Do you journal your Bible reading?  I highly recommend it.

I can’t say that I’ve done it much, and I regret every time I should have (which is every time).

Earlier this week a friend blogged about his Bible journaling using the SOAP method.  It’s very simple, and very easy to do.

How To:

Break the word SOAP into it’s four letters: S-O-A-P.  S = Scripture, O = Observation, A = Application, and P = Prayer.

First, write a scripture from what you’ve read.  Second, write an observation about that scripture.  Next, note how you can apply the scripture to your daily living.  Finally, write a prayer about all of what you’ve noted.

Example

As an example, here’s my SOAP journal from last night reading Psalm 31.

Scripture: Psalm 31:5, “I entrust my spirit into your hand.  Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God.”

Observation: The word “Lord” in the Hebrew is Jehovah El Emeth, which means “Lord God of Truth.”  The entire psalm is a plea from the psalmist asking God to help him in his time of need.  He believes he needs rescuing meaning that he can see no other escape except by the hand of God.  Although the psalmist isn’t experiencing the miraculous protection from God he still believes it by faith; that is God is good and will always protect him.

Application: I know God is good when I’m experiencing the good times in my life, but when it seems that when the gates of Hell have opened on me is when I need to know that God is good and that he is always faithful and will rescue me.  It is this truth that I can believe in.

Prayer: God, please remind me of your goodness and in the truth of who you really are; a loving God who always protects his children, and please forgive me for not remembering when I should have.  Amen.

Try it!  I’m sure it will revolutionize your Bible reading.

P.S. If you need a good notebook for journaling, then I recommend using a Moleskine.  It’s a bit small, but I love mine.

“Then the Lord said to Cain, ‘Where is your brother Abel?’  ‘I don’t know,’ he replied.  ‘Am I my brother’s keeper?’”

While reading this, I was overpowered by a simple question: Why not? In other words, why am I not my brother’s keeper?

Cain and Abel lived in a family community, but Cain destroyed that community by allowing his jealously of Abel to develop into hate.  This hate drove him to kill Abel.

Our lives are meant to be lived in a community with others based on love, not hate.  We are to help each other and give support to each other.  Hate destroys; love builds up.

And I’m not just speaking about churches.  This goes for neighborhoods, too.  Get to know your neighbors.  Help them.  Let them help you.  It’s stupid to be all up on Facebook and Twitter yet you have no clue the name of the person living next door to you.  Sure, social media websites are great to meet new people and to keep in touch with those you know, but that doesn’t take the place of a physical face-to-face relationship.

So to answer Cain question of am I my brother’s keeper? Then, yes, yes I am.