October 22 - She Was Stedfastly Minded.

Ruth 1:18
“When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.”
 
She.
She was a Moabitess who married one of Naomi’s sons.
 
Her mother-in-law begged her and Orpah to return to Moab after they had grieved over the lost of their husbands.
 
Ruth 1:8-9
“And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the LORD deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. The LORD grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice, and wept.”
 
She and Orpah both refused to oblige Naomi’s request at first, and desired to go with her back to Bethlehem.
 
Ruth 1:10
“And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people.”
 
Naomi pleaded with them to obey her command.
 
Ruth 1:11-13
“And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands? Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also to night, and should also bear sons; Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD is gone out against me.”
 
Orpah decided to do as she requested, but Ruth refused once again.
 
Ruth 1:14
“And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.”
 
She then expressed to Naomi how serious she was about staying with her.
 
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.
She was strong, courageous, bold, brave, and determined…even unto death.
 
Ruth serves as an example that we can choose to be stedfastly minded about what God has given us to do.
 
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 too will miss God’s will for our lives.
May we too be stedfastly minded in pursuit of all He has prepared for us.
 
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.”
 
 
Bible Reading:
Jeremiah 25-26  |  John 19  |  Psalm 33