Day 5
Genesis 28-32
Scripture: Genesis 28 20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear 21 so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the LORD[f] will be my God
Observation: Jacob said he will follow God if God did something for him first. So many of us do this and sometimes on a daily basis! “Lord I promise I’ll go to church more if you just help me to pass this test (which you didn’t study for!)” etc. Why do we do this?!Why can’t we just follow Him without any conditions!?
Application: I myself was (am) very guilty of this! When I read the Bible the first time versus connecting to this kept on popping up for me so I made it my ‘mission’ to stop doing this…because even if God “doesn’t let me pass that test” I should still be following Him! And let’s face it the chance of you passing if you didn’t study isn’t great so it is as if you are testing God and know it can’t really happen so you are “safe” and wouldn’t have to uphold your end of the bargain by becoming a better Christian. But I am not saying I shouldn’t ask God to help me through prayer, but just not to link it to me worshipping Him. Setting conditions to my faith is a very very bad idea!
Prayer: Father please help me to not put conditions on worshipping you! Help me to not test you! Help me to trust you! In Your name I pray…Amen
Sorry I haven't posted SOAPs lately. I have been reading and writing them down in a journal though, so I'm keeping up.
ReplyDeleteS - Gen.29:32 "Leah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Reuben for she said, "It is because the LORD has seen my misery. Surely my husband will love me now."
O - This just made me so sad. I know Jacob sort of got stuck with Leah because her father basically lied to Jacob, but to be with a man who you know doesn't love you just hurts my heart. I think God is telling me not to settle for someone just because it's "time" that I should be married. This is probably not what the scripture itself is about, but that's what it felt like He was saying to me.
A - I'm going to try to be happy with myself and be open to love and to God's love, but not desperate.
P - Father, you know the plan for me. While it's not what my original plan for myself was, I will follow your judgment knowing that you have the best intentions for me. Help me remember that and to not get angry or jealous at my friends and relatives who seem to be moving on with their lives while I am not. Help me trust in your plan. Amen.
Thank you Ryan! I love your SOAP and decided to make it my second SOAP for the day and pray for the same as it is applicable to my life too :)
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