Wash and anoint yourself was Naomi’s wise counsel to Ruth as she prepared for a life-changing encounter with Boaz. This simple instruction carried deep spiritual meaning about preparing for new opportunities that God was bringing into Ruth’s life.
Sometimes God opens doors for us, but we must prepare ourselves properly to walk through them. Just as Ruth needed to prepare herself physically and spiritually for her meeting with Boaz, we too must prepare our hearts and lives for the new opportunities God has in store.
Today, let’s learn how proper preparation positions us to receive the blessings and breakthroughs God wants to give us.
Wash and Anoint Yourself: Key Takeaway
- Wash and Anoint Yourself: Proper preparation of our hearts, minds, and lives positions us to receive the new opportunities and blessings that God has prepared for us.
Anchor Bible Verse of the day
Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking.
– Ruth 3:3 (NKJV)
Naomi gave Ruth specific instructions (wash and anoint yourself) for approaching Boaz, who could become her kinsman-redeemer. This was not just about physical appearance but about preparing for a divine appointment that would change Ruth’s entire future.
The washing and anointing represented purification and consecration for something sacred. Naomi understood that God was orchestrating events, but Ruth needed to prepare herself properly to participate in His plan for her redemption and restoration.
Key Explanations
- Wash yourself: This represented cleansing from past grief and mourning, preparing for a new chapter in life through spiritual and physical purification.
- Anoint yourself: Anointing with oil symbolized consecration and preparation for blessing, showing readiness to receive what God had prepared.
- Put on your best garment: This meant presenting herself with dignity and honor, reflecting her worth as a daughter of God rather than her current circumstances.
- Go down to the threshing floor: This was the place where grain was separated from chaff, symbolically representing a place of decision and new beginnings.
Wash and Anoint Yourself: A Reflection
As believers, we often find ourselves in seasons where God is preparing new opportunities for us, but we must be ready to receive them.
The instruction to wash and anoint yourself teaches us that preparation is essential for breakthrough. Ruth had been in mourning as a widow, but Naomi recognized that God was opening a door for restoration and wanted Ruth to prepare herself properly for this divine opportunity.
This principle is beautifully illustrated in Esther 2:12, where we read,
Each young woman’s turn came to go into King Ahasuerus after she had completed twelve months’ preparation, according to the regulations for the women.
Like Ruth, Esther needed proper preparation before her life-changing encounter. This verse shows us that preparation for new opportunities is often a process that requires time, patience, and intentional action on our part.
When God calls you to wash and anoint yourself, He’s asking you to leave behind the old and prepare for the new. Ruth had to stop identifying herself primarily as a grieving widow and start seeing herself as a woman ready for redemption and new beginnings.
Ruth’s story teaches us that God often uses seasons of preparation to transform our identity and perspective before He opens new doors.
Consider how Ruth’s obedience to wash and anoint herself demonstrated her faith in God’s plan. She could have remained in her mourning clothes, comfortable in her familiar identity as a widow.
Instead, she chose to prepare herself for something new, trusting that God was working behind the scenes to bring about her restoration and blessing.
Practical ways to wash and anoint yourself for new opportunities include:
- Maintaining excellence in your current responsibilities while preparing for new ones
- Spending time in prayer and Bible study to prepare your heart spiritually
- Releasing past hurts, failures, and limiting beliefs that hold you back
- Developing new skills and knowledge that align with God’s calling on your life
- Seeking godly counsel from mature believers who can guide your preparation
When you choose to wash and anoint yourself as Ruth did, you demonstrate your readiness to partner with God in His plans for your future.
The preparation process itself becomes an act of faith, showing that we believe God has something better in store for us.
Biblical preparation always involves both spiritual cleansing and practical action, positioning us to receive the fullness of what God wants to give.
Remember that to wash and anoint yourself is not about earning God’s blessing through works, but about positioning ourselves to receive what He has already prepared.
Just as Ruth’s preparation led to her marriage to Boaz and her place in the lineage of Jesus Christ, our preparation today positions us for the incredible purposes God has planned for our lives.
When we trust God’s guidance and prepare ourselves properly, we discover that He has been working all things together for our good and His glory.
The beautiful result of Ruth’s decision to wash and anoint herself was not just a personal blessing, but a blessing that extended to future generations.
When we prepare ourselves for God’s new opportunities, we position ourselves to be part of His greater plan that impacts others and brings glory to His name.
I want you to trust that your season of preparation is positioning you for breakthrough and blessing beyond what you can imagine.
Blessings..!
Call to Action
- Identify one area where God may be preparing a new opportunity and take practical steps to prepare yourself today.
Affirmation
- I am preparing my heart and life to receive the new opportunities God has planned for me.
Prayer Point for Today
- Preparation for Breakthrough: Pray for wisdom to recognize where God is opening new doors and for grace to prepare yourself properly to walk through them.
Let’s pray
Our Father, help us prepare our hearts and lives for the new opportunities You have planned. Give us wisdom to wash and anoint ourselves properly for Your purposes.
In the precious and mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
My prayer for you today: I pray that God will show you how to prepare for the new opportunities He has in store for your future.
