Michelle McClain-Walters - The Ruth Anointing: Becoming a Woman of Faith, Virtue, and Destiny

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THE RUTH ANOINTING by Michelle McClain-Walters

Published by Charisma House

Charisma Media/Charisma House Book Group

600 Rinehart Road

Lake Mary, Florida 32746

www.charismahouse.com

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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Amplified Bible. Copyright 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked BSB are from the Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible. Copyright 2016 by Bible Hub. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked ESV are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked MEV are taken from the Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright 2014 by Military Bible Association. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Scripture quotations marked THE MESSAGE are from The Message: The Bible in Contemporary English, copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

Copyright 2018 by Michelle McClain-Walters

All rights reserved

Cover design by Lisa Rae McClure

Design Director: Justin Evans

Visit the authors website at www.michellemcclainwalters.com.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

An application to register this book for cataloging has been submitted to the Library of Congress.

International Standard Book Number: 978-1-62999-463-5

E-book ISBN: 978-1-62999-464-2

CONTENTS

I HAVE ALWAYS had a fascination with Ruth, especially in my days as a single woman. Since the Lord has sent me my Boazmy wonderful husband, Floydmy fascination with Ruth burns beyond the revelations believers usually glean from her story. Yes, Ruths story gives us hope that there is restoration after great loss, a broken heart can be mended, and lost love can be found again. But there is so much more beneath the surface of Ruths story.

When we dive in deeper, we discover that though Boaz and Ruth found each other as husband and wife, the story of Ruth is not only a romance story. The story of Ruth is also about how broken dreams can become the greatest source of hope. Out of the ashes of disaster, God enabled Ruth to rescue and restore honor to her mother-in-law and create a life and legacy that we are still learning from today. Ruth is an example of dedication and sacrifice. Her life demonstrated how faithfulness and loyalty moved the hand of God to not only touch her life but also enable her to become the hand of God in the lives of others.

Ruth was a pioneer. Moving with Naomi from Moab to Bethlehem, she ventured past cultural limitations and boundaries to discover a life of fulfillment. Understand that this was not a move Ruth had to make. She had family and kinsmen in Moab. She had her gods, religion, and culture that she had grown accustomed to. She did not have to go, but something compelled her to take the risk, step out into the unknown, and travel to a land where she had never been before. She knew she had a destiny to chase, and it would not be fulfilled if she stayed where she was.

Real growth stops when you lose the tension between where you are and where you want to be. Ruths story challenges us to lean into the tension. Ruth, having lost so much with the death of her husband, did not settle for heartache and pain. She chose to do something different and encountered destiny! One commentary says that Ruth is an example of the grace of God, inclining the soul to choose the better part. Ruth chose a better life by leaving her old life behind and staying with Naomi. Ruth was willing to risk it all and be stretched to fulfill her destiny! Are you willing to be stretched? Can you be trusted to choose the better part?

Let me say this, beloved: if you are settling for the status quo, you are already disqualified. Stretching involves change. Stretching sets you apart from others. Stretching gives you a shot at significance. Let God stretch you. Like a rubber band, God will stretch you to give you the capacity for more. God is the only One who can stretch you and not break you!

In this season God is releasing a pioneering anointing among women that will empower us to break through lives of mediocrity. A pioneer can be defined as a person who is among the first to explore or settle a new country or area... a person who is among the first to research and develop a new area of knowledge, or activity.

Ruth was not afraid to step outside her culture to embrace new possibilities. She left her homeland and all her comfort to pioneer a new life that yielded an unexpected return. As women with the Ruth anointing, we will also be compelled, with a pioneers anointing upon our lives, to leave our comfort zones and align with Gods purposes for our lives. In doing this, things that seemed impossible will become possible. Marked by resolute decisiveness, the Ruth anointing will cause us to make destiny-altering decisions that will catapult us into some of the greatest breakthroughs and discoveries.

We will be challenged to survey and conquer new territories, to do new things, and to develop new and strategic relationships. In this season we cannot be like our old selves; we cannot settle for less. We must go forth with the awareness that we were born for a distinct purpose even if we have not yet figured it out. This is the core of the Ruth anointinga courageous, bold, faith-filled, and resolute pioneering spirit.

Women with the Ruth anointing will have an uncanny awareness of Gods hand and wisdom in the everyday events of our lives. Our only certainty about the future is that God knows it! We must seize every opportunity without fear. The confidence we have lies in knowing who orchestrates our future and that He has our best interests in mind. We must trust in the Lord with all our hearts, leaning not on our own understanding (Prov. 3:5). In times of uncertainty and change God is calling forth women who are committed to Christ, who will flow in the power of the Holy Spirit, and who will face the future with innovation and confidence in the Fathers love and care.