But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God – Ruth 1:16 (NLT)
At a time were going back to her own family and staying in her homeland, a place that was familiar might have seemed like a safe and sensible option for Ruth, she chose to have faith in God and remain committed to Naomi even when it meant moving to a foreign land. If she stayed, perhaps we may not be reading about her today, a woman in the lineage of Jesus.
It is often easy to stay in a place familiarity when you don’t know what lies ahead, it may be comfortable and after all not everyone likes change. But what if your breakthrough is tied to your faith and commitment to God even in the midst of loss and uncertainty? Will you take the bold step to continue trusting in Him and obeying His instructions? In the last chapter, we see the change in Ruth’s story, God redeemed and restored her. So, let us remain steadfast in the Lord, our breakthrough shall surely come.
Prayer: Father God, help me to remain steadfast in my walk with that even when life seems to be taking a different turn. I choose to put my trust in your plans and obey your direction for my life. I receive my breakthrough. In Jesus name, amen.
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God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? Numbers 23:19
I choose to remember God Is not a man to lie, he does what he says he will do so we can trust Him
Humans Change their mind for various reasons, sometimes the joy of the decision wears off or we gain further information on the decision we initially made. We often also change our mind because our circumstance change – for example you promise I will buy you a present when this happens and that does not happen.
We also tend to lie because we want to escape punishment or gain favours or seem better than what we are
“I am the LORD, and I do not change. And so you, the descendants of Jacob, are not yet completely lost. – Malachi 3:6
But consider this, God does not need more information, he does not need favours, he controls situations and the conditions to make his promises come to pass. He does not need us to help Him, he is not caught by surprise.
Todays Prayer:
Father God I thank you, that you don’t change you remain the same. You are faithful and true to your word. I thank you that I can trust your promises nothing changes your mind you know it all
I choose to remember the Lord is Holy. He has set me apart to be His
You shall be holy and belong only to me because I am the LORD, and I am holy. I have set you apart from the other nations so that you would belong to me alone – Leviticus 20:26
Our current culture has become so permissive that its unthinkable to even consider a holiness stance. As I think about this powerful attribute of God and his call for us to be set apart. I fear coming off as judgemental and perfect as miss goody two shoes. But God is not calling us to holiness in our own merit or capacity but in His. On a personal level I cannot achieve Gods standard but with the help of God I can be holy.
“Holiness” means distinctiveness or separateness God is calling us to be distinct in our speech In our behaviour because he is holy.
Romans says do not be confirmed to the patterns of this world but continually renew your mind, continually choose to be set apart. Holiness is not an outward reflection but a call to our hearts purity to reflect the image of God, this pursuit helps in how we handle our lives as Christians.
What is our standard of Holiness?
Be obedient to God, and do not allow your lives to be shaped by those desires you had when you were still ignorant. 15Instead, be holy in all that you do, just as God who called you is holy. 16The scripture says, “Be holy because I am holy.” – 1 Peter 4: 14-16
From this passage the bible sets out a clear standard of Holiness is the Lord and not our desires. Our heavenly father is perfect therefore as we emulate him with the help of the holy spirit our desires begin to shift, and we become holy as he is holy.
Our prayer today:
Father God Lead me, uphold me as I take a stance to be set apart for you. As I take a stance to renew my mind to focus totally on you and your call to holiness
I choose to remember that The Lord goes before me and fights for me so I can be confident and undismayed. The Lord is mighty; He is my strength.
Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:13 -14
In England we have received an Announcement for a national lock down, this brings its own set of fear and worry. Today we make a decision to trust in God’s ability to find fight for us. We choose to remember His knowledge of the future. Its hard to be unmoved but the God who has seen the future makes us stand firm.
Choose to remember you have been made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26)
If the enemy can attack our identity then he has successfully brought us down. Our ability to attain all that God has in store for us is strongly linked in our knowledge of what we have already!
When we read in Genesis we see God had given Adam and Eve everything they needed to live a good, God ordained life. The devil come as questions that .. did God really say?
Today as we are faced with challenges, questions about who we are and our identity.. remember you have been made in the likeness of God his masterpiece and God is well please in you!
