I began the new year reading the beautiful story of Redemption in the Book of Ruth. One verse stood out to me and it has become my “resolution” verse for 2019.

“And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God. Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. When she saw that she was STEADFASTLY MINDED to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.” Ruth 1:16-18

Ruth clave unto her mother-in-law, Naomi, and nothing was to move her from her resolution to go with her. The Hebrew word (“amats”) translated steadfastly minded, is also used to mean: to be strong, alert, courageous, brave, bold, secure, determined, alertness of the feet, and swift-footed. I love that!

It’s the same word as used in these verses:

Be strong and of good courage. Joshua 1:7, 9 & 18

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalms 27:14

She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. Proverbs 31:17

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Isaiah 41:10

It’s been said, “You make your choices, and then your choices make you.” Every January brings many resolutions. Ruth’s resolution was life-changing for her—the choice she made to follow and cleave to her Naomi. Ruth 2:3 says, "And her hap was to light on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz.” Those are the “haps” that happen by the providential hand of our Lord! And little did she know, it led her to be the Great Great Grandmother of King David, in the lineage of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew Henry said, “The power of resolution puts temptation to silence. Those that are unresolved, and go in religious ways without a steadfast mind, tempt the tempter, and stand like a door half open, which invites a thief; but resolution shuts and bolts the door, resists the devil, and forces him to flee.”

May the Lord strengthen each one of us in 2019 to be steadfastly minded to go where He leads. And that we would leave no room for temptation to sway us from the plan He has for each of us. He has an amazing plan for you (Jeremiah 29:11). From all that had happened in Ruth’s life, at the time, she could have been filled with grief, doubt, uncertainty, fear, regret and confusion. But she did exactly what she needed to do—went forward, steadfastly minded, following the Lord.

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