But the fruit the Holy Spirit produces is love, joy and peace. It is being patient, kind and good.  It is being faithful and gentle and having control of oneself. There is no law against things of that kind. Gal 5:22-23

One of my favorite verses…today’s post really follows Monday’s post well!  The author of our study makes an excellent point: Have you ever considered that these gifts, the Fruits of the Spirit, are gifts we already have been given by God?  How often do we pray for patience or self-control, joy or peace?  In another post about peace, I mentioned a Joyce Meyers message about peace, but I didn’t explain how I came to hear it.  I was going through a difficult period in my life.  I was under spiritual attack by a “friend” at church and I had been disappointed by those closest to me.  As the Psalmist writes in beautiful Psalm 42, I was downcast in my soul.  My husband had left for work already, early as usual (“o’dark-thirty” as my Dad would say).  I was just finishing up my workout DVD, and as I turned it off, the TV came on to a Joyce Meyers program – on TLC – that right there was a miracle!  And I had been in such turmoil that morning; already I had prayed and prayed about my worries.  The message by Joyce Meyers that day was about peace.  Joyce said she thought it was amazing how many people go through life searching for peace when God has already given it to us: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid (John 14:27).  Jesus bequeathed peace to us‘¦He left it to us as an inheritance, as children of God.  It is like money in the bank‘¦and yet we live like paupers sometimes ‘“ how often are we desperate for peace, joy, love?

We often apply a worldly understanding to the things of God and this is a big mistake.  We think that our godliness is a reflection of our own hard work.  I used to think that my spiritual life was another part of my overall plan for self-improvement.  Want to lose weight?  Go on a diet.  Want to get stronger?  Work out.  Want to learn to cook something new?  Get a recipe and just do it!  But spiritual growth is never a result of our own work – there is no “self”-improvement in a spiritual sense.  Any move toward greater spiritual maturity results from losing “self” and gaining Christ.   I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me (Gal 2:20).  Our “self” must decrease and He must increase.

Jesus Himself showed that we are misled when we strive toward our own goodness.  You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.  Remain in Me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me (John 15:3-4)  It is only by drawing near to Jesus that we may bear fruit.  The Fruit of the Spirit is not something achieved by our own human efforts but is a natural outpouring of the Spirit within us.  Abiding in Jesus, living a life that is utterly dependent upon Him, is what produces a spiritual maturity that is easily recognizable. “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.  Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.  The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. Luke 6:43-45

The striving to “be a better person” is a trap.  It takes our eyes off the real purpose of our walk…to be close to God.  It also plays into all of our old insecurities or into our pride in our own goodness (depends on your achilles heel!).  God has a plan for us and only He can equip us to carry it out.  So today let’s claim our inheritance.  Stop striving toward unattainable goodness and worthiness and rest in Him.  Fellowship with Jesus is the antidote for anxiety and stress, producing joy and peace instead.  Planting the Word in our hearts will help us to respond with love, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness and self-control in difficult times.  Seeking after God, regularly, grows our relationship with Him and increases our faithfulness to Him and to others.

Remember: He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil 1:6

justAgirl…just like you!