B90 SOAP: I’m to be a helper

Day 1 of the Bible in 90 Days

Scripture: Genesis 2:18

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

Observation: God saw that it would be better for the man to have help and not be alone. And this is why He created women.

Application: I am a woman and therefore was created by God to be a helper for man. I was joined with my husband in marriage and, consequently it IS my job to help him.

Ummmm. I could do a much better job of doing that than I am. Sure, I do a lot for my family, but am I really helping my husband in the ways that I should and can?

This year I will try harder to anticipate my husband’s needs, talk to him about them and jump in and help with grace and love.

Prayer: Lord, so often I get frustrated because I don’t know how to help my very independent husband. But you created me to be his helper, so I know you have plans for me to help him. Show me how to help and keep me from being lazy and selfish when I choose to be. At those times, please help me to call this verse to mind so that I may serve you and him.

Lord, please bless all those who are reading through the Bible in 90 days along with me. Please show them when and how to accomplish the reading each day. Speak to them in an undeniable way so they may be encouraged to immerse themselves in your Word and see the beauty in all of it. Thank you so much for the opportunity to share your Word with so many. This has been an exciting and beautifully overwhelming experience for me. I am so encouraged by how many have joined in. Keep them reading, Lord and let them hear You alone. And use me in whatever way you see fit to help them.

Oh wow. I just looked back up and read the verse You brought to mind for me in yet another way. Thank you, Lord for creating me to be a helper and for enabling me to help so many to read your Word… Now I am really overwhelmed with emotion. Wow. Thank you!

Note to those reading: I use the SOAP format to find more meaning in my daily Bible reading. If you’d like to learn more about that method, please read this.

For those already in on the 90 Day Challenge, I am curious… which verse or verses spoke to you the loudest today?


Comments

51 responses to “B90 SOAP: I’m to be a helper”

  1. Antoinette Wilson Avatar
    Antoinette Wilson

    Gen 3:8 I am always amazed that Adam and Eve could HEAR God walking in the garden and they could also have a conversation with him. I long for the day when I can hear Him so plainly without doubt!!!

  2. How Adam blamed his sin on the woman and the woman blamed her sin on the serpent! We are always blaming someone or something else for our sin instead of pointing it back on ourselves or myself, rather.

  3. Valene Marie Avatar
    Valene Marie

    Genesis 3:7-11 spoke to me and really made me think. Before they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they were pure and innocent and once they ate of the fruit their eyes were opened to evil and being ashamed.. I often wonder how things could be different if their actions were different, but I can also put that lesson into my own life.

  4. Deanna Avatar
    Deanna

    Genesis 3:21 spoke to me, when God made clothes from skins for Adam and Eve. Although they had disobeyed and He had spoken His judgment on them, He still provided what they needed physically as well as restoring their fellowship with Himself.

  5.  Avatar
    Anonymous

    Great reminder Amy! What spoke to me was Genesis 3:16 when God says “Your desire will be for your husband and he will rule over you.” I’ve posted more about that thought on my blog http://jenniferdawnmclucas.com/my-hearts-desire/

    Blessings to all as we continue on this journey together!

  6. Rebecca Avatar
    Rebecca

    What spoke to me was Genesis 16:13 when Hagar say’s to God “You are the God who see me.” “Well of the living one who sees me.” Our family has gone through a lot of change this summer and it’s good to know that God see’s us and all the transition and God is walking with us every step of the way.

    1.  Avatar
      Anonymous

      We’ve had a lot of transition too, thanks for sharing that thought Rebecca!

  7. Love the insight on this one. Isn’t it great how His Word comes alive and speaks to us?! Thankful to be involved in this!

  8. Great reminder Amy! Thanks . . .

  9. The verses that spoke to me were Gen. 3:1-4, how quickly Satan was able to plant a seed of doubt and it rooted immediately and Eve fell for it.
    Sadly, it made me think of a girl my husband led to Christ in November and she has gotten sucked into believing some false doctrine she found on You Tube and has fallen for it hook, line, and sinker and will not listen to any counsel from mature older Christians.
    I am reminded once again how important Bible reading is, studying and knowing what is in this book will keep you from false doctrine.

    1.  Avatar
      Anonymous

      So true, great insight Sharon!

  10. http://realfaithjourney.blogspot.com/2011/07/blogging-through-b90days-day-1.html

    Amy, I was beyond excited to see your SOAP on Day 1, because it was an answer to… a… struggle. I desperately wanted to keep SOAPing, but didn’t know how… and this is just so…obvious, that I don’t know why I didn’t see it. :)

    -The scripture that spoke to me was
    Genesis 12:1-4 – and the faith of Abram.

