A Love Most Precious: A 10-Day Reading Plan Based on the Book of RuthSample

Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. RUTH 1:6 ESV

Home. What does it mean to you? A cozy, crackling fire on the hearth? Sparkling laughter bubbling around the table? Those heart-sharing snapshot moments forever cherished?

To Naomi, that word 'home' may have been her first thought when life came undone for her in the land of Moab. She surely had come to the end of herself, perhaps asking the hardest questions of her life. Her soul might have whispered, "I want to go home." To her hometown, to the rest of her family—to her people, and to her God. Ah, yes, that glorious awakening of the soul came to Naomi. Perhaps Naomi’s spirit reflected what we read in Psalms: “My health fails; my spirits droop, yet God remains! He is the strength of my heart; He is mine forever!” (73:26 TLB).

Have you ever had moments when you came to the end of yourself and you had to ask the hard questions? The ones we try to avoid as we fill our lives with noise and busyness of every kind? Those heart-stopping moments when we are forced to look up and ask God, “Okay, I have obviously been doing life my own way for a while now, and it’s just not working. I surrender to You fully. What next?”

Each person has endured those moments. But he or she might not reach out to God. But why? Returning to the One who made us, and who loves us beyond our imaginings, is the only wise choice. The book of Job reminds us, “If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored” (22:23a NIV). Ah, restoration.

God was faithful to Naomi, and He will be faithful to us. It is that simple, that beautiful. The time is now. We, too, can know and delight in returning to God and to that glorious awakening of the soul.

Lord, I have been following my own heart for a while now, and it has caused me much unhappiness. Forgive me. Set me free from my own ways. I want to follow You in everything. Direct me. Teach me. I am truly listening now. Amen.