Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer—A guide for listening to what God is saying in His Word to you each day.

One discipline of a mature disciple is setting aside time each day to be alone with the Lord. Here is one possible way of structuring that time, using a memorable acronym - SOAP*: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer.

Be sure to have with you a Bible, a Bible reading program, a pen, a journal, a Daytimer and, most importantly, an open heart (Psalm 119:18). The reason for each will become clear as you go along, if not immediately obvious.

Scripture -Select the reading from a Bible Reading Program (available at the information table) that corresponds to the date. Open your Bible to the passages listed, praying for the Holy Spirit to guide and teach you. Underline or mark those verses you sense as a personal word for you. When you know God has revealed a fresh lesson for your life, go to the journal and begin to write what you have heard, beginning with the Scripture verse(s) you marked. Check off the passage in the reading plan.

Observation - In the journal, describe any observations you have about the passage and the lesson contained within or around it.

Application - In the journal, outline how you are going to apply this lesson in your life today and on into the future. This may be a separate section or intermingled with the Observation. It may also involve calling someone or setting up a meeting, if so, record that in your Daytimer.

Prayer - In the journal, record a prayer about the lesson.

Finally, do two more things -

1. At the top of the page put a date, title and page number.
2. At the front of the journal record the date, title and page number, as a table of contents.