📧 In today’s email..

• 📕 Today’s reading

• 🙏 The SOAP Devotional of the day

📕 TODAY’S READING
Habakkuk 1-3; 2 Corinthians 7

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🙏 SOAP DEVOTIONAL
SOAP: scripture, observation, application, prayer

Today’s SOAP Devotional - Colby F. Maier

S - SCRIPTURE: 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 (NIV):

"Yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death."

O - OBSERVATION:

Here we discover Paul speaking about the difference between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow. Godly sorrow is the deep conviction that leads us to repentance (a change of heart) — a complete turning away from sin and returning to God. Paul reminds the Corinthians that this kind of sorrow produces positive change and leads to salvation, leaving no regret. On the other hand, worldly sorrow doesn't inspire transformation or change. It may cause temporary guilt, shame or even regret, but ultimately it doesn't draw us closer to God; instead, it leads to hopelessness and spiritual death.

The Apostle’s message highlights that even though repentance often begins with sorrow, it's a sorrow with a purpose (a spiritual aim). It’s not meant to destroy us but to realign us with God’s will and open the door to true freedom and life.

A - APPLICATION:

1. Take Responsibility for Your Failings: When you feel convicted of a moral error, don’t run from it. That discomfort, that sorrow, is a signal. It’s telling you to adjust your aim. Use it as catalyst to repent—to change the way you live—and stop making excuses. You are capable of change through the power of the Holy Spirit.

2. Let Go of Regret: Regret is a paralyzing force. It keeps you tied to the past. But repentance—true repentance—frees you from that. When you face your error and genuinely seek to correct it, there’s no longer any need for regret. You’ve taken the proper steps forward, and now you must keep moving forward. It’s okay to stumble along the way, but don’t stay there. Keep aiming up.

3. Recognize the Difference Between Growth and Despair: Be brutally honest with yourself. When you feel sorrow, ask, "Is this sorrow leading me somewhere better, or is it simply keeping me in place?" If it's the latter, you need to change how you’re responding. Growth comes from sorrow that spurs action. If it’s just making you sink deeper, it’s time to shift focus.

P - PRAYER:

Father, help me to face the difficult truths about myself with courage. Let the sorrow I feel for my mistakes drive me towards change and greater dependance on the Holy Spirit, not despair. Show me how to take responsibility for my actions and move forward without regret. May I always seek to learn, grow, and align my life with your will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

What is a SOAP?

For each day of Bible reading, we do a SOAP devotional to go deeper into the word of God. We always provide an example SOAP from one of our authors, but we highly encourage you to do your own SOAP with today’s reading. God wants to speak to you personally, and will highlight a passage of today’s reading that’s just for you.

Here’s how it works:

S – SCRIPTURE
Physically write out the Bible verse
You’ll be amazed at what God will reveal to you when you
slow down to write or meditate on what you are reading!

O – OBSERVATION
What do you see in the verses you’re reading?
Who is the audience? Is there a repetition of words? What words stand out to you? What is the main lesson or theme?

A – APPLICATION
When God’s Word becomes personal
What is God saying to me today? How can I apply what I just read to my life? Are there any changes I need to make?

P – PRAYER
Pray God’s Word back to Him
If He has revealed something to you during this time in His
Word, pray about it. Confess if He has revealed some sin that is in your life. Take time to thank Him for His goodness in your life.