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. ~Galatians 5:22-23I remember reading those verses and thinking "I need to be more loving" OR "I need to have more kindness toward that person" OR "I'm just not feeling at peace"...like I'm able to manufacture those character qualities. How in the world can I greet a hateful person with love on my own?! But that's not what those verses mean at all...instead, as I spend time with God through prayer (talking with Him) and reading His Word (The Bible), I am remaining "connected" to Him in relationship, and HE will help me to show love and kindness beyond my own ability.
I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me, you can do nothing. ~John 15:5This fall, I've been in a Bible study called Living Beyond Yourself by Beth Moore. At first, we focused on an overview of the book of Galatians, one of the New Testament books written by Paul. But now, each week, we've been studying each individual fruit of the Spirit. So far, we've studied:
Love--Do I "agape" (the Greek word for love that is unconditional) others?
Joy--Is my joy founded in my circumstances OR in what God has already done for me through Jesus' death and resurrection?
Peace--Am I peaceful despite the circumstances or people crossing my path?
Whenever I sit and study God's Word, I never walk away empty...He always brings to my mind things I've recently read OR He connects what I hear at church on Sunday with what I'm experiencing and what I'm studying...He is just amazing like that!
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Lord,
Thank You for Your Living and Active Word!
No matter how many times I read
my Bible,
I always walk away
from the time with You
amazed and in awe
of how
You have a plan...
and I am gratefully
never the same
after I meet with You...
only better!
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