A few days ago I suggested that you consider skipping journaling and writing about your journey through the Bible in 90 days. It’s not that I don’t want you to keep a record of what you are learning and share with others. It is that I don’t want you to get overwhelmed and caught up in the writing and not get your reading completed each day. I want you to cast off anything that hinders you from running and completing this race.<\/p>\n
Today I’m going to share a tool with you in case you really want to keep a chronicle of your Bible reading.<\/p>\n
If you are a regular at MomsToolbox, this is nothing new to you. If you aren’t, I hope you will begin to embrace SOAP, too.<\/p>\n
SOAP is a simple acrostic I use to listen and make better sense of the scripture I am reading.<\/p>\n
After I read the day’s passage (for any Bible reading plan), I pray and ask the Lord to reveal to me one nugget that is especially for me that day and then I write about it.<\/p>\n
S is the Scripture<\/strong>, the one or maybe 2 verses that especially spoke to me.<\/p>\n
O is an Observation<\/strong>, or what that bit of scripture is saying. Often it is the verse re-worded.<\/p>\n
A is my Application<\/strong> for that particular verse.<\/p>\n
P is my Prayer<\/strong> as that verse has struck me.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Next I title the entry in a few words so I can see even more clearly God’s message for me for the day.<\/p>\n
If I was using a spiral notebook or traditional journal, I would then keep a list of the titles and dates so I could go back and see any themes or repeated messages through my life.<\/p>\n
After I complete my reading each day I think through and write out my SOAP for the day and share it with my readers here on MomsToolbox. I have this done almost daily since July 2008 and, if you would like to write about your reading, I would encourage you to find a spiral notebook or use your blog to do the same. It is a great way to get a personal, more meaningful message out of each day’s reading, whether you use the Bible in 90 Days plan<\/a>, a one year schedule<\/a> or any daily devotional guide or reading guide.<\/p>\n
Yes, I just told you a few days ago not to write about your reading<\/a>. But I know some of you will want to anyway. This is an excellent tool you can use to track your reading whether you share it or not. I’d rather you have a great, simple tool if you want to journal. But, please, don’t let the journaling get in the way of your reading.<\/p>\n