React Or Reset

In Ruth chapter 1 we see a family, living in the centre of God’s will for their lives. Settled in a place which was the land of their people and their God - until things got tough. A famine came to the land and Elimelech made the decision to move his family to another country and not just any country. Moab was an ungodly country where their enemies lived; he chose to enter the land of the enemy and not just enter it but live there. Elimelech made a reactionary choice based on his circumstances instead of a faith filled one based on who his God was.

Ruth 1:1 NKJV

Now it came to pass, in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem, Judah, went to dwell in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech, the name of his wife was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion—Ephrathites of Bethlehem, Judah. And they went to the country of Moab and remained there. 3 Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4 Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. 5 Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband.

Reset or React?

He could have chosen to pause and reset in that moment but instead he chose to react and took action which ended in hardship and ultimately, death.

In the season we are living in it’s so easy to react to what is going on around us, to make reactionary decisions that may not be the right ones and may end up doing us more harm than good. Instead we have an opportunity to take a moment and think about how to reset and move forward.

Reacting speaks of a knee-jerk reaction, something that we haven’t thought through or planned. Reset speaks of taking a breath, surveying the circumstances and looking at how best to advance. So how do we reset? How do we resist the urge of our human nature to react?

Here are three simple ways which I believe can help:

1. Focus On God

Isaiah 26:3 says

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! (NLT)”

God promises us here that He will keep us in perfect peace - but there's something we need to do first. We need to keep our thoughts fixed in Him. He can’t give us His peace if our thoughts are all over the place. But when we fix our eyes and our thoughts on Jesus it re-aligns us and means that our mind is in tune with Him. Then the peace comes.

When we are in peace, we are more likely to make wise decisions. Remember, God has a bigger story to fit you into and when we focus on Him, He can lead us in that story.

2. Focus On Your Perspective

Let me ask a question; Are you allowing your situation to steal your perspective or give you perspective? Take a step back. Take a moment to view your situation through God’s eyes. Get some godly perspective. I love this scripture:

Romans 12:2 (TPT)

“Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes.”

There can be such a huge temptation to give into the culture around us. To start to fear and panic; to be negative and critical but we have to change our perspective. Think differently and view your situation through God’s eyes and the lens of His word.

Elimelech made a choice in keeping with the view of his world and that choice gave a short term solution but they paid a long term cost.

3. Focus On Faith

When we are faced with difficult circumstances we can choose to focus on what’s around us or focus on our faith and ultimately, it’s our faith that will help us to reset instead of react. Elimelech made a reactionary choice instead of a faith filled one. We have to have an expectation that God will come through for us and sadly Elimelech didn’t focus on faith, he focussed on what he could see around him.

2 Corinthians 5:77 TPT says

“ For we live by faith, not by what we see with our eyes.”

This family could have seen the goodness of God in Bethlehem. If they had trusted God I know He would have come through for them!

Let’s focus on our faith in God and trust Him to help us reset and move forward.

Louise x