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.
After looking at the verse in Galatians, what specific “fruit” (love, joy, peace…) do you find yourself lacking in your daily life? Give an example if you can.
What circumstance in your life shows your weakness with the specific “fruit” you mentioned above.
Probably the “fruit” I lack most in my daily life is self-control! I feel like this characteristic encompasses each of the other “fruits”, as well. I can only speak for myself and know that in order to strengthen my daily walk in the Lord, I must use self-control in the choices I make in all circumstances.
One of the areas of my life in which it is most evident that I lack self-control is in the way I respond to people when I feel threatened, unaccepted or unimportant - by their comments or actions. I often react, with words, quickly – without thinking of the impact my words will have on someone. It’s a problem for me and I am in prayer over it and really working to correct this behavior.
Galatians 5:
16) So I say, live by the Spirit,
and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
17) For the sinful nature desires
what is contrary to the Spirit,
and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.
They are in conflict with each other,
so that you do not do what you want.
18) But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.
In the past I experienced abuse – emotional, verbal and physical. During the worst of the abuse, I had a gun held to my head and knew that I could very well die at the hand of my husband. Those years changed me forever! I believe the experiences of the past caused me to harden my heart and build walls that have been difficult to break down!
I still struggle with feelings of unworthinesss, lack of self-esteem and rejection. I know that only God can heal me and I pray for that healing. I know that He is working in me and I have experienced many positive changes over the past year and look forward to even more healing in the future - through prayer, study and I trust that He will completely free me of these strongholds.
I recently wrote a post on my blog about my defensiveness and had a comment left on my blog that, at first, I took as personal criticism and believed it to be sent from one of a very few people that I know in my life (the author was anonymous). As I read the comment over, several times, I also prayed, asking God to help me to be open to what the commenter had said and to see it in a positive light and I then began to see that it didn’t matter who wrote it or what the intent behind the comment was – it was true.
My constant prayer and my desire is to be filled with God’s love and to express myself – full of the “fruit of the Spirit” - so that others can see Christ living in me!
annb
Bless you for sharing. That anonymous comment was a tough one to respond to. I think you handled it well.
ReplyDeleteHi Ann, I know how many years it has taken me to get where I am now (and still have SO FAR TO GO), but I can't imagine living through what you did. I am so sorry that you had to experience that. ;o(
ReplyDeleteI have no doubt that God will complete the work He has begun in you. The sweet healing balm of the Father will continue to wash over you as you rest in His arms.
Bless you friend!
Beth
I realize that sharing what you just did is not easy, I'm sure reliving those emotions can be painful. Thank you for letting us see into your past, it helps to know that God is healing you and allowing you to move on.
ReplyDeleteI too need to have more self control, but I also need to have more patience. I find myself getting extremely upset lately at the fact that God is not healing Luke in the time table that I want it to happen in.
Love in Christ,
Suzi