For the Love of RuthНамуна

Arise and Move

“So she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited His people and given them food.”
— Ruth 1:6 (ESV)

Faith comes by hearing—and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17). And sometimes, all it takes is one Word to shift the very course of your life.

In Ruth 1:6, Naomi is still in Moab—a land that represents loss, disappointment, and delay. She had buried her husband, her sons, and a season that once held promise. But something powerful happened in that place of grief: she heard.

She heard what the Lord was doing in Bethlehem, Judah.

The moment Naomi heard that God was moving, something within her shifted. The Word stirred her spirit. It reignited her faith. And it gave her the courage to arise and move. She wasn’t in the perfect place, but she was positioned to hear—and that was enough.

God knows how to get a word to you, even when you’re in a place you don’t belong. Even in Moab, surrounded by loss, Naomi’s ears were open. And because her heart was sensitive, her spirit responded.

The moment she heard, she got up.

She didn’t wait for confirmation from others. She didn’t need permission. The Word was enough. Naomi knew it was time to leave the place of sorrow and return to the place of promise.

Bethlehem means house of bread. Judah means praise. She was on her way back to a place of provision and worship—a place that had always been blessed, even while she was away.

Are you in a place where you know you don’t belong—emotionally, spiritually, or even physically? Has God been prompting you to arise?

It doesn’t take a crowd. It just takes a word. When it’s your season to move, the Holy Spirit will stir something deep within you. He will speak. He will guide. And if you listen, He will lead you into fertile ground—into a place of praise, provision, and purpose.

You’ll know when you’re there. But first, you’ve got to move.

Reflection Questions:

• Is there any area of your life where God is calling you to “get up”?
• What have you heard God say recently? Are you responding to it in faith?

Prayer:
Father, open my ears to hear You clearly. Even in unfamiliar or uncomfortable places, help me to discern Your voice and recognize when You’re moving. Give me the courage to arise from everything that no longer serves Your purpose in my life. Lead me back to Bethlehem, back to Judah—back to the place of Your presence. I trust You to order my steps. In Jesus’ name, Amen.