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The SOAP method: how to do daily devotions

Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer. A Bible, a journal, a pen and about 15 minutes. It’s how we read the Bible at New Hope Hawaii Kai, and you can start today.

Start today’s reading Download the free SOAP journal (PDF)
  1. Scripture
  2. Observation
  3. Application
  4. Prayer

The four steps

Read the day’s chapters first. Then take one verse through these four steps, writing as you go.

  1. Scripture

    Write out the verse that stood out to you.

    Read the day’s chapters and watch for the verse that stops you: one that encourages you, convicts you, confuses you or comforts you. Write it out word for word, with the reference. Writing it slows you down enough to notice what it says.

  2. Observation

    What is it saying? Who is speaking, and to whom?

    Before you ask what it means for you, ask what it says. Write a few sentences about what you notice.

    • Who is speaking, and to whom?
    • What is happening around this verse?
    • What does it show you about God?
    • Is there a promise, a command or a word that repeats?

  3. Application

    What does it mean for your life today? Be specific.

    Now make it personal. Write it in the first person: “I will…” goes further than “People should…”. Small and specific beats big and vague.

    • What is God asking me to believe, do or change?
    • Where does this touch my life today: my home, my work, my relationships?

  4. Prayer

    Talk to God about it. Ask Him to help you live it.

    Pray the verse back to God. Thank Him, confess what you need to, and ask for help to live what you just wrote. Write the prayer out, even if it’s only a few lines.

What a SOAP journal entry looks like

One verse, four steps, a few honest sentences each. Yours doesn’t need to be polished. It needs to be real.

Print a blank SOAP journal page

“Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed, for His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!” Lamentations 3:22–23

This was written while Jerusalem lay in ruins. Everything around the writer had fallen apart, and he still says God’s mercy hasn’t run out. His hope isn’t in his circumstances. It’s in who God is.

I carry yesterday’s mistakes into today. This morning I’m going to stop replaying last night’s argument and start fresh with my family, the way God starts fresh with me. I’ll apologize before work.

Lord, thank You that Your mercy is new this morning and I don’t have to earn it. Help me give my family the same fresh start You give me. Amen.

What you need

A Bible
Any translation works. Our reading plan prints each day’s chapters in full, so your phone works too.
A journal and a pen
A notebook is perfect. Or print our one-page SOAP journal.
About 15 minutes
Ten or fifteen minutes is enough to start. Stay longer when you can.
A time and a place
Pick them and keep the appointment. Mornings work well for a lot of us, before the phone and the day start talking.

Making it a habit

  • Start with one verse

    You don’t have to journal on every chapter. One verse, taken through four steps, is a full devotion.

  • Missed a day? Don’t start over

    Read today’s chapters and keep going. The plan has catch-up days built in.

  • Do it with someone

    Share your SOAP with a spouse, a friend or a small group. Hearing what stopped someone else is half the joy.

  • Look back

    Every few weeks, flip back through your journal. You’ll see what God has been saying, and how He answered.

Read along with us

Our read-through-the-Bible plan prints each day’s chapters in full, all 366 days, from the Berean Standard Bible. Read today’s chapters and write your SOAP right on the page. Your journal stays private on your device.

Start today’s reading Or print the SOAP journal

Questions about the SOAP method

What does SOAP stand for?

SOAP stands for Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer: four steps for reading the Bible and responding to what God is saying.

Where did the SOAP method come from?

The SOAP method was popularized by Pastor Wayne Cordeiro of New Hope Christian Fellowship in Honolulu through the Life Journal. Churches around the world use it today, including ours.

How long does a SOAP devotion take?

About 15 minutes: a few minutes to read, then a few minutes on each step. You can always take longer.

What if no verse stands out to me?

Pick the verse that confused you, or one that repeats an idea. You can also go back to a verse from earlier in the week and SOAP it again.

Do I need a special Bible or journal?

No. Any Bible and any notebook work. Our daily reading uses the Berean Standard Bible, and our printable SOAP journal is free.

Can I do the SOAP method with my family or small group?

Yes. Read the same chapters during the week, then share your SOAP with each other. It is one of the best ways to grow together.

Free for everyone

The reading plan, the SOAP journal and this guide are free. They’re made possible by people who give to New Hope Hawaii Kai, a church in Honolulu, Hawaii. If these resources help you meet with God, you’re welcome to give and help us share them with more people.

Give to support this ministry

Start today. One verse, four steps.

Grab a pen. Today’s chapters are ready, and the journal is right below them.

Start today’s reading Download the SOAP journal
Start today's reading