RUTH DAY FIFTEEN

• PAUSE

  [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. 

• REFLECT

  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: Naomi and Ruth have attained both food and safety. They have reached a level of security in their daily lives and are able to make ends meet. Things are no longer urgent.

  I imagine that at this point, a sense of relief was felt by both Naomi and Ruth. However, Naomi is not satisfied with just getting by. In this verse, she seeks to secure Ruth’s future. This is what Naomi had wished for her daughters-in-law back in Ruth 1, and now that her own needs are met, she doesn’t forget. She doesn’t get too comfortable or allow an opportunity for Ruth to pass by. Instead, she invests in the next generation and is concerned about legacy.

  How comfortable am I? Am I settled with just having my needs met and living a secure life? Or do I seek to set up the next generation for the future that lies ahead?

• ASK

  Prayerfully reflect how this passages applies to your life. Ask God to speak to you now

  GROW people prayer: 

  Lord, I am so grateful for all You have given me. Help me not to be someone who merely survives, but someone who is able to provide for others. In both tough and easy times, help me to maintain my focus on what is truly important—the lives of those around me.

  GO People prayer:

  Holy Spirit, today, place on my heart the people in my world whom I can help. May You equip me to support others in stepping into their God-given calling. Help me to see potential in people and be generous with the opportunities You’ve given me to set them up for success.

• YIELD

  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.