A Family Affair: Total Restoration

There is a commonly used cliché that says a family that prays together stays together. Not only is that a popular expression, I believe it to be a factual statement. Let’s explore that together in this video. 

Hi, I’m Lemuel Blackett, partnership development associate for Our Prayer. 

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In the book of Ruth, chapter 4, verse 14 through 15, the woman said to Naomi, “Praise be to the Lord, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.” 

This could be called a family affair. The book of Ruth shows a gracious and glorious recovery of the family. In this story, Naomi is the mother-in-law of Ruth and the both of them have gone through a great tragic experience. Naomi had to bury her husband, Elimelech, and her two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, all within a 10-year time frame. 

Over the last decade, some of us had to say farewell to loved ones. We have had to bury our husbands, wives, siblings, and even our children. It probably was the hardest thing some of us had to do. 

We endured great pain because of these life-altering changes. We had come to a heartbreaking conclusion that our family will never be the same again. Well today, I would like to encourage you that the Lord is here to restore the family again. 

You may feel that there is no hope for your family. You may feel that there is no type of reconciliation because of the ones you depended on are no longer here. You have made up your mind that this is just the way it’s going to be. 

Naomi had that same attitude. She told the people to no longer call me Naomi, which means sweet, but call me Mara, which means bitter. Naomi had already given up hope for ever having a family again. She felt that the Lord had dealt her a bitter hand. 

Sometimes we have the same reaction. We wonder, why did this situation have to happen to me or what else could go wrong? But the Lord always has a remedy for your dilemma. 

The story goes on to say that the Lord used her daughter-in-law, Ruth, to connect with a man named Boaz, who found favor with her. And because of this connection, Ruth gave birth to a son named Obed, which means worker or servant. 

So the Lord will always make provision for you. He will never leave you without someone who will care for you. Jesus said, “I will never leave you comfortless. I will send you a comforter, and that comforter is the Holy Spirit, which will lead and guide you.” 

I believe Obed was Naomi’s comforter to sustain her all the days of her life. It is my prayer that the Lord will bless you with several things. One, someone like Ruth that is someone to encourage you. Two, that your Ruth will be connected with someone like Boaz, someone to show you favor. And three, to put you in position to receive your Obed, someone to sustain you. 

We want to be your spiritual ally that will restore your family affair. Visit our website for inspiration and submit your prayer requests. We will pray for you. God bless you. 

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