RUTH DAY EIGHT
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[start with a moment to step out of your thoughts and life and into the presence of God]
Lord, as I enter your presence now I take a moment to pause and to be still….
….to breath slowly and to re-centre my scattered thoughts and senses upon You.
…. Speak to me I pray, and fill me with your Holy Spirit afresh this day.
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Take time to read through and reflect on the passage. Don’t rush it but be open to God speaking to you as you read.
What did God say to you through this passage? Why don’t you pop it in the chat to encourage others?
Devotional reflection: As Ruth and Naomi begin to settle into the land of Judah Ruth’s story of faith moves forward with practical steps. Ruth understands that as the younger woman she needs to provide for herself and her mother-in-law and goes about making this happen. I love that God is in the detail of our lives and that we see His hand and provision as we go about our mundane, daily tasks. The passage says “So she went out, entered a field and began to glean behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she was working in a field belonging to Boaz…”
The words “as it turned out” are very important here. From Ruth’s view, she was just going out to gather food for herself and Naomi but from God’s view, every one of her steps was guided. God works in our mundane, daily choices. His sovereign hand is often hidden in the routine paths we walk. We can trust that God is working out His good purposes for our lives, even when we simply “go to the fields”.
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Prayerfully reflect how this passages applies to your life. Ask God to speak to you now
GROW people prayer:
Lord, help me to recognise the ways you are working in the ordinary moments of my day. As I go about my daily tasks - the everyday, normal and sometimes boring things, I choose to trust that You are guiding my steps and working out your good purposes for my life. Amen.
GO People prayer:
Father, I pray for those in my community who are diligently working in their daily routines. I name them specifically now…I ask that you would reveal yourself to those who don’t yet know you. May they recognise and find encouragement in knowing that You are guiding their paths and come to trust you with their lives. Amen.
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Take a look at the passage again. Take time to see if there is a word or phrase that the Holy Spirit reveals to you as a focus for your day today.
What has the Lord revealed to you? What will you take into your day today? What action is He asking you to take? Take a moment to pray a yielding prayer along these lines to the Lord today.
Prayer for today: Lord, thank you for speaking to me to day. Give me courage to obey your word and yield to your Holy Spirit. I take seriously your leading today and seek to put your word into practice in my life through action today. Amen.