September: Taking the Next Best Steps

There’s no shortage of “beginning of the month” mantras and positivity messages of taking the next best steps in our lives and families. Such inspiration may encourage us to remain balanced or be more organized. Perhaps we may seek to adopt the right attitude amidst the everyday chaos. Whatever the case, many of us will partake of our fair share of mindset motivation in the earlier parts of September.

Taking the Next Best Steps – A Woman Named Ruth

Consider a woman in the Bible by the name of Ruth. Her backstory yields some surprising shifts in her family life and an unfortunate loss.

The two sons married Moabite women. One married a woman named Orpah, and the other a woman named Ruth. But about ten years later, both Mahlon and Kilion died. – Ruth 1: 4 -5 (NLT)

Ruth’s reality also displayed the need to forge ahead and take the next best steps.

But Ruth replied (to Naomi), “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. – Ruth 1: 16 (NLT)

Taking the Next Best Steps – A Shift in Faith

Ruth is no stranger to the practice of formalized religion. Her ties and association to her homeland, Moab, boasted of a very rigorous and definitive belief system. Holm (2005) mentions: “In the Bible, however, Moabites are said to make sacrifices (presumably to Baʿal) in Numbers 22:40–23:30 and to make sacrifices and burn incense in Jeremiah 48:35.”

It’s safe to say that the steps taken to shun familiar religious practices are particularly bold.

Ruth’s expression of:  “…Your God will be my God” is an absolute shock to Naomi, the mother-in-law who simply wants to be rid of this new convert and zealot.

But Ruth is only falling in line with God’s plan. In exchange for her old life, Ruth is set on pursuing the Yahweh God of not just Naomi. She is also pursuing the God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the lineage of King David. Unbeknownst to Ruth, she would be apart of helping to carry out the establishment of this lineage.

 So Boaz took Ruth into his home, and she became his wife. When he slept with her, the Lord enabled her to become pregnant, and she gave birth to a son – Ruth 4: 13 (NLT)

…And they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse and the grandfather of David. – Ruth 4: 17 (NLT)

Taking the Next Best Steps – What This Could Mean For Us

What if our next best steps in September centered on a shift in our faith? What if we wholeheartedly engaged in the confession of Romans 10: 9-10, soul searching of Psalm 139, humble acknowledgment of Job 42, heart cleansing of Psalm 51, or surrender of Romans 12?

I imagine that goal-focused planners like myself would embark on a renewed spiritual journey of embracing worship of the Yahweh God with fresh eyes and focus. What an honor and gift this is!

As Ruth shifted her faith focus and encountered God in ways she never fathomed, we too can expect to partake of something worth experiencing – the peace that comes with allowing the Lord to lead the way. Some may find great relief in this after perhaps being sidelined or going in the wrong direction for far too long.

So who’s ready to take the next best steps? Are you with me?

Desire to do some journaling in the month of September? Check out my digital resource – Unafraid of the New – CLICK HERE.