Hello Everyone !
It's been a while since I blogged ! Over 3 weeks now. I am going to do my best not to go on an impromptu 3-week blogging vacation again. I pray you've all been well in the meantime. Physical challenges and a need to rest are a major reason why I've not blogged in so long but hey, rest is good right ?
Anyway, back to business !
My last post was about making wrong turns in life and how the thought of it alone can make your life miserable. I also had mentioned about doing a study on the Book of Ruth. As much as I would love this to be an "official" study with downloadable sheets and all those other cool bells and whistles, I think I am going to stick to simply sharing my thoughts and the revelations that the Holy Spirit lays on my heart. And I would love for you to share your thoughts as you read along the chapters of Ruth with me.
So I'm going to ask you to read Ruth Chapter 1 verses 1 through 5 for me. Done ? Alright. Here's the gist : things had gotten rough up in Israel and a man named Elimelech decided to move out with his family (his wife Naomi and his sons Mahlon and Kilion) into Moab which appears to have been doing well at the time. I imagine that things were alright for a while but then the first bad thing : Elimelech died. As if that was not enough, within about ten years of this family living in Moab, the two sons also died.
At some point we've all known someone who has died and shocked the daylights out of us. It's never easy to lose even one person you are close to. But to lose three within such a short span of time must have been so terrifying for Naomi ! I don't believe that Naomi in her wildest dreams ever imagined that this dreamland that Moab was supposed to be was going to end up as one of the darkest places of her life.
As I pondered these first few verses of Ruth today, I could not help but think that sometimes what we perceive as "greener pastures" or a "better place" may not be that at all. We are not told in the Bible what killed Elimelech and his sons. But could it be that they had taken themselves out of God's protective arms when they left Israel ? Do we sometimes walk straight out of God's perfect will for our lives into a place that is really NOT His best for us ?
Many people work so hard to provide for their families and bring home the "dough" as it were. But does working those long hours to make those extra bucks take away from building a lasting relationship with our children ? We may be working to gain "greener pastures" but what will we lose ? A nurse friend once told me a story about another nurse she knew who worked so much that she never noticed that her daughter was pregnant until the pregnancy was about 6 months ! And trust me, friends, this is not me condemning anyone's parenting but if we are too busy to get involved in a child's life in the name of making their lives "comfortable", then we are WAY busier than God expects us to be. I may be digressing here. I apologize.
Is it worth it to make that move or take that job or leave that spouse or insert whatever you wish to, all in the name of it being "better" ? Do we take time to ask God if the move that we are about to make to "greener pastures" is really His will or does He want us to stay put right where we are so that He can show us His supernatural provision ?
Friends, I do not have all the answers. But something I learned a while ago is to pray about big decisions I'm about to make. I've prayed and asked the Lord if certain things were His will. I've asked Him to shut doors He does not want me to walk through and to open the doors that are His perfect will. I've asked Him to give me wisdom as I take a big step. God's Word is definitely clear on what He wants us to do. But how about those areas that are not so spelled out in the Bible ? I believe that the purpose of this Scripture :
In my experience, He has not led me astray yet. When I've experienced certain rough patches and looked back I've seen I was not walking the way He wanted me to walk anyway.
Friend, will you acknowledge God in your decision-making today ?
It's been a while since I blogged ! Over 3 weeks now. I am going to do my best not to go on an impromptu 3-week blogging vacation again. I pray you've all been well in the meantime. Physical challenges and a need to rest are a major reason why I've not blogged in so long but hey, rest is good right ?
Anyway, back to business !
My last post was about making wrong turns in life and how the thought of it alone can make your life miserable. I also had mentioned about doing a study on the Book of Ruth. As much as I would love this to be an "official" study with downloadable sheets and all those other cool bells and whistles, I think I am going to stick to simply sharing my thoughts and the revelations that the Holy Spirit lays on my heart. And I would love for you to share your thoughts as you read along the chapters of Ruth with me.
So I'm going to ask you to read Ruth Chapter 1 verses 1 through 5 for me. Done ? Alright. Here's the gist : things had gotten rough up in Israel and a man named Elimelech decided to move out with his family (his wife Naomi and his sons Mahlon and Kilion) into Moab which appears to have been doing well at the time. I imagine that things were alright for a while but then the first bad thing : Elimelech died. As if that was not enough, within about ten years of this family living in Moab, the two sons also died.
At some point we've all known someone who has died and shocked the daylights out of us. It's never easy to lose even one person you are close to. But to lose three within such a short span of time must have been so terrifying for Naomi ! I don't believe that Naomi in her wildest dreams ever imagined that this dreamland that Moab was supposed to be was going to end up as one of the darkest places of her life.
