DID YOU KNOW?

"One day Naomi said to Ruth, 'My dear, isn't it time that I try to find a
husband for you, and get you happily married again?"
(Ruth 3:1 TLB)

Did you know that the Bible likens marriage to a resting place? Does that
sound at all possible? Two times in the story of Ruth, Naomi talks about
marriage as a place of rest.

Firstly, in Ruth 1:9 she says to both her daughters-in-law: "The LORD grant
you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband." The New
English Translation says: "May the LORD enable each of you to find security
in the home of a new husband!"

The word rest is "menuchah" and means "repose, peace, consolation, an abode,
quiet, comfort, refreshment, a resting place, and specifically matrimony."
It's the same word that is used in Psalm 23:2 where our Good Shepherd leads
us beside the "still waters."

Then again, in Ruth 3:1 Naomi speaks to Ruth who came back with her to
Judah: "My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee, that it may be well
with thee?"

The GNB translation says: "I must find a husband for you, so that you will
have a home of your own." Naomi was concerned to find a husband for Ruth.
This time the Hebrew word is "manoach," with a very similar meaning, "a
settled spot, a home, a place of rest."

Sadly, this is not always the picture of marriage relationships. Yet this is
what God intends. Marriage provides security, stability, provision, and a
resting place to fulfil your God-given career of mothering and nurturing. It
is difficult for single moms to cope with providing for their children and
nurturing and making a home at the same time. There are many who find
themselves in this position through no fault of their own and they need much
encouragement and help.

But God intends the home to have a husband and a wife. When a husband knows
his mandate from God to provide for his wife and family and to protect and
guard them, a wife can live in quietness and rest. She can give herself to
the work of managing her home and caring for her children.

Did you notice I said work? "But you are talking about rest" I hear you say.
We can work hard and yet live restfully. To live in rest doesn't mean that
we sit around all day. I remember a very busy man of God who ended all his
correspondence with the words, "Restfully busy." When you are working hard
and busy in your home, think of being "restfully busy." It will save you
from getting into a state of panic.

I believe that rest is a state of rest in our soul, peace with God, free
from the worries of providing for the family, and basking in the joy of
mothering and homemaking. This is God's glorious plan. And this is why
marriage is referred to as a resting place.

Of course, Satan tries to disrupt the rest that God intends. He wants to
destroy every plan of God. Therefore, we must always be on the lookout for
his insidious ways. We must watch that we don't take on too many other
things outside the home. We must guard against tension and and arguments
creeping into the home We must resist all rebellion and selfish attitudes.
And especially bitterness and hardness of heart.

Marriage is all to do with our attitudes and we can choose which attitude we
will take. It's easy to take the negative one, not so easy to take the godly
attitude, but we can do it with God's enabling.

Let's seek to make our marriages and homes places of rest.

PRAYER:
"Dear Father God, I ask You to help me to make my marriage a true resting
place for both my husband and me. Please give me the grace to choose rest
and peace over tension and arguments. Please help me to speak positive words
and not to even open my mouth if I can't think of good words to say. I ask
this in the name of Jesus. Amen."

AFFIRMATION:
I have two choices: to say good and positive things to my husband or to stay
silent if I have negative words in my mind.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell
www.aboverubies.org