Latest / Women At The Well: REJOICE / Episode 43: While You Wait, Take the Next Faithful Step

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Episode 43: While You Wait, Take the Next Faithful Step · Women At The Well: REJOICE

• 0:15
  SPEAKER_00: Grand rising, sisters.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_00: God has blessed us to see another Wednesday.
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_00: I'm Rose, your host, and welcome to Women at the Will Rejoice.
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_00: Our October thing is holding on while waiting for God.
• 0:32
  SPEAKER_00: We have talked about trusting God through the years and pouring out our hearts in prayer, but today let's consider what we can do while we wait.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_00: Our subject today is while you wait, take the next faithful step.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_00: So, sisters, grab your Bibles, your lemon water, your tea, and your coffee, or whatever your favorite drink may be, and come sit with me at the well.
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_00: Let us pray.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_00: Father, God, thank you for one more day.
• 1:06
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for opening our eyes and allowing us to get up out of our beds and move our hands, our feet, and be able to think and be in our right minds.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER_00: Father God, we just thank you.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_00: As we sit at the well this morning, open our hearts to hear your word.
• 1:23
  SPEAKER_00: Give us understanding.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_00: Give us hearing.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_00: Give us wisdom to recognize the steps that we can take today and the courage to follow your guidance every day.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_00: Father God, we do thank you for one more day.
• 1:39
  SPEAKER_00: We thank you for keeping us.
• 1:41
  SPEAKER_00: We thank you for your word, which will lead and guide us every day.
• 1:45
  SPEAKER_00: Father, I just thank you in Jesus' name.
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_00: Amen.
• 1:50
  SPEAKER_00: Sisters, now I know we're in the waiting, and waiting can make us feel stuck.
• 1:57
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes we may postpone ordinary tasks because we are hoping for one big answer.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_00: Sisters, perhaps you cannot settle the whole situation today.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: But there may be one thing you can do.
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_00: How about make a phone call, complete an application, ask for help, or care for your responsibilities that are already in your hands?
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_00: Because sometimes we get stalled by what's going on around us.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes we feel like we can't think, we can't move.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_00: It shakes us to the core.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_00: So, sisters, work on what we can do next.
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_00: I want to talk to you today about Ruth.
• 2:47
  SPEAKER_00: And before we reread, let's remember her circumstances.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_00: In the book of Ruth, Ruth and Naomi were both widows.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_00: Ruth was once married to Naomi's son.
• 3:00
  SPEAKER_00: She was Naomi's daughter-in-law.
• 3:02
  SPEAKER_00: And she had chosen to remain with Naomi after her husband died rather than return to her own people.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_00: She occupied Naomi to Bethlehem, where they needed food.
• 3:15
  SPEAKER_00: Now that brings us to Ruth, the second chapter, verses 2 through 3, and I'm reading from the King James Version.
• 3:24
  SPEAKER_00: It reads, And Ruth the Mohabitus said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field and glean ears of corn after him in whose sight I shall find grace.
• 3:37
  SPEAKER_00: And she said unto her, Go, my daughter.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_00: And she went and came and gleaned in the field after the reapers.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_00: And her hat was to light on the part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_00: Gleaming involved gathering grain left behind by the harvesters.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_00: Ruth asked to go glean, and then she followed through.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_00: At this point she did not yet know that Boaz was a relative of Naomi's late husband, Elimelech.
• 4:12
  SPEAKER_00: Sisters Ruth went looking for grain.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_00: She was responding to the need that was in front of her.
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_00: She could not see everything that would happen afterwards, but she took a step.
• 4:24
  SPEAKER_00: Now, as we consider Ruth's example, let's ask ourselves.
• 4:30
  SPEAKER_00: What responsibility needs my attention?
• 4:33
  SPEAKER_00: Is there a wise step I have been putting off?
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_00: Who can help me understand my options?
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_00: You see, Ruth's story describes her particular experience.
• 4:46
  SPEAKER_00: Our faithful actions will not necessarily bring the same results.
• 4:51
  SPEAKER_00: But her example encourages diligence, humility, and willingness to receive and accept help.
• 5:02
  SPEAKER_00: That brings us to James 2.17, which informs us, even so, faith, if it had not worked, is dead being alone.
• 5:16
  SPEAKER_00: In this passage, James teaches that living faith is expressed through action.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_00: And it may include practical care for people in need.
• 5:30
  SPEAKER_00: Sisters, our faith should show in how we live.
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_00: We have prayed, we have cried out to God.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_00: As we continue praying, we can also put our faith into action.
• 5:44
  SPEAKER_00: Perhaps that may mean that you lost your job.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_00: So you apply for another position.
• 5:51
  SPEAKER_00: You prepare for an opportunity.
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_00: You also might have to help someone else in need.
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_00: Or be willing to ask for assistance for yourself.
• 6:03
  SPEAKER_00: See, we may not know the outcome, but we can seek God's guidance and take the next faithful step.
• 6:12
  SPEAKER_00: Let's look at 2 Corinthians 5, 7.
• 6:15
  SPEAKER_00: It says, For we walk by faith, not by sight.
• 6:20
  SPEAKER_00: Walking by faith means trusting God even when we cannot see how everything will unfold.
• 6:27
  SPEAKER_00: Ruth could see the need for food.
