Guest SOAP post from Toni of The Happy Housewife.
The reading for Friday is Mark 14: 43-72.
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.)
In addition to being an amazing blogger who wants to help as many other bloggers as she possibly can, our guest SOAP’er today is also my sister-in-law. I am so thankful she and my brother are married. She’s a great wife, an incredible mom, and just a lot of fun to hang out with, too. She is the sister I never had. (Thanks, Toni, for saying “yes” to the long-haired hippie 18 years ago!!)
Here is what Toni has to say about the reading:
Get Out of the Comfort Zone
Scripture: Mark 14:54
Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.
Observation:
Peter had the opportunity to defend Jesus but did not. How many missed opportunities are there in my life?
Application:
The scriptures tell us that Peter was sitting with the guards warming himself by the fire while Jesus was on trial. Peter, one who saw Jesus perform miracles, didn’t “stand up” for God.
In my own life how many times have I “sat by the fire” instead of being uncomfortable for Jesus. Sitting by the fire is comfortable. According to this passage Peter was warming himself, so there must have been a chill in the air. The fire would have been a safe and comfortable place to be.
It is easy to go along with the crowd and miss opportunities to share the gospel with others. But Jesus calls us to be uncomfortable for him. Will I rise to the challenge or will I stay in my comfort zone?
Prayer:
Lord, give me opportunities to be uncomfortable. When these opportunities come help me to get out of my comfort zone to be a witness for you. Give me a heart for the lost and a desire to share your Gospel.
Do not let me be afraid to stand up for you and your word. Help me to be a light in the darkness and have a gentle spirit even in the face of adversity.
Thank you for the many uncomfortable opportunities you have already given me in my life and thank you for the strength to be bold. Never allow me to forget that any strength or boldness comes from you and not my own ability.
Thank you that I am only a messenger. Thank you for providing the message and preparing hearts.
Toni’s a military wife and stay at home (schooling) mom to seven awesome kids. When she’s not homeschooling the kids she likes to read, sew, cook, yard sale, and write. She makes her home on the web at TheHappyHousewife.com and SavvyBlogging.net.
What about you? What did you see and hear in your reading of the second part of Mark 14?
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.
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