Keep Pressing Toward the “House of Bread”

Recently at our DC Conference, Lou Engle brought a powerful message about the intentionality of God at times of transition. Using the story of Ruth, I found a powerful key embedded within it that may help us when we are at transition points in life.

Ephesians 2:4-10 says He made us alive together with Christ, seating us in the heavenly places in Him, even when we were dead in trespasses (v. 6). Think of that. Even when we were dead in our trespasses, God’s intentions over our lives cannot outrun His rich mercy and grace. That is why verse 10 becomes even more important to us when we are facing challenges and wilderness experiences: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

I am not here to argue about free choice and free will. Frankly, I have come to the point that when I said yes to Him, my “free will” became His. He establishes my steps (Proverbs 16:9) and gives me direction AS I go forward (Isaiah 30:21). I do know that His purposes and plans are established, and like you, I am learning to walk in them.

Ruth’s life illustrates these points. Death had rocked the lives of Naomi, Ruth, an Oprah as their husbands had all died. They were in a place of transition. They were faced with going forward or circling back. Naomi even said to her daughters-in-law: “Go back…(Ruth 1:8).” Oprah did leave, but Ruth would not follow. She said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people will be my people, and your God, my God…(:16).” Commitment to go forward…

In this story is a very important key for us.

• They pressed forward toward Bethlehem. Bethlehem means “House of Bread.” Continuing FORWARD brought them INTO the House of Bread. Retreating, going back, or staying the same would not usher them into their destiny.

We know how the story ends. Ruth “ran into” Boaz, a close relative who was a kinsman redeemer. He married Ruth, a Moabite, and she bore a son, Obed, who was the father of Jesse, the father of David, and a royal lineage of Jesus.

No matter what you are experiencing in the natural, keep pressing toward the “House of Bread” and experience the “transitions” of the Lord, which are simply His orchestrated good works which He ordained before time that you and I might walk in them.

This is not a time to stop, delay, or give up. We are answering the call to rise up, move forward, and take dominion even in the midst of challenges. God will always come through victoriously. Much of the time, it will be for a greater purpose than we ever thought, maybe changing a generation, or birthing a new thing that draws the lineage of His heart into place.

“You have what it takes for the moment you are in…” Jen Tringale prophesied this to us in Dallas. Be strong, be courageous, keep pressing forward, and you will see the salvation and the purposes of God completed through you.