Do you feel cursed? What do you need to do to attract God's favor in your life?

Let's have a look at Ruth. She had a double curse on her: her country was cursed and her husband had died, leaving her destitute. How did she overcome her lot? Yes, she was a decendant of Lot - the guy from Sodom. (Gen. 18 - 19) God had saved him and his family. His wife, however, had looked back wistfully instead of going forward with God, and his two daughters committed incest, which produced Moab. (Gen. 19: 37)

Moab was cursed; not because he was a sad product of an unwise decision. Lot was righteous and would have taught him about God and the miracle that had saved him. However, Moab had chosen the customs and practices of his mother instead and denied God.

"The Word of God is quick [alive], and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow [flesh; body], and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Heb. 4: 12)

Even when you don't understand every word or wonder why all the genealogies in the Bible could be of importance, God has a purpose for every word. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, you will get His revelation of the significance of the Word as it applies to your personal life.

What circumstances did you leave behind? You do not need to be the victim of your circumstances. You are responsible for your own actions. For every action there is a consequence, good or bad. Unlike Lot's wife, Ruth did not look back on her circumstances. She was determined to go forward with the God of Israel and nothing was going to deter her.

Ruth had great determination. She knew God was a god of miracles and that he blessed those who obeyed Him. (Deut. 28: 1 - 15) Whereas Naomi was bitter, blaming God for causing her all the distress, Ruth was determined to get God's favor.

Naomi had been out of God's Will for going into a cursed land, the enemy of Israel, and therefore became cursed herself. (Deut. 28: 15 - 68) But God! He is merciful and always looks at the heart.

Ruth was not searching for a husband or a job. Her only desire was to find favor with the people of her newly adopted country. (Ruth 2: 2) Her desire was to glean the scraps left behind from the harvesters. She was humble, inconspicuous, and shared her meager food supply with her mother-in-law. She did not demand provision from either man or God, nor did she try to attract abundance to herself in any other way.

As she did right in God's sight, and she received favor, getting more than she had hoped for, being in the right place at the right time.

The Lord strategically placed her in the field of Boaz, a godly, wealthy landowner, who noticed her in the crowd. He was impressed with how she had left her family and culture behind. He commended her on her zeal, her generosity towards his relative Naomi, and her humility. He ensured her safety on his land and gave her an extra measure of grain. Then he prayed:

"The Lord recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust." (Ruth 2: 12)

Little did Boaz realize at that moment that his prayer was prophetic! Shortly thereafter, according to Hebrew custom, he bought her husband's possessions, and took her as his wife. Ruth became the mother of Obed, whose son Jesse was the father of King David! (Ruth 4: 22)

Isn't that just like Jesus? He Himself was the offspring of the lineage of Ruth! To Him there is neither Jew nor Greek. (Gal. 3: 28)

Every one of us was born cursed! But He came and redeemed us from the curse! He bought you back with His blood. Furthermore, He doesn't just leave you saved and stranded. He wants to bless you abundantly in everything you do!

Would you like your circumstances to make a u-turn? Read and meditate on the Book of Ruth and ask Him for His favor on every aspect of your life! Keep on keeping on with Him and do not look back. You will be blessed!

About the Author

Ann Stewart, author of With Wings as Eagles, aims to encourage and inspire you to become the person God has purposed you to be: http://lifealteringwords.com/with-wings-as-eagles. You're welcome to subscribe to her free weekly, inspirational newsletter here: http://lifealteringwords.com.