The Fruit Of The Spirit

TODAY’S VERSE
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Galatians 5:22 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. What a list. It is easy to focus on each attribute and begin to feel overwhelmed by the challenge to master each one. But that is not what today’s verse is suggesting. Instead, it is saying that the list of attributes is the result of living in the Spirit. It’s the Spirit’s fruit. In nature, if we want fruit, we must nourish the tree it grows on. Fruit is only produced when the tree is healthy. Likewise, when we fellowship with the Spirit, live in harmony with His direction, and follow His leading every day, the Spirit’s fruit will be produced in our lives. As the Holy Spirit instructs, rebukes, guides, and comforts us, if we respond to His voice, we will experience His fruit.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Holy Spirit, I want Your fruit to grow in my life. I know that is only possible through letting You guide my life. Help me hear Your promptings. Let me experience fellowship with You today. Please guide me in all things. Fill me, Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, I ask it.
AMEN

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God’s Way

TODAY’S THOUGHT
How many times have we regretted something we said or did? We were too hasty, reacting before we could think. How much pain have we caused acting out of anger, not concerned about the consequences? James admonishes us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. How different would our life be if we would follow this simple advice? How more effective would we be in our job, ministry, or dealing with those in our family? What opportunities to heal and bless others would be ours if we submit to James’ behavior code? Today, we can make a choice. Choose to listen. Choose to think before we speak. Choose to pray before we act out our anger. With God, all things are possible.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father, I ask for Your help this day to watch my tongue and emotions. Please help me to listen to others. Help me to be careful before I speak, and help me control my temper. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so I can be more like Your Son Jesus.
AMEN

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Love Is More Than A Four-letter Word

TODAY’S VERSE
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.
I Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)

TODAY’S MESSAGE
I read this list of love’s attributes and feel inadequate. I am guilty of using the word love so insincerely, not even close to its true meaning. Love is more than a four-letter word. I use the same word to describe my attitude toward a sports team or favorite dessert and my devotion toward my spouse or God. Love is more than saying, “I love you.” More than a romantic feeling, love demands my doing something. It is more walk than talk. It’s the kind of love the world is dying for. Today, I invite you to join me. Let’s read the list of love’s attributes again and make it our goal today to love those around us in this radical Christ-like manner. With His help, you and I can love the way Christ would have us love.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord, loving the way You love is not easy. I cannot do it by myself. I ask You to help me love those around me today with the patience, kindness, sacrifice, and dedication that You love me with. Thank You for Your love; help me to love others. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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He’s A Good, Good Father

TODAY’S VERSE
And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”
Galatians 4:6 (NLT)

TODAY’S MESSAGE
What a tender thought. Paul was very deliberate in using “Abba Father.” This is a more affectionate term than “Father.” The actual translation of “Abba Father” is “Daddy!” God invites us to call Him “Daddy.” Can you say that? Have you thought of Him that way? Paul says that as God’s children, He has given us His Spirit, and the job of the Spirit is to help us fall more and more in love with the Father until we realize that He is our “Daddy, Papa, our good, good Father.” Will you let Him do that? Will you begin to meditate, stop, and consider that He is your loving, affectionate Father? Imagine His deep love for you. Imagine you coming into His presence, calling Him “Daddy.” Ask God to help you know this reality deep in your heart, that God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, I want to call you “Daddy” or “Papa”. I hear it in my head, but it isn’t quite in my heart. I invite You, Holy Spirit, to speak to my heart, help me feel the Father’s love, and know You as a good, good Father.
AMEN

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How Do You Wait?

TODAY’S VERSE
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him.
Psalms 37:7 (NIV)

TODAY’S THOUGHT
Waiting can be challenging, especially when we find ourselves in difficult situations. The trouble is what we add to waiting. It is wait plus fretting; wait plus stewing; wait plus conniving; wait plus brooding. Instead, David adds God to the waiting. He says to be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him. That means if we are going to add anything to wait, it should be, wait plus faith; wait plus prayer; wait plus hope; wait plus the peace that passes all understanding. Is there something that you are having trouble waiting on? Are you fretting, stewing, conniving, or brooding? If so, give it over to Jesus. Be still before Him and wait in faith, hope, and peace.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, it is so hard to wait. Forgive me for fretting, stewing, conniving, and brooding. Help me instead to trust You. I surrender my situation to You. Today I will wait in faith, hope, and peace. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Wounded Healers

TODAY’S VERSE
God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
II Corinthians 1:3-4