As I pondered these first few verses of Ruth today, I could not help but think that sometimes what we perceive as "greener pastures" or a "better place" may not be that at all. We are not told in the Bible what killed Elimelech and his sons. But could it be that they had taken themselves out of God's protective arms when they left Israel ? Do we sometimes walk straight out of God's perfect will for our lives into a place that is really NOT His best for us ?
Many people work so hard to provide for their families and bring home the "dough" as it were. But does working those long hours to make those extra bucks take away from building a lasting relationship with our children ? We may be working to gain "greener pastures" but what will we lose ? A nurse friend once told me a story about another nurse she knew who worked so much that she never noticed that her daughter was pregnant until the pregnancy was about 6 months ! And trust me, friends, this is not me condemning anyone's parenting but if we are too busy to get involved in a child's life in the name of making their lives "comfortable", then we are WAY busier than God expects us to be. I may be digressing here. I apologize.
Is it worth it to make that move or take that job or leave that spouse or insert whatever you wish to, all in the name of it being "better" ? Do we take time to ask God if the move that we are about to make to "greener pastures" is really His will or does He want us to stay put right where we are so that He can show us His supernatural provision ?
Friends, I do not have all the answers. But something I learned a while ago is to pray about big decisions I'm about to make. I've prayed and asked the Lord if certain things were His will. I've asked Him to shut doors He does not want me to walk through and to open the doors that are His perfect will. I've asked Him to give me wisdom as I take a big step. God's Word is definitely clear on what He wants us to do. But how about those areas that are not so spelled out in the Bible ? I believe that the purpose of this Scripture :
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths
Proverbs 3:6When we acknowledge God in our decision-making ; asking Him where He would have us head, because His Word is true, He WILL direct our paths where He wants.
In my experience, He has not led me astray yet. When I've experienced certain rough patches and looked back I've seen I was not walking the way He wanted me to walk anyway.
Friend, will you acknowledge God in your decision-making today ?
13 comments:
HI! I found you through Heavenly Homemaker's Gratituesday. I saw that you jumped right into a study of the book of Ruth, and i would like to join you. I will be coming back to this post later today or tomorrow once I get a chance to read the first 5 chapters and catch up with you. :) Will you be posting on Ruth every day?
Hello Dottie, thanks a million for stopping by. I usually post 2 times a week so as not to be overwhelmed. But yes I will be posting on Ruth for the next two weeks or so. Thanks for asking and I look forward to fellowshipping with you.
God bless you.
Found you at Ann's. This post really blessed me! Thanks, Love & prayers, in Jesus, Cynthia
I finally got to read Ruth and your post. It couldn't have been brought to me at a better time. You see, we've been wanting to move for a year or so now, and when we think we've found something , there is always something to block it. I can see now I need to pray more about this decision. I want to follow God's path, not my own. Thank you for this.
Dottie, i praise the Lord that this post was of such importance to you. I pray that you will find clear direction as you make this decision. I know it's never really easy or to see exactly what God wants of us (especially in a case like yours) but I believe that as we continue to trust, pray and have faith that He will guide us, He does exactly that ! God bless you.
Gertrude...welcome back. I was wondering where you wander off to? So glad to have you blogging again. This post hits home for me these days as I am in the middle of two major decisions in my life and in deep prayer for His direction. It is so tempting to go the way I want but it is so much more rewarding to go the way of the Lord. Thank you for the encouragement friend. Blessings.
I agree that no matter how difficult is does end up the way it's supposed to if we follow the right path.
I'm visiting today from Thursday's Favorite Things.
So true - many times , we jump before we seek God. God clearly states that we are to acknowledge him. We must acknowledge him first and foremost - not when we have already made a mess of things. Not saying that HE won't come through for us. It's just much better when we follow HIS lead in the first place!- visiting from Thursday favorite things blog hop.
Very true. All of us need to consider God's will before we act. I have a hard time often with just letting go and letting God. He is the priority and the only opinion that truly matters. I love your write up. It touched my soul. God bless you sister!
Thank you so much for linking up with the Aloha Friday Blog Hop!! I am already following you, of course! Have a lovely week!! :)
Aloha,
Jean {What Jean Likes}
Amen. Sorry I'm late getting here...thank you for adding your wonderful blog to the Thursday Favorite Things hop. xo
Hi there Naomi ! It's nice to see a familiar face on the blog and to know that this post resonated with you. God bless you my friend !
Thanks for following Jean. God bless you too !
This post really blessed me! Thanks, Love & prayers, in Jesus, Cynthia
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