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SOAP Daily Bible Journaling

Thanks to Wayne Cordeiro and the people of New Hope Christian Fellowship Oahu for sharing this.

- God is talking with us daily. The Life/Bible Journal will help you to capture and catalog the lessons God teaches in a way that will help you to grow!
- This journal will encourage and remind you daily that God waits for you.
- Our faith will grow as we get to know God more. This journal will help add the substance of faith to your life.
- It is not just knowing things that builds our faith. It is doing them! It is applying the lessons God is teaching us that brings a blessing.

1. Start with your Bible, journal (any kind of notebook will do), pen and day planner/calendar.
2. Go to the Daily Bible Reading list to find today's readings.
3. Before you start to read, pray to God how to apply the reading to your life today.
4. Read today's readings. As you are reading, underline or write down anything that impresses 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. When ideas about other things "to do" crop up, write them down in your planner/calendar and go back to reading.
5. When you are through reading, go to your journal, write down at the top on one side the date and on the other side a page number. Then begin SOAP on about the 4th line down.

S write down the portion of scripture you will journal on. This is usually a short section that you have underlined or marked as you were reading.
O write down your observations on the passage
A write down how you will apply this passage to your life today.
P write down a prayer to God about your experience today

6. On the second line at the center top of your first page, write down a topic that describes what you journaled on today. Then above it, write a title like a title for a newspaper article. Have a page where you keep a Table of Contents and write in the date, the name of the book, chapter and verse, the topic, the title and the page number so that you can find this writing in the future.
7. Conclude your daily devotional time by using a sheet for a Prayer List. On this page write down all the people and situations you wish to pray for. Write down the date which you listed them and write down the date you believe the prayer has been answered. Pray a prayer of intercession for what you've written.

Remember! This Journal is designed to serve you in your growth with Christ. You can be flexible in how you use it, but be sure to develop a healthy habit of spending time daily with the Lord.

Some have asked, "When is the best time for my journaling? In the morning or the evening?" Answer, "The best time is when you're at your best!" If you're a morning person, do your devotions in the morning. If you're an evening person, do your devotions at night. The bottom line is: "Jesus deserves your best, so give Him the best part of your day!"