I have come to discover that sometimes its easier to limit God, because its easier on our faith. We don’t need to trust much more pray more and we become content with what we have and desiring God to move in bigger things requires as to exercise our trust fully in him and that can sometimes be a scary place.
In 2 Kings 13 we see Jehoash king of Israel visiting Elisha and sudden the prophet was about to die. He cries the same cry Elisha made when Elijah was taken.
Elijah instructs him: Take the arrows,” and the king took them. Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” However, he stopped at three times, this made Elisha very angry.
As I was reading 2 kings 13, I realised they been under Aram for a period and perhaps they could not see the possibility of victory or maybe it would have taken more effort to shoot more than three times. Similarly, to what we say on day 4, Elisha did not give the king a number he told him to strike the ground!
I believe sometimes as children of God we have been promised victory, that we have authority to trample against snakes and scorpions but maybe its easier to take the back seat. What would God do if we boldly strike the ground if we believe that complete victory over sickness, over disease, over poverty and infirmity is ours. What are you able to achieve?
The enemy wants us to shy away from complete trust in God, when Elisha told Jehoash to Shoot in the East, he was telling him declare war on Aram. When he told him to strike, he instructed him to strike! God wants us to believe that we always triumph not sometimes but always, Jesus defeated the devil he has no power always. Therefore, strike the ground for you will utterly destroy them.
Women Arise and shoot! The bible says our weapons are not carnal but might through God for pulling down strongholds. Whatever is stealing your Joy take it to the limitless God until you see complete victory. This is not the time to slack, let us Give the Devil no room!
As I sit here and ponder the faith of Mary, I realise how intense it can be to fully trust God against all odds. In 2018, I told my parents I had found man that I plan on spending and building my life with. We told our family and friends the wedding was set the marriage formalities fulfilled. Imagine Amid all the planning and deciding, Say I received a call to accept something beyond my imagination. Like Mary a baby, what would people say – its never happened before and it was a very strange request
I can imagine how my soon to be husband would feel betrayed, considering how Joseph was feeling about this news. Furthermore the reasoning behind it sounded absurd to say the least. This was not a small task for Mary, her life depended on it. The explanation of what was happening would have in fact sounded unreasonable.
There are moments when God approaches us with big asks, where He requires you to go the extra mile to defy the norms and cultures of society. Its in these moments where we are called to boldly accept the task and not limit God.
Mary Answered, “how can this be?” I study this question intently and it allows me to discover I can ask God for revelation in moments where I am uncertain and He will provide the response.
When God entrusts us with is purpose and call, He will also provide favour for the journey. When Nehemiah heard that the walls needed rebuilding, He prayed that God would grant him favour with the king.
We see Mary yielding totally and wholeheartedly to the unknown, in Mary’s bold move we see God protecting and vindicating Mary.
Reflection Moment:
Luke 1:26-80
Ephesians 3:20
Romans 4:17
What Tasks has God called you take but fear of the unknown causes you to limit God?
What cost are you prepared to pay for God to reveal His Attributes?
Thank you for participating in our 21 day journey to discovering the beauty of God. This is only the beginning of your journey as the attributes of God are inexhaustible. Please share the page, most importantly take time to read and meditate on the word. #IwillnotLimitGod
I remember when I was in high school neatly writing down where I see myself at the various ages of my life, at all fronts I am an advocate of planning and setting goals. The problem comes in when we give God our plans, when we decide this is how I intend on running my life. We tell God – if you can just authorise the plans I have set out no surprises, and we will be okay.
During my periods of giving God my checklist and plans I found myself quickly tangled in a relationship that I was not supposed to have been in. I found myself rushing God because I had a time scale of when I saw myself married. The pointers I prayed for in a husband that guy didn’t match them, but I figured that person would do because time was running out. I am grateful to God that he didn’t allow me to proceed with that relationship.
It’s crazy because sometimes we put these time constraints on ourselves or our environment or culture puts these pressures. I can see myself in Sarah, she was supposed to be a grandparent by now! Perhaps you can too, plans all set out but life is slowly drifting away.
From Sarah’s view point, Yahweh had provided them a list of promises and He was delaying. Fear encompassed Abraham he was aging; Eliezer would inherit his possessions.
