Preparation, preparation, preparation: If you have been diligently seeking, then you realize that we have now entered the phase of preparation. The sowing in tears season is over, tides are rapidly changing and God is saying just like Naomi said to Ruth at the start of chapter 3 “My daughter, it’s time that I found a permanent home for you, so that you will be well provided for.” I believe the Holy Spirit is saying this to anyone who can believe and take hold of this prophesy. It is the set time and I believe there is an anointing at work to bring this to pass.
The following verses provide direct instructions about how Ruth needs to prepare herself in order to position herself in a place where Boaz can find her. Naomi tells her “Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor”
Washing signifies a cleansing, keeping yourself holy and acceptable through the Word, staying repentant, in humility and forgiveness and seeking God’s direction. Anointing signifies being filled with the Spirit who will anoint you with the oil of gladness and favour as He prepares you for this next phase of your life. Raiment means to dress up in your best garment and signifies your physical act of beautifying your inner and outer self in preparation for your momentous meeting with Boaz.
Finally, we need to keep our hearts open for instructions about what to do next and where to go that represents our ‘threshing floor’. Ruth obeyed Naomi’s seemingly forward strategy and by doing so enlarged her horizon. The word says in Isaiah 54 enlarge the place of your tents, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords. All these signify preparation; making room for what God is about to do.
Ruth asked Boaz to spread out his covering over her and bring her under his wings. Ruth also stretched out her cloak to receive all Boaz had for her. Enlarging yourself is an act of making room, an open heart of expectancy, expanding your mind and demonstrating through a significant change in your actions that you are ready to accommodate what is about to happen. Example is in 2 Kings 4:3-4 the widow who went gathering all the jugs from her neighbour to accommodate the increase flow of oil. These actions are done in faith awaiting the overflowing that is about to overtake you. Begin to prepare because when it happens, God will overwhelm you with what he’s about to do.
The next section of Isaiah 54 says “Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.” Imagine Ruth’s fear and trepidation as she walked towards the threshing floor outside her comfort zone; as she sought out Boaz while he slept, and then patiently waited and lay at his feet for him to wake up. Imagine as she lay there till midnight, the fear of the unknown, being ridiculed or cast out, but God promises us in that verse we will never be ashamed or humiliated and she was not.
As you make preparations, there will be thoughts of doubt “what if it does not happen?” But just continue to declare His word, believing you will not be ashamed. Make room, change your mindset, plan your wedding, just do something that physically signifies to God, you are going all out to show you believe He has already done it. Ask the Spirit for guidance and He will tell you what you need to do in this season as an act of preparation.
Back to the threshing floor, the bible says Boaz woke up, surprised to find his future wife at his feet. In the same way, the Lord will cause you to take your husband by surprise, He will position you in a place where your Boaz will see you and pleasantly declare that “this is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our sight!”
Remember this is what the Spirit of the Lord is saying “My daughter, I must find a home for you, where you will be well provided for”. Believe it and declare it and we will rejoice with you shortly!
Scripture
Isaiah 54:2-3 Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.
Prayer
Read Ruth 3:1
Lord, I thank you for your promises to me are yes and amen to your glory. I hold on to my faith in your word that says I will not lack my mate in fulfillment, but that your Holy Spirit will bring us together. I declare that this is the set time for you to have mercy on me and make everything beautiful in my life.
I declare in a little while, my mate will come and will not tarry an you will set me in my own family. I declare it is a place of provision, abundance and love.
Read Ruth 3:3
I thank you for this season of preparation as I expand my tent to make room for what you are about to do; that I will wash myelf in your word to make me spotless and blameless as i await my future mate. I ask the Holy Spirit to now anoint me with His oil of gladness and favour in preparation of the new role as a wife which I will be stepping into. I thank you as I receive your beauty for my ashes, your oil of joy for my mourning, your garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. I declare I will rejoice in this season as I prepare myself for this new thing you are doing. I declare I am beautiful both inside and out because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I declare the fragrance of my life of worship will reflect the your glory.
Read Isaiah 54
Lord, I come against every spirit of fear and cast down every imagination in my heart that hinders me from expanding. I declare you will strengthen my spirit with your victorious right hand and instruct me in the way I should go. Holy Spirit, I still my heart and listen for your instructions, guide me and help me to hear your voice and believe that whatever I lay my hands on to do in this season will prosper and bear fruit, by your grace. I declare that as i wait at my threshing floor, I will do only your good pleasure and I will not fear or be ashamed.
Read Ruth 3:8-11
I thank you Lord, that you will bring me to my mate in fulfillment. I thank you for your perfect choice of a mate and I appreciate your goodness in my life. I declare that as he sees me, he will speak your word to me and declare that “the Lord has done a great thing and it is indeed marvelous”. I declare he will be like Christ and love me and will do what is right by me. He will protect me, cover my vulnerabilities and keep me safe under his covering.
Read Isaiah 54:11-13
Lord, as I step out and prepare by faith, I declare your word that You will lay my foundation in sapphires, in beauty and excellence. You will make my walls of precious stones, of great value and strength. Your covenant of peace upon me and my generation will never be shaken. i declare I will be established in righteousness and your loving kindness will never be removed from me.
In Jesus name.
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Weekly message
This week Steve Greggteaches about how to acquire a mate in a radically christian counterculture. Enjoy…
