Finding Yourself

The Word For Today has been running a series about lessons from the life of Ruth. I thought today's devotional exceptionally good and possibly encouraging. You can sign up for the daily readings here

Lesson four: 'Finding yourself'
"She found herself working in a field belonging to Boaz."
Ruth 2:3 NIV

Ruth's life was spiralling downward. Her husband died. She'd left her old home in Moab and wasn't accepted in her new one in Bethlehem. She was in survival mode, making the best of a bad deal by gleaning just enough to stay alive. Then God turned things around. The reapers began deliberately dropping handfuls of barley in her path. She started picking up undeserved blessings. Why? Because Boaz saw Ruth gleaning and told his workers, "leave them for her to pick up" (Ruth 2:16 NIV). Even though Boaz had never spoken directly to Ruth, she still received the blessing.

There's an important lesson here: You don't know what God has spoken over your life, but suddenly everything changes! Doors open, opportunities come, people you thought didn't notice you, or even like you, begin showing you favour. What's happening? Your steps are being ordered by the Lord (See Ps 37:23).When the Israelites came into the Promised Land God told them, I'm giving you "vineyards...you did not plant" (Deut 6:11 NKJV). God can put you in situations where others do the work and you get the benefit. And you don't even have to worry, or get jealous about somebody else getting what's yours, because nobody can glean it except you.

Ruth started out for one destination and 'found herself' in another. When Boaz called her name, she came from the background to a place of blessing in the foreground. Instead of working in a corner of the field, she ended up owning the field. When God moves, that's how quickly it can happen. So be ready!