S.O.A.P

Yesterday I was reminded of a way to interact with the Bible that can lead to life transformation. It's called the S.O.A.P. study method. I first came across it in Wayne Cordiero's book The Divine Mentor. For some reason, I just sort of let it go in one ear and out the other.

What is S.O.A.P.?
S.O.A.P. stands for Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer. It is a way of getting more out of your time in God's word. 

How does it work?
It's quite simple. When you sit down for your daily quiet time, read the bible as you normally would, with one simple difference. Underline or make note of any verses that jump out at you with special significance. This is the basis for diving deeper and using S.O.A.P.

 ScriptureWrite out or type out the verse or verses that stuck out to you in your reading.  

 ObservationWhat did you observe about the scripture that struck you. This can be one sentence or a whole book. 

 ApplicationHow can you apply the observation so that it affects your life today. 

 PrayerWrite out a prayer to God based on what you just learned and ask him to help you apply this truth in your life. 

It's that simple, but I believe interacting with Scripture on this level, over time, will lead to God doing a transformative work in your life.

Try it out for a little while and then get back with me to let me know how it's going.