FRIDAY: FRUIT FROM THE SPIRIT

Sep 23, 2022
2 min read

Lord, today I’m hungry. I hunger for fruit from the Holy Spirit, which feeds my soul and allows me to experience abundant life. I ask You to fill me up with this fruit today.

Galatians 5:22-26

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking, and envying each other.

God promises when I focus on Him, He will produce fruit in my life. When God changes my life, so I desire Him, He produces His fruit in my heart and in my behavior.

Love, Joy, & Goodness are three fruits God wants to give me. His unfailing love will teach me how to love others. His joy will teach me to rejoice in all circumstances. His goodness will teach me that His purpose is for me to be holy, like His Son.

Peace, Patience, & Faithfulness will guide me in interacting with others. His purpose is to grant me His peace, so I will not be conceited. He will give me patience, so I will not provoke others. He will give me faithfulness, so I am content with what I have and will not envy others.

Kindness, Gentleness, & Self-Control will help me in my relationships with others. In Christ, I give kindness away freely without expecting it in return, I approach others with gentleness and meekness (strength under control), and I exert self-control when I feel tempted to go in a different direction than God is leading me.

THINK ABOUT THESE THINGS: When I feel weak in any one area, God says all I need is to ask Him, and He will give me a refill. The Holy Spirit living inside me is a constant fountain producing each of these fruits. Do I feel unloved? Lord, allow me to feel Your love. Do I feel a lack of peace? Lord, unleash Your peace on my heart. Do I feel impatient? Lord, shower me with buckets full of patience today. Have I been unkind? Lord, help me to forgive others, so I can give away Your kindness. Am I experiencing a lack of self-control? Lord, only because of Your grace do I experience any control at all. Please allow me to exercise Your control in my life today.

Since I live by the Spirit, I want to keep in step with the Spirit. If I get ahead, I am leading and not being a follower of Christ. If I fall behind, God is patient while I wait on Him and learn from Him. Lord, help me to keep in mind that walking in step with the Spirit is reminding myself every day that You want to crucify my fleshly passions and desires and replace them with Yours.

May you be blessed,

Chaplain Wayne Ruckman