:  Dear Lord Jesus, you are indeed the center of our lives.  You are the high priest within that internal temple.  May our lives be driven by the seeds of faith you have planted within the tabernacle of our hearts. Help us to grow in faithful obedience, hopefulness and humility.  We need to discipline ourselves to be living into the lifestyle of GRACE—loving you and neighbor—our lives’ stories.

AMEN

A Daily Wash with S.O.A.P by Nicole Collins

Scripture || Observation|| Application|| Prayer

For Today Tuesday January 28^th, 2014

Scripture: (Psalm 15:2) ²Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, and speak the truth from their heart;

Observation: How do we understand blamelessly? The Hebrew interlinear texts has it as uprightly.  Are we aligning ourselves truthfully to God’s standards for righteousness?  Is it coming from a changed heart?

Application: Honesty and humility go a long way especially in the journey of the disciple.  If we come from an authentic place of obedience to God—real righteousness naturally flows from our being.  This is our daily process of reflection, confession, repentance and renewal.

Prayer:  Gracious and Loving God, may your love as seen in Jesus perfect example always be our guide.  Help us to keep our hearts humble and grounded in your Word. Help us to face our daily challenges with honesty and perseverance.  Your GRACE lights our hearts to come, follow you.  May we never sway from following you. Help us to speak the truth in Love—spread your Gospel and live intentionally; uprightly!

In your most Precious Name we pray—

AMEN