"Who are you?" he asked. "I am your servant Ruth," she said.  Ruth 3:8-9 

 

Step 7: Don’t try to shine before your time: When Ruth saw that Boaz was sleeping, she didn’t try to wake him and strike up a conversation. No, she was happy to lie quietly at his feet. Listen to what happened next: ‘‘he woke and sat up. Who are you?  He demanded. ‘It’s I, Ruth, Make me your wife according to God’s law (Ruth 3:8-9). Ruth recognized three important truths: (1) Who she was. (2) Where she was. (3) Why she was there. When God starts speaking to you, it isn’t the time for you to be trying to figure out what you want from Him. You need to know that in advance so that you’ll be ready when your opportunity comes. Ruth was wise - she didn’t try to shine before her time. That’s a lesson you need to learn too. Maybe your dream is to have your own business, or be in full-time ministry, or meet that special someone and get married. They’re all great aspirations - at the right time. Listen to what the Bible says about you: ‘He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season - whatever he does prospers. (Psalm 1:3). You can only be successful in the proper season. James says, ‘Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains.  (James 5:7). When you labor to bring something to birth before its time, it won’t succeed. But God promises that in the right season, whatever you do will prosper.