Sarah quickly coins up a plan to help God, Genesis 16 ‘states Sarai had no children, but she had Hagar’ my translation states. Its interesting how she thought I have an alternative solution to this time delay. What have we decided as the alternative solution to our problem?
Her narrative is very damaging in that she believes the Lord had kept her from having children, so Hagar was the best alternative to solving Gods time lapse. We see a lot of blame in chapter 16 how Sarai tells Abram you are responsible for the wrong am suffering because Hagar starts to despise her. You see the thing about personal made plans vs a God’s plans is that we have finite knowledge and most times we can’t forsee how the reaction of other people or the fruit of our actions.
In Chapter 17 we see God return to reveal himself as the Almighty God ‘El-Shaddai’
He tells them walk before Him faithfully and be blameless. He goes further to change their names to mean Nations, multitude, fruitful.
Despite this change of Name Sarah Laughs! But God reminds them ‘is anything too hard for the Lord, I will return to you at the appointed time next year!
Truly God keeps his covenant Sarah holds a baby in her Arms as the Lord promised
Reflection Moment
Genesis 17:16 Genesis 18:1-15 Luke 1:37 Ecclesiastes 3:11
How is my identity causing me to limit God? How have I created alternative plans for God? Have there been moments when I have prayed and quickly coined a plan apart from what I had pray for? How have I used the concept of time to limit God?
Thank you for participating in our 21 day journey to discovering the beauty of God. This is only the beginning of your journey as the attributes of God are inexhaustible. Please share the page, most importantly take time to read and meditate on the word. #IwillnotLimitGod
Wait! Before you ‘cancel’ whole of 2020, new beginnings are not just limited to the start of a new year, this year is not over therefore it is not too late for a new beginning.
Safe to say the lockdown period has not been without its challenges and taught many some life lessons. Certainly, for me, adapting to change healthily has been one among many. So much has changed so quickly, most of it out of my control mixed in with moments of feeling overwhelmed by it all. Especially when the end of this virus does not seem to be in sight, at least from the physical. But I choose to put my hope in the Lord. You can too, you will not be disappointed (Romans 5:1-5).
Psalms 31 24 Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the Lord.
I feel how one navigates the now and approaches the next chapter will depend on mindset, perspective, and attitude. Two people in the same situation could have two different thought process for e.g. one thinks ‘I cannot wait for this to end and get back to normal again’ and the other, ‘this has happened, now living the new normal, how can I move forward’. It would seem the former is living in the here and now, the latter is looking beyond the now.
How the present situation is viewed may either cause one to remain stagnant, looking back wishing for the familiar or urge one to adjust and adopt new ways so to keep moving forward. Think about it, though things may have been on halt or disrupted, the seconds on the clock continue to tick…ponder that for a second.
With that in mind, I ask myself, how many more seconds need to tick by before realising there is a reason for my existence, a God ordained destiny for my life, a purpose to be fulfilled and it will not just happen whilst I’m sat wishing for ‘normal’ again?!. Perhaps you can ask yourself the same question.
Isaiah 43:18-19
18 Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth. Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.
We are not designed to stay the same, but to grow and progress even through life’s challenges because life will always happen, but we cannot move forward looking back.
So, in relation to self-development, ministry, visualising, pursuing goals and positive change, growth this pandemic should not stop you, this pandemic should not stop me. Yes, plans may have been interrupted, the experience of loss (of any kind) too great, faith shaken, hopeless feeling or motivation gone but I encourage you to believe God again, hope again, dream again, visualise again! A new beginning awaits you! The world awaits you!
So, do not ‘cancel’ twenty-twenty just yet, you can still achieve plenty!
Reflection Moment Romans 5:1-5 Psalms 31:24 Isaiah 43:18-19
What commitments can I make for August?
In what ways have I cancelled August as a result limiting God?
What have I learnt about the attributes of God in the verses
Hannah is a registered Dietitian who is passionate about helping others optimise their nutrition and health. She is part of the youth leadership, welcoming and praise & worship teams at Authentic City Church. Hannah loves God and family, enjoys serving others and She is Authentic.
