7 Day Christmas Devotional for Women of Purpose
Topic: Courage to choose faith
Text: Ruth 1:1-18
Key verse: Stop pushing me away, insisting that I stop following you!
Wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you live, I will live.
Your people will be my people. Your God will be my God. Ruth 1:16(Voice)
RUTH — Courage to Choose Faith
Ruth had an opportunity to connect to the God the Jews worshipped through her marriage, but that dream didn’t last long as her husband died. She had the chance to return to her family and continue worshipping the Moabite gods, but she chose otherwise. She decided to follow Naomi into an uncertain future. What inspired her choice? She must have observed Naomi for a long time to notice the strength and hope her faith in her God had given her as she weathered the loss of her husband and two sons, as she lived in Moab. What informs the choices you make in a season of transition reveals your actual values. The most important things to you are what you go after when you have only one chance. Naomi did not encourage her in any way to follow her; there were no promises made or false hope given, nor did Israel hold any hope of a comfortable second chance; yet she trusted her God would be enough.
Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. Matthew 6:21(NLT)
“By faith, he journeyed to the land of the promise as a foreigner; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, his fellow heirs to the promise, because Abraham looked ahead to a city with foundations, a city laid out and built by God. Hebrews 11:9-10(Voice)
1. Ruth— Courage to choose Faith
Ruth 2:1-23
Ruth was a widow, far from home, with no clear future ahead of her. Still, she chose loyalty, faithfulness, and hope when it would have been easier to return to her comfort zone.
Her courage showed up in everyday faithfulness, serving quietly, choosing to glean in the fields to sustain her mother-in-law, and trusting God with the future. Ruth’s story reminds us that starting again takes courage and daily action, small acts build faith.
Her Courage
- Courage to forget a painful past
- Courage to start small to rebuild a life and a future
- Courage to follow an older woman’s leadership
Reflection
Courage begins with understanding that God is in the details of your life.
Broken stories can carry divine purpose.
God saw her act of faith and honoured her with a second chance at marriage to Boaz; she became David’s grandmother and a matriarch in Jesus’ genealogy. As you think of Christmas, remember the women who made tough choices to participate in the incarnation of God with man.
What act of courage will show that my faith matters more?
Photo by Nikhil Manne on Unsplash
Lord, I choose to move in faith as we prepare to go into the new year knowing that you are with me working out all things for my good. Thank you for the hope I have in you.
That’s it! He’s gone ahead of you already
Thank u very much for sharing, this bless and uplift my spirit,
There is blessing to remain in the place of prayer
Thank you my sister, prayer works no matter how long we have to wait for the answer to come.
Oh Lord help my unbelief. Increase my faith and help me t trust in you like my life depends on it
Amen, God is with you. Keep growing your faith.
Gracious Lord, help me make bold, sacrificial commitments to serve you and others, even in uncertainty, leaving the familiar for the unknown, and finding strength in everyday acts of loyalty and hard work never losing focus.