Wash With Soap

SOAP is what we need to clean our bodies each day, and wash away dirt, sweat and grease that sticks to us.

In the same way, the Word of God washes us as we reflect on the Person we’re reading about.

S.O.A.P. is an acronym for an excellent method we can use for personal bible study. It stands for Scriptures, Observation, Application and Prayers.

It originated many years ago from a pastor called Wayne Cordeiro. I've found it it be a profitable and personal devotional tool that has changed my bible study and my understanding of God. It has helped me to learn to hear the Holy

Spirit. Knowing the importance of God and who we are in Him is why we’re alive.

Our time with God should be a vibrant, exciting part of our day. A time that we anticipate and safeguard. The bible is able to instruct every circumstance in our life, our thoughts, our feelings, and our behaviour. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal His truth to you and help you to be discerning as you read.

1 Corinthians 2:14 (NIV)

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

S.O.A.P.

Here’s how it works.

Scriptures

As you read the passage, what stands out to you?

Observation

What do you observe about the scripture you're reading? What do you observe about God’s nature? What do you observe about the people you’re reading about? How did they trust in, or deny God? What do you observe about the cultural context? In what ways is it relevant to today? What do you observe about your own nature and what can you learn from this?

Application

How does it apply to you? Is God asking anything of you? Is He instructing you? Is He prompting you about changing your behaviour? Keep in mind what you're learning about His nature.

Prayer

Write out a prayer that requests God’s assistance to help you learn, apply and obey what He has spoken to you about. Commit yourself in prayer to it. Continue to confess in your heart what you’ve confessed to God so that your prayers will be effective. Be intentional.

Psalm 37:5 (ESV)

Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.

Isaiah 30:21 (NIV)

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Colossian 3:16 (NKJV)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.