My daily journaling from God’s Word, SOAP stands for Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer. Today’s journal comes from reading Psalm 9.

Scripture

“The wicked boasts of his heart’s desire, and the greedy man curses and spurns the Lord.”–Psalm 9:3

Observation

The wicked boast about themselves. They spurn the Lord. The righteous boast in the Lord and deny themselves. These wicked are the essence of PRIDE.

The Psalm further describes this progression:
vs. 4 He says to himself, “There is no God.”
vs.11 He says to himself,” God has forgotten.” He has hidden His face; He will never see it.”
vs. 13 He as said to himself, “You will not require it.”

Same as today; things don’t change. Today skeptics say:
1)There’s no God (doesn’t exist)
2)But there might be a higher power, an impersonal force (doesn’t see)
3) If there is a God, He loves me and will not judge me.

Application

In our increasingly secular, anti-theist culture, I must continue to confront people with the reality of the God of the Bible–a God who is there, who sees and who judges. And in a culture that is more and more about SELF, I must more aggressively boast in the Lord!

Prayer

Father, I praise You as being the God who is there, the God who sees, and the God who will hold people accountable. The skeptics don’t believe this; I fear many Christians have lost sight of it as well.

Father, I pray that my LIFE would be a prophetic message of Your reality. I pray that I will LIVE in such a way that a person couldn’t remain an atheist once they get to know me and see my life–my faith.

I pray I will never abuse Your mercy by using the blood of Christ as an excuse for ungodliness.

Father, I boast in You! I boast in the Cross! I live in light of eternal judgment!

For Your glory, Amen.