August 23 - Stedfastly Minded.

Ruth 1:18
“When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.”
 
Have you ever met someone who was so fixated on something that they refused to give in or change their mind?
 
Some may call it stubborn.
And yes, sometimes that term most definitely apply to people acting like a fool. 
 
But the Bible uses a unique phrase to describe someone who is strong, alert, courageous, brave, bold and determined.
 
“…she was stedfastly minded…”
 
What are we stedfastly minded about?
 
Naomi pleaded with her daughter-in-law to return to her own people, but Ruth refused.
 
Ruth 1:16-17
“And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”
 
She was stedfastly minded.
 
God had a purpose and a plan.
If Ruth had given in to Naomi’s request, she may have never met Boaz.
 
If we give in to the pressure of others, we may miss God’s will for our lives.
 
Deuteronomy 31:6
“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
 
Joshua 1:9
“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
 
Isaiah 41:10
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
 
May we too be stedfastly minded in pursuit of all He has prepared for us.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Job 27-28   |    2 John ​