  11. Ann Washburn Avatar
    Ann Washburn

    Ok, what I got from reading chapters 1-16 was the outcome of what can happen to you if you 1) don’t give your best to God while at the same time expecting Him to give His best to you–taken from the story of Cain and Abel and Cain not giving the best of his harvest while Abel gave the best of his flock to God

    and 2) have faith in God and His protection and provision–Abram did not have faith that God would protect him from the Egyptians lusting so after Sarai that they would kill him to get her; and later, it SAYS that Abram believed God when God told him that his descendants would be too numerous to count, yet then he went and got Hagar pregnant because Sarai was goading him into giving her a son through her handmaid. Also Hagar, when she fled from Sarai, while pregnant with Ishmael, was told by God that HER descendants would be too numerous to count, yet later, when banished with young Ishmael after Isaac was born, she gave up hope of living (doubting/not having faith in God’s earlier promise to her).

  12. Thank you for your Soap Devotional – its like it was written just for me. Am having a few problems and this verse is really going to help me today x

    Blessings
    x

  13. I am very excited my first day of the 90 day Challenge and my very first SOAP devotion =)
    HE is my EXCEEDINGLY GREAT REWARD!!
    I took that from Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
    It was like BAM, when I read this verse! God is our Exceedingly Great Reward!! HE, HIM, God, Elohim, Jehovah, Jesus, Yeshua, Savior, Redeemer, the WORD; all that HE is that I understand and even all that I just haven’t “gotten” yet, this ONE that should be THE ONE THING I seek after with everything in me, …..Read more at the link below! God Bless you all!!
    http://theonethingps274.wordpress.com/2011/01/04/soap-he-is-my-exceedingly-great-reward/

  14. […] HERE is a wonderful example of this kind of SOAP from today’s day 1 B90 Challenge! […]

  15. Just completed my first SOAP ever. I love this idea and can’t wait for tomorrow’s.

  16. OK, don’t laugh… the section about circumcision spoke to me. Our 18 month old son is adopted and he wasn’t circumcised. Now that the adoption is final, we’ve been debating about whether or not to get it done.

    1. Ann Washburn Avatar
      Ann Washburn

      Lovely One, I would hope that none here ever laugh AT you but with you! We are here to give support and encouragement.

  17. Today the verse that really struck me was Genesis 16:9 when the Angel of the Lord tells Hagar to return to Sarai and to Submit to her. This is important because previously she despised Sarai. [Genesis 16:4]

    God protected Hagar, provided respect for her and blessed her with a child. Her sons’ name is Ishmael which means ‘The Lord Hears’.

  18. Michaela Avatar
    Michaela

    Genesis 9:12-17, from now on and until the end of my time will I think of the covenant when I see the rainbow and be so very thankful.

  19. Genesis 15: 1 – “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” It made me think about how God is our protector, comforter, and our greatest reward.

  20. Genesis 6:6 “And the Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.”

    That hurts so much to read. Man was given Choice – it was a gift from God because without Choice there could be no love (coming from Max Lucado’s Life Lessons Study Bible) and we chose WRONG. We, as mankind, chose to be wicked and selfish and undeserving of all that God has provided for us. We are so selfish that God Himself was ashamed that He had ever created us. He wiped all of mankind from Earth (with the exception of Noah and his family) because we could not see it all as a gift.

    While I am angry at man, I am also in awe of His mercy toward those who seek Him. Noah was a God-fearing man and served God with all that he had. Because of that, God spared him from the fate that befell every other person. That shows amazing mercy and shows me that this is a God I want to serve.

  21. So many things stood out for me in today’s reading. The one that I think stood out the most is the creation of everything. God is the magnificent Creator! If you read through the creation of the Heavens & Earth it is so apparent just how great He is! What an amazing God we love & serve!

