P.R.A.Y
PAUSE
REJOICE & REFLECT
ASK
YIELD
Personal Worship
Today we see that Ruth is not just a minor character in the Old Testament, but she is in the line of Jesus.
Together we will pray (P.R.A.Y.) each day – ‘P’: Pausing to be still as we come into the presence of the Lord. ‘R’: Rejoicing as we remember who our God is and what He has done, and Reflecting on His word. ‘A’: Asking God to help us and others. And ‘Y’: yielding to His will in accordance with His word.
As I come before you to pray, I still my thoughts and quiet my mind. I seek to make you the center of my focus.
Prayer of Approach
Lord, as I approach this time with you fill my heart with hope that you are the God who makes all things new. You do not run from me when I am searching for you. I am seeking you now. Speak to me through your Word and renew my hope.
I choose to rejoice, with all God’s people, in the powerful promise that God gives us in Psalm 34…
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!
The young lions suffer want and hunger;
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Psalm 34:8-10
As you read the passages below, ask the Lord to cause a word or phrase to stand out to you.
So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.
Ruth 4:13-22
As I reread the passage, I reflect on the questions, “How is my life touched by this word?” and “How does this passage connect with my life?”
So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.
Ruth 4:13-22
We are just briefly highlighting some key passages from the Book of Ruth, but it is only four chapters if you want to set aside time to read the whole thing this week. Ruth and Naomi find themselves gleaning the leftovers from the field of Boaz who generously feeds them and keeps them alive. It turns out Boaz is of the family of Naomi and has a right to be what is known as a kinsman redeemer. If a woman is left widowed a kinsman redeemer can take and marry her. This would be a life-changing event. Boaz does exactly that with Ruth and they have a child together. A child who is the grandfather of King David. A child whose line Jesus will come through. Why are we looking at this? What does God do with the mess Lot and his daughters made? Decades later he takes the absolute mess that Lot created and brings redemption through it. The Bible is showing us that God can redeem even the messiest of situations that we get ourselves into. That Ruth is from the Moabite line and it is through Ruth’s womb that God continues the genealogy through which his Son will enter into this world to save us from our sins. God doesn’t hide this fact either. Ruth is listed in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1. What an amazing truth that God has the power to redeem any situation.
Lord, I ask that you show me your amazing grace and power. Let me see that you don’t just redeem stories of people in the Bible, but you are still redeeming messes like me every single day.
Heavenly Father, we come before You with hearts yearning for Your presence. Revive us, O Lord, and breathe new life into our souls. Stir our spirits and awaken us to Your truth and love. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, igniting a passion for Your Word and a fervor to share Your grace. Restore our joy and renew our faith. May Your light shine through us, transforming our lives and our communities. Guide us, empower us, and use us for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
As I read the passage for the final time, I listen for how the Lord is inviting me to respond to him. Where in my life do I need to yield in obedience to what he has for me?
So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And he went in to her, and the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, has given birth to him.” Then Naomi took the child and laid him on her lap and became his nurse. And the women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez fathered Hezron, Hezron fathered Ram, Ram fathered Amminadab, Amminadab fathered Nahshon, Nahshon fathered Salmon, Salmon fathered Boaz, Boaz fathered Obed, Obed fathered Jesse, and Jesse fathered David.
Ruth 4:13-22
Yielding Prayer
Lord, give me eyes of hope for my own story and those around me. Let me see that you are the God who does the impossible. You are the God whose grace and redemption know no boundaries. Remind me that you are the God of not just second chances, but chance after chance you are ready to redeem your people if we come to. Let me see the beauty of who you are and trust you with everything.
Yielding Promise
And now, as I move into the day ahead, the Lord who loves me reminds me in Romans 8…
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28
Closing Prayer
Lord, enable me, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to love you today with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength; and to serve you today, by loving and caring for others as I do my own self; and, to exalt you today, by telling the people in my world about the abundant and eternal life found only through faith in Jesus.
*The P.R.A.Y. acronym has been adapted from the Lectio 365 app.