Dearest Beloved Sisters in Christ,

I am so excited about this new year and theme that the Lord is having us walk in. Ruth’s story is so right on for our present day. This year is a year for transformation. Ruth’s story shows us just that. God is calling us to get closer to him. He is calling us to let go of all the baggage that we have not been able to let go of. He wants us to come to Him to dine with Him and Commune with Him so He can transform us. We are just like Ruth in many ways. Daily we must choose what God we are going to serve. Ruth had a choice to go home and go back to her family and go back to the pagan god. But she chose to stay with Naomi and follow the ways of the One True God. Ruth was so passionate about the God of Israel that she did not turn back, look back. She said “No” to her fleshly desires and the way of the world at that time. She did not take the easy way out. She wanted to follow the one true God to know that no matter what, she would follow Him and His ways only!

Second we have a choice to follow our plans or the Lord’s plans. Naomi, who knew who Boaz was knew his Character, and was hoping that He would fall in love with Ruth. As we see how He protected her and provided for Ruth and Naomi, Boaz had compassion on them. Naomi knew how to direct Ruth at the right time and at the right place. It was the Lords plan to have Naomi and Ruth to go back to Bethlehem. Boaz’s mother, Rahab the Harlot, must have gone through a lot of hurt herself in her life because of her past. Boaz knew what that was like. He lived it with his mother and father. Therefore he had compassion on Ruth and Naomi.

Third, Ruth was willing to step into the plan and step out in total faith, when she went to the threshing floor. Everyday we are faced at times to step out in faith or shrink back in fear. But Ruth stepped out and trusted her God. That she was doing the right thing. He told her he would do what was right, but he knew there was another kinsman in line before him. He went to the kinsman to give him the opportunity to be Ruth’s redeemer. Look at this closely because this is the kicker….He goes to the kinsman and he ends up saying “No, I can’t redeem her.” He told Boaz, “You redeem her yourself.” He said, “Boaz you have the right of redemption for I can not.” So Boaz took His sandal off and gave it to him to purchase the right of Ruth and the land. This established a covenant between the two men that Ruth and the land now belonged to Boaz and the other kinsman could not come back later to take Ruth away. Do you see it? This is what Jesus did for us. Jesus paid the price for our sins by dying on the cross, descending into hell and telling Satan, “I’ve paid the price.” At that point, the devil was put under Jesus’ feet and according to God’s Word under our feet as well. In Middle Eastern customs when you put someone under your feet, or beneath your sandal, you assume authority over that person. Jesus our redeemer redeemed us from all the evil the devils tries to put on us..

There is one more thing that always fascinates me about this plan of redemption. Not only are you valuable enough to redeem, not only do you get to enjoy the rewards of the redeemed life, but you were also redeemed so that you could accomplish something of significance. Ruth gave birth to a son. After leaving her family and staying with Naomi, even though it meant having no future, Ruth’s choices led her to a place where she could become a part of a master plan. She gave birth to a son, Obed, who would father a child named Jesse who would have a son called David. Through David a kingdom would return to God, the presence of God would return to Jerusalem and eventually the Savior of all mankind many years later through this line, Jesus Christ. The sooner you humble yourself before God the sooner you can begin fulfilling your God given purpose. Many people come to know Jesus, but they fail to completely submit themselves to God and be faithful to what is expected of them. God saved you for more than filling churches; He redeemed you so that you could show His glory to the world around you.

Ladies, we do not have to walk down trodden, we do not have to walk in fear. It is time to get rid of the baggage that is holding us back. It is time for a year of total transformation through our redeemer Jesus Christ Our Lord. God has redeemed us from the curse of the Law. God says to stand up in Him for in Him your can do all things! We must believe this. We have been redeemed. Therefore, we can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us. Ladies, My prayer for you this year that you jump into your redemption clothes of the word of God and by the voice of the Hole Spirit, be redeemed and transformed in all areas of your life by the renewing of your mind and washing your mind in His word. Jesus is calling you and He is wooing you constantly to come and sit and lay at the feet of your redeemer and watch what He will do in your life just like He did in Ruth’s life.

May God bless you and keep you in all you do. May your light so shine this year by moving on from victory to victory.

Many Blessings,
Jane Ahl
West Region President