“Ruth fell at his feet and thanked him warmly. ‘What have I done to deserve such kindness?’ she asked. ‘I am only a foreigner.’ Ruth 2:10 NLT

Thankful

The Lord has been speaking to me lately about trust and being thankful. I know it’s no coincidence we are studying leaving a legacy by being obedient in HER Ministry Bible Study this year. When we trust the Lord we are obedient regardless of what it might look like. We are thankful in any circumstance because of Who He is.

I recently was convicted to draw a circle around myself and ask God to change me, not the people around me. As I knew that would entail a lot of time on my knees inside said circle, I began to look for a small circular rug. I couldn’t find one in the many stores I went into, but I did find a rectangular one with the word “Thankful” on it. I doubt the Lord cares if I’m inside a circle or a rectangle—He cares what my heart looks like on my knees, face to the ground at times, asking Him to do what He needs to do to make me more like Him, and being thankful for Who He is, and all He has done and given me. In this week’s study we were asked to read Ruth 2:4-16 three times. I chose to read three different versions and the NLT hit my heart—it was the very thing I had done literally minutes before starting.

We all should ask, “What have we done to deserve such kindness?” Scripture tells us when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him by the death of His Son (Romans 5:10). None of us deserves such kindness, and yet He wants to give more than we could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

I’m sure Ruth had no idea what the Lord had planned for her…she certainly would not have thought to ask or imagine being part of the lineage of Christ—the same Christ who would reconcile us back to the Father—but God knew, just as He knows in our lives. When we humble ourselves in trust and obedience with a thankful heart, it opens the door for the miraculous.

Let’s purpose during this holiday season to fall at His feet, thank Him warmly, and, knowing we don’t deserve such kindness, expect great things as the Lord changes our hearts, minds and spirits to be more like His.

“Thank You, Father God, for giving us Your undeserved kindness. Help us to trust and obey You with thankful hearts. Amen.”