Get to know God in the silence.

If you read the Bible , you get the sense that the soul was designed to search for God. "O God, you are my God; I earnestly search my God...."(Psalms 63:1a). God want us to keep our focus on him. To be with him. "Abide in me." Just relax and learn to enjoy his presence. Every day is a collection of moments, 86,400 seconds in a day. How many of them can you live with God? Start where you are and grow from there. God wants to be with you every moment.
 " Be still and know that I am God!" (Psalms 46:10)
You'll need three items (Bible, Pen & Journal) to S.O.A.P. each day! For more information on this concept or to see examples of journal entries, visit www.LifeJournal.cc
At Connect Fellowship, our desire is that every believer would not just attend church, but also hear from God daily through His Word! As we read the Bible, we begin to see how God responds to things. Doing daily devotions re-patterns the way we think, transforms the spirit of our mind, and helps us become more like Jesus!
S.O.A.P. journaling is a simple and excellent way to both record and process what God has spoken to you. It's also a useful tool to use at a later time when you want to reflect on and review some of the 'gems' that you have received. Without writing them down, you may forget those blessings and important lessons! Furthermore, while journaling is a very personal time with the Lord, you may want to share some of your daily journaling with your small group or spouse, so having a written record becomes very important! Through discussion, you may be able to look deeper into what God is speaking to you, gain new insight, and even encourage others!

S - Scripture

Open your Bible to your reading for the day. Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you that day, and write it in your journal.

O - Observation

What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you.

A - Application

Personalize what you have read, by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now. Perhaps it is instruction, encouragement, a new promise, or corrections for a particular area of your life. Write how this scripture can apply to you today.

P - Prayer

This can be as simple as asking God to help you use this scripture, or even a prayer for a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you. Remember, prayer is a two-way conversation, so be sure to listen to what God has to say! Now, write it out.