• 6:30
  SPEAKER_00: She could see the field before her, but she could not see the whole future.
• 6:36
  SPEAKER_00: She could not see that she would be the great-grandmother of King David.
• 6:42
  SPEAKER_00: First of all, she didn't see that she could marry Boaz.
• 6:47
  SPEAKER_00: And then nor that her future generations would lead to the King of Kings, Jesus Christ.
• 6:56
  SPEAKER_00: But she stepped out in faith.
• 6:58
  SPEAKER_00: Sisters, we may also see a responsibility before us without knowing where the next step will lead.
• 7:06
  SPEAKER_00: We can bring that uncertainty to God and ask him for wisdom.
• 7:12
  SPEAKER_00: You see, we must live our lives trusting God in the seen and the unseen.
• 7:18
  SPEAKER_00: And what we know and what we don't know.
• 7:22
  SPEAKER_00: We have to trust him.
• 7:24
  SPEAKER_00: In Proverbs 3, 5 through 6, and again I'm reading from the King James Version, it instructs us to do this.
• 7:34
  SPEAKER_00: Trust in the Lord with all thy heart and lean not unto thy own understanding.
• 7:40
  SPEAKER_00: And all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path.
• 7:46
  SPEAKER_00: You see, these scriptures are very comforting, and they guide us.
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_00: We do not have to understand everything before we turn to God for guidance.
• 7:57
  SPEAKER_00: We can acknowledge him in our decisions.
• 8:01
  SPEAKER_00: We can acknowledge him before stepping out on faith.
• 8:04
  SPEAKER_00: We can pray, consider his word, seek sound counsel, and take a wise step with the understanding we have.
• 8:12
  SPEAKER_00: We must wait on God.
• 8:14
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah.
• 8:16
  SPEAKER_00: But we can cry out to God.
• 8:19
  SPEAKER_00: And he will direct our steps while we move in faith.
• 8:23
  SPEAKER_00: Whatever the step, keep bringing your choices to God.
• 8:27
  SPEAKER_00: Trust him with what you cannot see and be faithful with what is in your hands today.
• 8:34
  SPEAKER_00: Sisters, let's do a little rejoicing.
• 8:40
  SPEAKER_00: See, we can rejoice that God gives us his word to guide us.
• 8:47
  SPEAKER_00: We may have unanswered questions.
• 8:51
  SPEAKER_00: We may still be waiting for directions or circumstances to change.
• 8:55
  SPEAKER_00: Yet we can thank God for the guidance he gives us through scripture.
• 9:01
  SPEAKER_00: And for the people who offer wise counsel and love and support.
• 9:09
  SPEAKER_00: Perhaps someone encouraged you.
• 9:11
  SPEAKER_00: That's a reason to rejoice.
• 9:13
  SPEAKER_00: Perhaps you have found the courage to begin in difficult tasks.
• 9:17
  SPEAKER_00: That's a reason to rejoice.
• 9:20
  SPEAKER_00: Perhaps you were able to receive help.
• 9:22
  SPEAKER_00: That's a reason to rejoice.
• 9:25
  SPEAKER_00: Perhaps God allowed you to help somebody.
• 9:30
  SPEAKER_00: And that's a reason to rejoice.
• 9:33
  SPEAKER_00: Sisters, in every circumstance, we can turn to God and say thank you and rejoice.
• 9:41
  SPEAKER_00: Father, thank you for walking with us through uncertain days.
• 9:48
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for your word.
• 9:50
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for your daily provision.
• 9:52
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for the opportunities to do good, to serve.
• 9:57
  SPEAKER_00: Give us willing hearts and wisdoms to have faith through the unseen and the unknown.
• 10:03
  SPEAKER_00: Help us to walk by faith and increase our faith.
• 10:06
  SPEAKER_00: Help us to trust in you at all times.
• 10:09
  SPEAKER_00: Especially when the way is not clear.
• 10:12
  SPEAKER_00: Father, we love you and we thank you for making the way when we can't see one.
• 10:17
  SPEAKER_00: Father God, you know what each sister's waiting for.
• 10:20
  SPEAKER_00: You know the decisions for her.
• 10:23
  SPEAKER_00: And the responsibility she's carrying.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_00: Give a wisdom to recognize the steps she can take today.
• 10:29
  SPEAKER_00: Let's feel the spirit.
• 10:32
  SPEAKER_00: And help those who feel overwhelmed.
• 10:36
  SPEAKER_00: Teach us to take down counsel.
• 10:38
  SPEAKER_00: We need to support and care for one another.
• 10:41
  SPEAKER_00: Lord, when we need rest, help us to receive it.
• 10:44
  SPEAKER_00: When we need courage to act with the heart.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_00: Keep us faithful, doing good, and trusting in you.
• 10:52
  SPEAKER_00: In Jesus' precious name.
• 10:54
  SPEAKER_00: Amen.
• 10:55
  SPEAKER_00: Sister, I'm Rose and I have been your host.
• 10:59
  SPEAKER_00: Keep holding on while waiting for God.
• 11:02
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for joining me and woman at the well rejoice.
• 11:06
  SPEAKER_00: Remember, this water is living and this well will never run dry.
• 11:12
  SPEAKER_00: Have a good day.
• 11:14
  SPEAKER_00: Be blessed.