  22. What stood out to me was the creation story and how God looked at his creation and saw that it was good. It is good!

  23. […] Day 1: I’m to be a helper […]

  24. Today was the first day of the Reading Through the Bible in 90 Days Challenge. These first 16 chapters of Genesis reminded me of the thoughtful blueprint for creation that starts at Genesis 1:1 and reveals the relational nature of God as He lovingly creates a habitation for Adam and Eve; beautiful garden not just for them to enjoy and care for but a place for The LORD of all creation to walk in and visit along with the couple of His creation.
    As I finished up my daily reading chapter sixteen grabbed my heart. The story of the outcast unwanted Haggar touched me so deeply. I found it easy to relate to this woman who wondered at times if God really saw her.
    She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said “I have now seen” the One who sees me. Genesis 16:13.
    Haggar had met El Roi at the point of her greatest need and over the past couple of months I too have been touched deeply by the knowledge that God sees me and hears my voice at the point of my greatest need. He is El Roi-the God Who Sees Me.
    Blessings,
    Thankfulheart

  25. […] is a link to my SOAP observation from Day 1 earlier in the […]

  26. I am starting a day late, and haven’t even posted my introduction post on my blog. I wanted to get caught up rather than waste time blogging! Hopefully tomorrow!

    What stood out to me on the Day 1 reading was Genesis 4:7 “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”

    This really hit me today. Sin does crouch at the door, of both our homes and hearts. If we are not careful to know God’s word and spend time in it daily, it will gain control. We must master it!

    That was great confirmation for me as I begin this challenge of reading through the Bible.

  27. I want to join all of you on this daily journey SO badly! I am a Christian…without a church home…without a job…without anything but my $300 a week unemployment check and a wish to grow stronger in my relationship with Christ. I just simply can’t afford the b90days coursework at this point in time. If you would be willing to share the daily verses with me, I would be able to read them in my Bible. I know it’s not the same as it would be with the coursework in my hands, but at least I will have the fellowship and ability to discuss this with everyone. Thank you and GOD BLESS YOU
    .-= Becca a/k/a ChefBec´s last blog ..JANUARY 1, 2010 – A NEW YEAR: A NEW BEGINNING =-.

    1. Ann Washburn Avatar
      Ann Washburn

      Becca, I am doing this study with no coursework. Amy has a link on her blog to the daily readings chart that you can access. There is no cost to participating in this program. People can CHOOSE to purchase the special B90 Bible, but they don’t HAVE to do that.

      I have been there with the unemployment. Hang in there and have faith, even though it is hard. It was during my bout with unemployment that I truly began to find my faith, and truly began to see God’s grace.

      Feel free to email me privately at washburn.ann@gmail.com any time you need to talk.

      Blessings, grace, peace from fear and worry,
      Ann

  28. I started a day late, but read today (several hours before reading your post) and underlined the helper verse in my bible when I came to it.

    Like you, it is the one that really spoke to me. And I know that must be something for me to work on, because your SOAP content was all about the same passage. Don’t you love it when that happens? When the same verse is presented to you over and over in a short period of time? I bet I’ll see it again somewhere tomorrow too…

    So, help I will… Thank you, Father!

  29. I read this section before we started, but when I read it, the verses on creation really stuck out to me.

    I realized that everything the Bible talks about is still around and this week I could focus on one aspect of creation each day.

    For example, I could thank Him for the light every time I turned on a light that day. The next day I could work day 2 of creation into my day by thanking Him for the sky each time I caught a glimpse of it. You get the idea.

    1. Ann Washburn Avatar
      Ann Washburn

      Polly, what a wonderful approach to this Scripture! Thank you for sharing that with all of us!

  30. Wrote a quick post referring to the be fruitful element and God Family Planning http://thirty-onethriftyandthriving.blogspot.com/2010/01/guidegood-book-and-god-family-planning.html
    Grainne, Northern Ireland
    .-= Grainne´s last blog ..Prayer for the day (PYR.4.2DY) =-.

  31. I try to make a habit to ask my husband:

    Evening: How can I help you tomorrow?
    OR
    Morning: How can I help you today?

    At first he didn’t really know of anything, but now he’s used to me asking and will tell me or email it to me if he thinks of something during the day.

    Just like he had to get use to it, so did I. God had to help me watch my reaction to whatever my husband said he needed help with despite the schedule I had for the day.
    It is truly a blessing for both of us once we got use to it.

    Thank you so much for sharing the insights God gave you. I look forward to reading more in the days to come!

  32. Thank you for introducing me to the SOAP method. Love it!! Will try it with tomorrow’s reading.

  33. As someone who has suffered from the trials of infertility, I was touched by the story of Abram and Sarai. (Knowing what comes next, of course.) Abram’s faith seemed strong in knowing that God would provide children somehow.
    .-= Alli´s last blog ..2010 :: Year of Me =-.

  34. Amanda V Avatar
    Amanda V

    The scripture that stuck out to me today was Genesis 7:7

    “And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons’ wives entered the ark to escape the waters of the flood”.

