‘One day Naomi said to Ruth, “My daughter, it’s time that I found a permanent home for you, so that you will be provided for. Boaz is a close relative of ours, and he’s been very kind by letting you gather grain with his young women. Tonight he will be winnowing barley at the threshing floor. Now do as I tell you—take a bath and put on perfume and dress in your nicest clothes. Then go to the threshing floor, but don’t let Boaz see you until he has finished eating and drinking. Be sure to notice where he lies down; then go and uncover his feet and lie down there. He will tell you what to do.” “I will do everything you say,” Ruth replied. So she went down to the threshing floor that night and followed the instructions of her mother-in-law. After Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he lay down at the far end of the pile of grain and went to sleep. Then Ruth came quietly, uncovered his feet, and lay down. Around midnight Boaz suddenly woke up and turned over. He was surprised to find a woman lying at his feet! “Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.” “The Lord bless you, my daughter!” Boaz exclaimed. “You are showing even more family loyalty now than you did before, for you have not gone after a younger man, whether rich or poor. Now don’t worry about a thing, my daughter. I will do what is necessary, for everyone in town knows you are a virtuous woman. But while it’s true that I am one of your family redeemers, there is another man who is more closely related to you than I am. Stay here tonight, and in the morning I will talk to him. If he is willing to redeem you, very well. Let him marry you. But if he is not willing, then as surely as the Lord lives, I will redeem you myself! Now lie down here until morning.” So Ruth lay at Boaz’s feet until the morning, but she got up before it was light enough for people to recognize each other. For Boaz had said, “No one must know that a woman was here at the threshing floor.” Then Boaz said to her, “Bring your cloak and spread it out.” He measured six scoops of barley into the cloak and placed it on her back. Then he returned to the town. When Ruth went back to her mother-in-law, Naomi asked, “What happened, my daughter?” Ruth told Naomi everything Boaz had done for her, and she added, “He gave me these six scoops of barley and said, ‘Don’t go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.’” Then Naomi said to her, “Just be patient, my daughter, until we hear what happens. The man won’t rest until he has settled things today.”’ Ruth 3:1-18(NLT)
‘My lover has gone down to his garden, to his spice beds, to browse in the gardens and gather the lilies. I am my lover’s, and my lover is mine. He browses among the lilies.
Young Man
You are beautiful, my darling, like the lovely city of Tirzah. Yes, as beautiful as Jerusalem, as majestic as an army with billowing banners. Turn your eyes away, for they overpower me. Your hair falls in waves, like a flock of goats winding down the slopes of Gilead. Your teeth are as white as sheep that are freshly washed. Your smile is flawless, each tooth matched with its twin. Your cheeks are like rosy pomegranates behind your veil. Even among sixty queens and eighty concubines and countless young women, I would still choose my dove, my perfect one— the favorite of her mother, dearly loved by the one who bore her. The young women see her and praise her; even queens and royal concubines sing her praises:’ Song of Songs 6:2-9(NLT)
Devotional Content:
Improving sexual intimacy in marriage is a joint effort. While there are certain things husbands and wives are responsible for doing on their own, both should also work to improve intimacy together. Here are some ideas of things you both can do.
First, it is important for both of you to take the initiative sexually. In most marriages, the husband is the primary initiator, for many of the reasons mentioned earlier. But it is really good for the wife to do this some of the time. It gives her the opportunity to add her own creativity to the sexual relationship. Taking the initiative also helps a wife meet her husband’s need to know that she desires the sexual relationship with him.
Second, take time to enjoy the sexual experience. It is easy to get into ruts. Keep it from being routine. Make an effort to set aside more time to enjoy the sexual experience.
Third, pay attention to the atmosphere where you make love. Take time for candles, baths together, music, soft lights, fireplaces, and massages.
Finally, express your desire to each other. Say, “I love you” and “I am crazy about you.” Talk about what you are thinking and feeling. It adds to the excitement and helps you know more about what your spouse is experiencing.
Bottom line: Set aside time to talk and plan what each of you want in this area of your marriage.
Today’s Challenge:
Make a committment to express your desire for each other in three different ways.
Going Deeper:
1. How often do you take initiative when it comes to sex?
2. Wives, what do you need to do to make sure that your husband isn’t the only one initiating sex?
3. When was the last time you were intimate with your spouse and the environment was romantic?
4. Will you make a commitment to setting aside time to talk about your sexual intimacy with your spouse this week?
Resource:
Use mundane moments for Godly purpose in your marriage with our House Prayer Cards.
Prayer is the single BEST thing you can for your marriage. God is the one who can ultimately change your hearts and your marriage for the better, so inviting him in to do those things is the single best thing you can do for your marriage.
from Improving Sexual Intimacy by Dr. Kim Kimberling