Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
July 26, 2024: SOAP #5349: Isaiah 46-49; 1Peter 5

SCRIPTURE:  1Peter (NIV) 5:5 …All of you, clothe yourselves with humility towards one another, because “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.  7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

OBSERVATION: Depending on the Lord, growing in His grace, seeing how capable and faithful He is, knowing that Creator God cares for me, should make me humble.  All I have comes from God, all my talents and abilities have come to me through His grace.  Of what can I take pride?   What He has done in the past builds my faith that I can trust Him now and in the future. 

All I know about Him and the promises in His Word, should alleviate/erase all anxiety!  My God cares for me!!!  My God wants me to bring my anxieties to Him!  

APPLICATION:  In the summertime money is scarce for me.  Schools are out so bus driving income is gone.  Last year at the beginning of each summer month, God sent me a check in the mail that covered that month expenses.  From totally different sources but each was for the same amount!  This year the same God met the same needs but in totally different ways.  I received a call to help be an usher and help park cars for three days.  Later I received a call to help drive a bus for a church youth ministry.  And I received a refund check for money I had sent to Western Union several years ago—money that had never been picked up.  I also received one check in the mail, and three checks handed to me for specific needs.  And I received the three faithful checks that come each month.  Again, God has provided!  

If SOAP were my ministry, I would need to raise money for its needs.  But it is not my ministry.  SOAP is God’s ministry, and He has the responsibility to provide.  There is no need to worry or be anxious about ministry needs.  There is no need to convince others to give.  I just need to be responsible to use what He provides to honor Him. 

PRAYER: Lord, use the SOAP ministry as an example for other ministries to trust you.  I am not asking you to help me with my ministry, but I am serving you in your ministry.  May other ministry leaders see the value of turning their ministry over to you.  You are more than able to deal with all the pressures of any ministry, in whatever country it is located.  Show those ministering to orphans how you are able to provide.   Amen

Pastor Leon
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