    I stared thinking about that it would be like for Noah to be inside the ark while his brothers and sisters were outside. Today if we are believers we are in the safety of the boat while there are so many people who are outside. My prayer is that my heart hurts for those outside the boat just like I believe that Noah’s heart hurt for his brothers and sisters.

    wonderfullyinlove.blogspot.com

  35. I love your SOAP system. Tried it today with our reading and LOVE it! I posted my first-ever SOAP today.
    It feels good to have Day 1 down. It wasn’t nearly as hard as I imagined it would be!

  36. Genesis 3:6
    Temptation, not being obedient and losing focus on God. Temptation and sin can be described as looking, desiring, and lusting demonstrated in this verse. When tempted – STOP and remember our true relationship with the Lord and react in way pleasing to God. What decision would the Godly response be? Pray, pray, pray and ask for God to give you much wisdom. When thinking about Eve’s situation, it would have been wise to quickly flee from her temptation and not taken the time to think it through. It is hard to turn away from temptation, especially when we go to worldly places where sin seems to be waiting. We shouldn’t allow suggestive thoughts to be present and dance in our minds so we can ponder them further. Very good lesson!
    .-= Jennifer ´s last blog ..Day of Rest =-.

  37. I’m feeling a lot better about this challenge after having done today’s reading. It took me about a half hour, not counting the study guide (that is still stuck on a UPS truck somewhere probably five miles from my house).
    .-= Tara @ Feels Like Home´s last blog ..The Best Shrimp I Ever Ate =-.

  38. I’ve never heard of SOAP before …. but I LIKE that! Will have to start using it tomorrow!

    My husband decided to join me in the challenge and we both got all of our reading done this morning. Most of it before either of our daughters woke up. We both had a pretty good discussion on how LONG people used to live. Imagine all that they saw and experienced! Wow.
    .-= Brandy´s last blog ..Snow Frolicking =-.

  39. I saw God as my Light! He created light, He promised a savior on that dark day in Eden, and He illuminated Noah and Abraham. Here is my prayer of praise:
    http://readhearseefeel.blogspot.com/2010/01/praising-through-bible-genesis-1-16.html
    .-= RuthintheDesert´s last blog ..Praising through the Bible Genesis 1-16 =-.

  40. Hi! I’m not done with my reading yet for today, but a few scripture verses have stood out for me to ponder on a bit more than others. Here is my first one so far that I wanted to give my take on:

    Genesis 2:3

    God blessed the seventh day and made it holy. He gives us an opportunity to worship Him on this specific day – and to rest. This is the first mention of the word holy in the Bible too. This should be a sacred and special day, in which we benefit from. We should hold true to this and I do believe God will bless us for this. We should have no problem giving God our time of respect and devotion for this specific period of time set apart for Him. This timeframe is not just like every other day, but unique and dedicated to the Lord. As Christians, this day is the most important day of the week and we will grow closer to God if we follow His word. I read something recently that said “The Sabbath is a great blessing to mankind (Mark 2:27), as it keeps us constantly aware that God’s greatest work is not the completed, physical creation but the ongoing, spiritual creation of Himself in us.” I love that!

    Jen
    .-= Jennifer Fowles´s last blog ..Day of Rest =-.

  41. Day one…
    It took me about 50 minutes so this is very doable! Thanks for hosting this!
    .-= Nicole Ross´s last blog ..The Trinity, Vegetarianism, and Marriage Advice…and it’s Only the Beginning! =-.

  42. Genesis 16: 6-9, especially verse 9, where Hagar fled from Sarai who was ill-treating her, and the angel of the Lord found her near the spring. Verse 9 says, “Then the angel of the Lord told her, “Go back to your mistress and submit to her.”

    That really stopped me in my tracks to think that even though she was ill-treated, her responsibility was to submit. My husband does not ill-treat me at all! But I still struggle to submit, and yet it’s MY responsibility to do so. I know the Lord is speaking to me through this verse!

    I’m so excited to have done Day One! :)
    .-= Alice´s last blog ..Read Through The Bible in 90 Days – I’m in! :) =-.

  43. Genesis 12 and 13 and Genesis 16:1-5. I wrote a blog post on it…just some thoughts on responsibility (or the lack of it).
    http://lifeonarollercoaster-stacy.blogspot.com/2010/01/responsibility.html
    .-= stacy´s last blog ..Responsibility =-.

  44. love this idea! will try it tomorrow!
    .-= Kristin Evans´s last blog ..How to Make 90 Days a Reality =-.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *