Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside will also be clean.  – Matthew 23:26

More and more these days, especially where I work, I’m having to tell more and more young men that they stink.  We have the conversation that standing in the shower and letting the water run over you is not the same as using the soap and scrubbing in the shower. I don’t necessarily like having this conversation, but if I were in their place, I’d certainly want someone to tell it to me straight.

Sometimes, I do this spiritually.  Instead of really digging into God’s Word and praying, I’ll just listen to it while I do other things.  I might listen to as few as one, or as many as five or six chapters.  I might listen to a sermon online.  Of course there is nothing wrong with these things, but it isn’t the same as digging in, studying the words, memorizing the words, praying the words, and asking God to help you live out the words.  The difference is as vast as washing in the shower and letting the water simply run over you in the shower.

I have really enjoyed reading my prayer journal from 20 years ago.  I’ve enjoyed it enough that I started another one this year.  This one is digital, so I look forward to reading it years from now and not having to work so hard to make out the words that I’ve so poorly written.  

I want to share with you how I’m doing it in case you want to start your own.  It ensures that you scrub and don’t just rinse.  I didn’t come up with the method but have heard it mentioned many times over the years.  It is an acronym called SOAP.  

S – Scripture – Write down the scripture that speaks to you as you are reading God’s word.

O – Observe – Write down what it was that struck you about the verse, passage, or chapter.

A – Apply – Write down how it applies to your life.

P – Pray – Write down your prayer.

This, of course, is my own simplified version.  I thought I’d cut and paste one of mine just to let you see how I use it.  I hope it helps you as much as it has helped me.  

Jan 27, 2025

Scripture:  In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built.  – 1 Kings 6:7

Observation:  Like Heaven, God is chiseling us and fitting us for heaven down here on Earth.  Once we get to Heaven, the work will be completed.  He will have done all that is needed to my heart, mind, and soul.

Application:  I need to quit beating myself up when I fall short.  God is working in me and through me.  Yesterday, heading to church was proof.  My little truck broke down and didn’t make it, but I still listened online, and God still visited me.  My first thought was to have a bad attitude when I broke down, but He was having no part of that.  He sent His spirit, He filled me up, and He allowed me to pray for so many people zipping by in their cars as I walked to the nearest store.  He’s still chiseling on me.  He’s still working on His people.  I don’t get to do any chiseling on others, but I can, and I must introduce them to the Great Chiseler.  I want all of us to have our proper place in Heaven.

Prayer:  Lord, Jesus . . . You know my heart as I sit here comfortably by the fire and bow my heart towards You.  You’ve done so much work on this raw material in 33 years.  Yet, I realize there is so much more work to be done.  I can’t wait until I fit perfectly into Heaven.  I’m looking forward to being placed in the perfect spot that You’ve prepared for me.  Help me to point others towards You, Lord.  Let my light so shine before men.  Let me truly be full of joy.  Give me the desires of my heart so they match Yours.  I praise You and love You as I’m learning to love You with all my heart, mind, body, soul and strength.  I lift my wife up to You, Lord.  Bless her, keep her, and make Your face to shine upon her.  You’ve already been so gracious to her and to me.  Pour out Your blessing and protection upon our family and our marriage.  We need You so badly, Lord.  Amen.