I recently finished The 40-Day Sugar Fast, by Wendy Speake. Her daily devotions are awesome at pointing the reader to God. I love this practice of strengthening self-control and turning away from a worldly comfort (sugar) as a cure for boredom or to satisfy a craving. Instead, we practice turning to God during this fast, and hopefully continue turning to him after. It is a valuable and faith-building practice.
As I finished the 40 days, I thought about self-control being only one of the nine virtues of the fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5. I began to wonder about practicing each of these virtues.
What would happen if we practiced this fruit with intention? Would we become more fruitful? Would we become more obedient to the Spirit when he nudges us? How might this focus bless those around us and grow the Spirit’s effect within us?
So, I invite you to join me on a nine-week journey as we dig into the fruit of the Spirit. We will learn a bit about each virtue and focus on actively practicing one each week.
Practice will *not* make perfect, in this case. But perfection isn’t our goal here. Our goal is for us, with our pride, selfish desires and sin, to decrease and humble ourselves so that God, through the Spirit, might increase in us. As we abide more with Christ, we become more like him, and increased fruit of the Spirit is a natural result for us.
The fruit doesn’t come from us. It’s impossible for us to rely only on ourselves to produce better fruit, because our nature as humans leans more toward the “fleshly desires” as described in Galatians 5:17-21. “For the flesh craves what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
It is the Spirit who moves through us to produce the fruit of Galatians 5:22-23: “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.”
These are not separate fruits or gifts, but collective evidence of the Spirit working through us. God doesn’t give us love but not gentleness, for example. As we abide more in Jesus, the Spirit works to produce more of each of these aspects of the fruit in us. We may feel like we are better at some than others, but as our faith grows, all of these aspects increase in us, working together to highlight God in us.
Through practice of these nine virtues of the fruit, we will invite the Spirit to move in us, growing our faith and reliance on him in order to be more fruitful. Hopefully, we will grow to discern the Spirit when he nudges us, and to obey his voice more often. God is worthy of this attempt, however imperfect, to bring him more glory.
Join me as we invite the Spirit to grow his fruit in us.
Father, thank you for producing such lovely fruit in us through your Spirit. We desire to be more of these qualities. As we focus on and practice each aspect of the fruit over the next few weeks, please help us to discern your voice and help us to obey you more. Help us to produce more fruit for your sake and glory, not for our own. Amen.
Practicing the Fruit of the Spirit: Love
Practicing the Fruit of the Spirit: Joy
Practicing the Fruit of the Spirit: Peace
Practicing the Fruit of the Spirit: Patience
Practicing the Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness
Practicing the Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness
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