Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional 21 July 2024 By Dr. D.K Olukoya: Dealing With The Root Of Bitterness (5)
TOPIC: Dealing With The Root Of Bitterness (5) (Mountain Of Fire and Miracle Ministries, MFM Devotional 21 July 2024)
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 126, Psalms 127, 1 Timothy 5, 1 Timothy 6.
FIRE SCRIPTURE: Ruth 1:14-22 (KJV)
14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.
15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.
16 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:
17 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.
18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
19 So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?
20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me.
21 I went out full and the Lord hath brought me home again empty: why then call ye me Naomi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me?
22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter in law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab: and they came to Bethlehem in the beginning of barley harvest.
MEMORY VERSE: “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:” – Ruth 1:16 (KJV)
MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES:
Don’t close the book when bad things happen in your life. Just turn the page and begin a new chapter.
PRAISE AND WORSHIP:
Take praise and worship songs as led by the Holy Spirit.
PROPHETIC WORD FOR TODAY:
ONE DESTINY HELPER THAT IS MORE THAN SEVEN WILL LOCATE YOU TODAY, IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
MFM Devotional For Today 2024 MESSAGE:
Naomi would have died a bitter, old and impoverished widow but for the loving devotion of Ruth, her daughter-in-law. Naomi left Judah with her family for Moab in search of greener pastures but misfortune seemed to trail them as she lost her husband and her two sons.
Naomi was embittered. She thought God had been unkind to her. She said to her daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah: “…….for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the LORD has gone out against me!” (Ruth 1:13b) and to the women of Judah on their arrival: “Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the LORD has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the LORD has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?”
However, Ruth’s decision not to entertain bitterness but to stand by her embittered mother-in-law in their common adversity eventually had a ripple effect on Naomi. Proverbs 24:10 says: “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.”
In following Naomi to Judah, Ruth paid a great price; she had to give up so many things – her original identity and freedom of citizenship in her familiar homeland of Moab, her family relationships, language, culture, religion and network of friends. She made new commitments and took up new responsibilities in an entirely strange land.
Ruth’s refusal to be embittered despite her great loss enabled her overcome her overwhelming adversity and subsequently to experience the providential power of God.
Bitterness can have far-reaching, long-lasting and self-destructive effects. Bitterness must be avoided at all costs and replaced with love.
Ruth indeed suffered hurt and hardship but God rewarded her faithfulness by enlisting her in the lineage of the Messiah (Matthew 1:5). She became a model of love through which Naomi was cleansed of her bitterness and restored to right relationship with the Lord and others. Naomi experienced joy and usefulness again as she looked beyond her predicaments. She said no to bitterness and yes to God’s sovereign grace and plan for her life (Ruth 4:13-17).
PRAYER POINTS:
MORNING
I receive grace to be more tolerant of other people’s weaknesses, in the name of Jesus.
Lord, make me a shining light in the midst of every darkness I find myself, in the name of Jesus.
Lord, make me a positive role model, in the name of Jesus.
EVENING
Lord, convert my bitterness to sweetness, in the name of Jesus.
Everything that has ever caused me sorrow, be converted to joy, in the name of Jesus.
Lord, use Your mercy, grace and favour to repair the foundation of my life, in the name of Jesus.
O God, arise and change my story to glory, in the name of Jesus.
MOUNTAIN TOP LIFE is a daily devotional by Dr. D.K Olukoya (General Overseer, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, Worldwide)
Chiokike Notice Board: Your journey to true peace and eternal victory begins with accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Without being born again, the fullness of God’s presence and blessings remain just out of reach. If you're ready to embrace this life-changing decision, please say the prayer below:
Prayer of Salvation:
Lord Jesus, I come before You today, acknowledging my need for Your grace. I accept You as my Lord and Personal Savior, believing in my heart that You died for my sins and rose again to give me eternal life. Thank You, Lord, for saving me. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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