Fruit of the Spirit

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)

I often read this list in the past, and it would feel like I was going through a checklist and seeing where I was falling short. If I am honest, and more likely than not, if you are honest, it can be pretty discouraging.

But it doesn’t have to be…

First, there is no need to get too caught up in emotions. We may not always “feel” the fruit. Instead, we would be wise to examine the quality of our relationships with others.

Second, the fruit does not appear based on our efforts. If it did, we would all be there and “have it all together.” But it doesn’t, and we don’t. Fruit grows based on what is happening inside the plant producing the fruit and the soil and sunlight it receives. This fruit comes into our lives by planting ourselves in the good soil and sunlight of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Even when we don’t “feel” God working in our lives, we can trust He is. He is working deep down inside us. If we are planted in Him, the fruit will emerge. Only when we put ourselves in “a consistent posture of actively turning our whole being to God so that God’s presence, purpose and power can be released through our lives into all situations” can we have the fruit grow in us (Mulholland 107).

Are you actively turning your whole being to God and letting Him complete the good work He began in you? (Philippians 1:6)

What step can you take today to get planted in the good soil and fresh sunlight of God?

Mulholland, M. Robert, Jr. Invitation to a Journey: A Roadmap for Spiritual Formation. Expanded ed., InterVarsity Press, 2016.