The reading for Friday is Mark 8.
When it is time to read, please start first by praying and thanking God for His many blessings. Be specific.
Record your thank you’s on paper or on the computer.
Next present your requests to Him. Ask Him for whatever you want and need. As you do, record your requests and questions on paper or on the computer.
Third, ask Him to guide you in your reading, so that you will hear his message for you today.
After you read, record your SOAP observations and then listen for five minutes. (Yes, I upped it by two minutes this time. I think you’re ready to listen a bit longer.) Set a timer and just listen to what he might be sharing. Don’t ask. Don’t thank. Just listen. (You can pray more after you listen, if you like.)
Here is what I heard in the reading:
Scripture: Mark 8:33
But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind he things of God, but the things of men.”
Observation:
What Jesus was saying did not make sense to Peter at all, but it made perfect sense to Jesus. Peter could not understand how something so terrible could be in God’s plan. He had a worldly perspective, not an eternal one.
Application:
We are of this world. We do not know the big picture.
I cannot fully understand God’s plan for me or for others and why seemingly good and bad things happen. But He knows and He loves us and He is in charge.
It is just up to me to take time to listen and follow as best I can, and have faith in Him, even when things seem confusing.
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for being in charge. Thank you for being a kind, loving God who wants to hold us close and wants good things for each of your children.
Please continue to comfort me through frustrating and confusing situations as well as through joyous, easy ones. I love it when I can look back and see your hand on all the little steps that led to something big. Please help me to remember that, and bring those situations to mind whenever I am puzzled and feeling lost. It’s reassuring to know that you are always right here.
What about you?
Do you struggle with not being able to see the whole picture, or is it easy for you to have faith?
What else did you see and hear in your reading of Mark 8?
Feel free to leave your thoughts, or a link to post with your thoughts, in the comments. If you do link a post, please include a link in your own post back to this post so your readers can see what others had to say, as well, and potentially join us.
Didn’t start reading or Blogging Through the Gospels with us? That’s okay, join in anytime. Each Sunday evening I post the reading schedule for the week ahead and each evening I post the next day’s reading assignment and devotional. Feel free to jump in where we are anytime and blog or journal along using the SOAP format. Feel free to share your thoughts on Twitter using the #Gospels hashtag, too.
If you would be interested in sharing your own SOAP observations on MomsToolbox as a guest SOAP’er, please send me an email using the contact button on the top right. I’ll be in touch soon to discuss the details.
Leave a Reply