The Fruit of the Spirit

Readings:
Psalm 22
Galatians 5:13-26

Focus:
Galatians 5:22-23a: "But the harvest of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, fidelity, gentleness, and self-control."

When we go through life just letting ourselves live without paying attention to what God might want, we end up making a lot of mistakes and living pretty selfishly. We get irritable, we do things that benefit ourselves instead of benefitting other people, we are thoughtless, and so on.

But when we ask God to direct our days, the Holy Spirit guides what we say and do. And that is when the qualities listed above start to show up in our lives.

I know that I am not very good at many of those things on my own. I am glad that I can have the fruit of the Holy Spirit in my life because of God, since I can't do it myself!

The Spiritual Outlook

Readings:
Nehemiah 4
Romans 8:5-11

Focus:
Romans 8:5-6: "Those who live on the level of the old nature have their outlook formed by it, and that spells death; but those who live on the level of the spirit have the spiritual outlook, and that is life and peace."

Giving our lives to Christ does more than just assure us of salvation. It transforms our very outlook on life. The closer we get to God, and the more intimate our relationship with him, then the more differently we see things.

And this new outlook leads to life and peace, and also to joy and contentment. True happiness and satisfaction come from a life lived in relationship with God. I know this because I have experienced it. I would not trade it for any other kind of life, no matter the thrills or pleasures or riches that might come with it.

Those who live on the level of the spirit have the spiritual outlook, and that is life and peace. Hallelujah to the resurrected Lord who gives this to us!