DAY 9 - NIGHT OF TAKING A STAND

Bible reading:
Ruth: 1:1-22, 4:13-22

Bible text:
Ruth 1: 16-17 “But Ruth said, ‘Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; for wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God, my God…The Lord do so to me and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.’”

MIDNIGHT MEDITATION:
In Ruth’s story we see played out the lives of two women who suffered the same mishap and the decision they took at the end. Ruth and Oprah were two Moabite women married into the family of Elimelech, a man from Judah. They were married to his two sons, Mahlon and Chilion, in the land of Moab where Elimelech and his family had come to seek refuge from the terrible famine that had attacked the Israelites. It wasn’t long when Elimelech and his two sons died, leaving Naomi and her two daughter-in-laws widows. Distraught and depressed, Naomi had lost all that she had brought to the land of Moab and there was no need to tarry back in the land where she had ran for succor but rather met with misery; she decided to go back to her land. Ruth and Oprah had stayed with Naomi and understood their mother-in –law, they had both been under the influence and companionship of Naomi who must have taught them about the God of Israel and the wonderful works that God had done for them. They may have had the same level of exposure to the goodness of God but both applied it differently.

When Naomi announced to them that she was going back to her land and offered them a way out to return to their different families pointing out that there was no other solution to their predicament; they had to make their different choices. Oprah had the eyes of the world; and could not see any deliverance or help coming to her in her present state if she was to go with Naomi. She decided that there were better opportunities of marriage for her in her land than in Israel; going back with Naomi was nothing but a dead end. Thus, she bid her mother-in-law goodbye and went back the way she came and nothing else was heard about Oprah ever since.

Many times, we make choices based on how we feel, how we view the outcome of things that are about to happen and we devise means to divert such eventualities or create soft landing pads when they eventually happen. When you create your own path out of problems without the help and direction of God, it only leads to destruction, Moses in Ex. 33:15 said, if God’s presence does not go with them then there was no need for the Israelites to leave their current place of abode. It pays to listen first to God before embarking on a project or making a decision, no matter how small. Hebrews 3:8 says, “Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness”

Ruth on the other hand had come to believe and accept the God of Israel that Naomi always talked about and had made her decision based on the new love she had come to know. Physically, there was no hope for a new marriage because Naomi was too old to bear another son and even if she did, Ruth would have been like his grandmother by the time the child became matured enough to be married; thus Ruth had followed Naomi in absolute faith and belief in the God of Israel believing fully in His love. Because of Ruth’s love, commitment and humility, one midnight, her destiny was changed Ruth 3:8 “Now it happened at midnight that the man was startled, and turned himself; and there, a woman was lying at his feet;” she that had no hope of ever remarrying, remarried to the town’s most eligible bachelor, she that had no hope of starting a lineage became an ancestor to king David and eventually Jesus Christ.

Tonight, as you pray earnestly, a new destiny is about to manifest.
Dear, where lies your belief, your resolve, your faith? Tonight you can bring a positive change to your family, your destiny, your lineage, your State, your nation all you require is to take a stand. Ruth did not waiver when she made her decision because it was borne out of a personal commitment with God, she was not coerced by the decision of her sister-in- law, Oprah, because she strongly believed in the God, Naomi had told her about. Dear daughter, do you have such great love for Jesus that you can take a stand come what may to declare according to what He instructs you to do? Will you take a stand tonight with God’s Word concerning that challenge you are facing and declare as God wants you to?

PRAY UNTIL GOD ALMIGHTY ANSWERS (PUGAA)
IT’S MIDNIGHT PRAYER:

1. Father, may I not be moved by the attractions of the world or the voices/choices of others at any point in my life.
2. Lord, grant me the grace to grow daily according to your word and under your divine guidance.
3. O Lord, when men say there is a casting down, may all situations around me, my family and State declare that there is a lifting up.
4. Father, let your abundant mercy locate me and all that is connected to me tonight.
5. Mighty God, make the leaders of my family, State/nation to always take a stand for You without compromising at any time.
6. Father, silence every contrary voice or elements that seek to prevent us from doing that which will please you and bring glory to Your name.
7. Father as I tarry at your feet tonight, may all situations that seemed hopeless and bleak in my life, Family, State/Nation receive Your divine attention.
8. King of kings, may the blessings coming my way endure and affect the lives of my descendants positively
9. Father, restore and nourish all that had seemed dead in my life/family, State and nation; let them be resuscitated
10. O God, grant me the courage to withstand opposition which are contrary to your precepts and command.
11. Father, make me a woman of great virtue in your Kingdom, my family, my State.
12. Tonight, I dismantle every obstacle opposing me from possessing my divine possessions.

Blessings from the Bossom of a godly woman

1. I declare that the outcome of my prayers tonight shall be felt through to my generations yet unborn.
2. As I take a stand tonight, testimonies will trail my life, family and nation.

FAMILY MIDNIGHT PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS:

N/B: Beloved be on your knees lay your right hand on your head and by faith prophetically claim all the midnight declarations. See yourself as someone kneeling before a great messenger of God and after claiming all declarations, go back and sleep;

1. The master key for uncommon advancement is today delivered into your hands. Where nobody has been able to reach in your family, you shall reach and exceed former records of positive achievement in Jesus name.
2. This season, as God was with Joseph in Potiphar’s house, so the Lord will be with you; every attempt to keep you under this season is nullified in Jesus name. Amen
3. Every Goliath challenging your advancement before now shall totally surrender to you this season to the glory of God in Jesus name.
4. Any covenant that has put you in financial mess; by the power of resurrection in the name of Jesus, is broken. All the powers encamping against your goodness, mercy and breakthroughs is today silenced forever.
5. By the power of God Almighty, all the powers that have been holding you back are today destroyed. You …………………… right now, enter into your inheritance by faith in Christ Jesus and may grace to make impact locate you in Jesus name.
6. All the gates of uncommon advancement are prophetically opened for you. All satanic forces monitoring you are blinded in Jesus name.

ACTION TIME FOR CHRIST’S FAMILY:

1. Pray that the Holy Spirit be your partner tonight. Seek for the baptism of the Holy Spirit; ask God to take away whatever has been hindering you from flowing with the Holy Spirit and make your family a Holy Spirit zone.
2. Inform at least seven single ladies and gentlemen in your contact about the programme. Copy some of the prophetic declarations to them and invite them to join you in prayers.