TODAY’S THOUGHT
I love the term “wounded healer.” Henri Nouwen coined it in his book of the same name. It conjures up the image of a person that comes alongside someone and shares “healing” with great understanding, compassion, and empathy. Why? Because they have been in the same situation. They share the same wounds and scars. They know the other person’s pain. But Paul is going a step further than just being a wounded healer. He is suggesting that we be a “healed healer!” There is great empathy and compassion in being wounded and helping another with their wound, but besides empathy and compassion, a healed healer offers hope, health, and wholeness. Paul states that God is the merciful Father and the source of all comfort. As we come to Him and receive comfort, we are to go and give this same comfort to others. As God heals us, we share that healing. Should we be full of empathy? Yes, much so. Should we be compassionate? Yes, we, of all people. Should we be patient, kind, and understanding? If we are not, then we have forgotten that it was by His grace that we were healed. When God comforts us, we are grateful, humbled, and joyful. Make His comfort complete by comforting others in the same way. May we never forget His mercy. May we never forget to treat others in the same way He has treated us.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Father, God of all comfort. Thank You for the many times You have comforted me. Forgive me for not being as compassionate and patient as I should be toward others. Forgive me for forgetting how much You have done for me. Help me today to extend that same comfort to others that You bring into my path. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Tongue And Temper

TODAY’S VERSE
Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.
James 1:19, 26

TODAY’S THOUGHT
James doesn’t pull any punches. He knows how easy it is to pretend we are living for Christ. We have all the correct outward behavior. We know the right phrases, attend the right programs, and do the right ministries. But James doesn’t talk about any of that. Instead, he gets right to the heart of Christianity. He says that we MUST be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. How different would this world be if everyone would heed what James said? How many fights, feuds, and even wars have been fought because people would not control their tongues or emotions? How worthless has our Christianity seemed to others because we did not allow James’ admonition to permeate our behavior? If Jesus would be Lord and Master of our life, He must be Lord and Master of our tongue and temper. If this has been a weakness, confess it to Christ and ask for the help of His Holy Spirit. He will guide you. Today, might we give our emotions to Christ. When given an opportunity, might we be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Father, You know how often I have been so swift to speak and get angry. You know how I have not listened to others the way I should. I confess my poor habits and ask, dear Lord Jesus, that You forgive me and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Please give me the discipline I need today to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Imitate The Love Of Christ

TODAY’S VERSE
Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do because you are his dear children. Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.
Ephesians 5:1-2

TODAY’S THOUGHT
You have heard it said, “Imitation is the best form of flattery.” Have you ever watched a child imitate their father or mother? They are so serious. They pick up subtle nuances that we would never expect them to. They do not judge; they just imitate what was acted out before them. This is what we have been asked to do. We are to imitate the love of Christ. We are to love the way He loved. Paul describes that kind of love. He says love is patient, kind, not jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love doesn’t demand its own way, is not irritable, and doesn’t keep a record of wrongdoing. Love endures, doesn’t lose faith, never gives up, and is always hopeful. If we want to imitate Christ, we must love. Might Christ help us imitate His love today.

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Jesus, help me to imitate You in everything I do. Help me especially love the way You love. Guide, direct, and fill me with Your Holy Spirit so I can follow Your example with those I meet today. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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Remain In Him

TODAY’S VERSE
But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
John 15:7, 8

TODAY’S THOUGHT
How do we bring glory to God in our life? Jesus was pretty straightforward with the answer. He said we need to remain in Him and produce the kind of fruit His disciple would. Paul later explains what that fruit is. He wrote that when we follow Christ, the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in our life. So how do we remain in Jesus? We do it by creating a solid relationship with Him. We spend enough time with Jesus to know what He wants. We relate to Him in meditation and prayer. We listen to Him. We make Him Lord of our life and ask Him to guide our life. As we remain in Jesus, we will see the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control more and more present in our life. This will bring glory to God

TODAY’S PRAYER
Dear Jesus, help me relate to You in a more personal way. Help me draw near to You and listen. Help me desire You above all things. Teach, guide, and reveal Yourself to me so that I may bear the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
AMEN

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Be Slow To Speak

TODAY’S VERSE
Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord? Who may enter your presence on your holy hill? Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts. Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends.
Psalms 15:1-3

TODAY’S THOUGHT
The Lord puts a premium on what we say. James warns us, “If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.” He continues to warn us, “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” It is not a surprise when David makes a list of the qualities of a holy life that includes speaking the truth, refusing gossip, and not speaking evil of others. We say Jesus is the “Lord of our life.” Jesus would ask, “Am I the Lord of your tongue?” Today, give God your words. Make a conscious effort to weigh what you say in order to honor Him. James said it best when he wrote, “be quick to listen and slow to speak.”

TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord, I give You control of my tongue. Please help me guard my mouth Today. Please help me be quick to listen to others and slow to speak. Help me weigh carefully everything I say so that I may be a testimony of Your love and grace. In Jesus’ name.
AMEN

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