Sherene McDonald-Chisholm

PRAYER POINT: OH LORD, I TAKE AUTHORITY OVER EVERY EVIL DECREE OVER MY LIFE IN THE NAME OF JESUS!

OH LORD, I INVITE YOU INTO THIS ATMOSPHERE! CAUSE YOUR SPIRIT TO TAKE FULL CONTROL OVER THE PRAYERS! HAVE YOUR WAY LORD!

DAY 92: Judges 9-11; Ruth 4; Psalm 137

GREAT IS HIS FAITHFULNESS

If you’ve ever watched the show “Everybody loves Raymond”- while the title says the main character is Ray Barone, who’s a husband, a father, a brother, a son - anyone who has watched the show that it’s not really all about him. It should be Marie - the Mother who whether she’s on screen or not, the story is just as much about her as it is her son.

Same is true for the Book of Ruth. It’s not just a story about this gentile woman whose Jewish husband dies and how that tragedy leads her to truly discovering and knowing the God of Israel. It’s equally a story about Naomi - herself a widow who went through the unbelievable additional losses of both of her sons. An understandable sadness that had her saying that she no longer saw herself as nothing but “bitter” that she changes her name to that. But God never recognized that name change. Through Ruth, He was sending her a message of His love for her.

Yes He saw her unimaginable grief. Yes He knew her pain. And He uses this most unlikely of circumstances and vulnerable of environments to establish the lineage that will bring forth not just one, but two significant offspring. First King David - and then eventually, God’s own son, Jesus. As we come to the end of this short, but signifigant book it’s important to review all that

Yes Boaz in the historical, societal norms of that day and age, “redeems” Ruth from being a childless widow. But that’s only part of the story. For all of our women readers, who understandably might have felt that these old testament scriptures seem to treat women as less than men - we read how this “gentile” woman’s simplicity, selflessness and love has made her “more than seven sons.” We can’t ever underestimate the importance of genuine, sincere love. But even more how God was working through this story of a Mother and her daughter-in-law. God including them into the very fabric of the story of salvation in an unmistakably essential way: As Naomi holds her grandson in her arms, we have to imagine her not being able to call herself “bitter” anymore. She understandably loved and would always miss her husband and sons. But in the birth of her grandson, her grief is turned to joy. A joy that, as wonderful as it truly is, she’s only getting a glimpse of.

The stage is being set where our God will enter into the deep human sadness and despair of our brokenness and sin and will redeem it through His son Jesus. The misery of the world will be turned into joy...

PRAYER POINT: OH LORD I COMMAND A RELEASE OF MY DESTINY, CHILDREN, MIND, DIVINE HEALTH, WOMB, PRAYER LIFE, FAMILY, LOINS, VOICE IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS

PRAYER POINT: OH LORD ANY RESISTANCE TO MY PROPHECY, I ENFORCE ANGELIC REINFORCEMENT AND LET YOUR WORD BE MADE MANIFEST IN MY LIFE!

PRAYER POINT: OH LORD I CURSE ANY DARK CLOUDS OVER MY HEAVENS! ANY ARROW THAT HAS BEEN THROWN AT THIS NOONDAY! WE COMMAND IT TO GO BACK TO THE SENDER! IN JESUS NAME AMEN

PRAYER POINT: FATHER LORD, I CRY OUT FOR MERCY TODAY! LORD, USE YOUR BLOOD TO CLEANSE ME FROM ALL MY SIN & PURIFY MY HEART!

PRAYER POINT: OH LORD, THANK YOU FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS & GOODNESS TO MY LOVED ONES & I!

PRAYER POINT: OH LORD, ANY THREATS ABOUT MY LIFE OR MY OFFSPRINGS BY CONSULTING EVIL POWERS, LET THE EARTH OPEN UP AND SWALLOW THEM!

PRAYER POINT: OH LORD REVEAL EVERY PLAN OF THE ENEMY CONCERNING MY LIFE AND MY FAMILY! I DESTROY EVERY EVIL PLAN OF THE ENEMY AGAINST MY LOVED ONES AND I!

PRAYER POINT: OH LORD ANY CHARACTER THAT CAUSES ME TO LOSE FAVOR, LET IT BURN BY FIRE! ANYTHING THAT CAUSES THE SPIRIT OF ANNOYANCE TO BE UPON ME AND PUSHES PEOPLE AWAY, LET THAT GARMENT CATCH FIRE!

PRAYER POINT: OH LORD LET FAVOR FOR APPROVAL BE RELEASED IN THE NAME OF JESUS!