It’s a Fruit…of the Spirit

“Ugh,” I roll my eyes and sigh. “Why can’t I get it right?”

My shoulders knot and my heart clenches. My mind reels with the familiar diatribe, “You should be able to do this. Why don’t you have more patience or self-control. Get with it Angela.”

Then I attempt to muster up patience when my heart wants what I want now. I set my alarm early to be self-disciplined to exercise only to hit snooze for 30 minutes. Why can’t I do it?

It finally dawned on me as I was reading God’s word.

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

Do you see it? The why? It isn’t Angela who produces patience or self-control, it is the Holy Spirit. I don’t have to try so hard to produce fruit. No I have to draw nearer to God and let His Spirit do a work in my life. Then and only then can I bear the fruit of patience, love, joy, peace, etc.

I noticed the fruit-growing when I consistently dug into God word. From there His Spirit has revolutionized my heart and mind. He is growing fruit of real love, joy, peace, patience. It isn’t the kind of fruit that spoils, but that grows ever sweeter as I draw nearer to God.

It is freeing to know I can’t do it myself. I can’t muster any fruit apart from the Holy Spirit at work in me. Praise God He never intended me to do it myself. He intended me to stay dependent on Him.

Father God Help me to never forget how desperately I need You. Father draw me near to You that Your Spirit may grow fruit in my life because I cannot do it myself. Thank You for Jesus and Your Spirit living in me. In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.