Daily Dwelling

Galatians: 5:22 says, “but the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. The law is not against such things.”

I used to think that if I tried harder, the fruit of the spirit would begin to grow in me. If I tried harder to “watch my tone” then I would begin to speak with gentleness. If I tried to take a few deep breaths before reacting, then I would develop self-control. 

This past year, God gave me the word “surrender.” At the time, I wasn’t sure what He meant. Becoming a new mom, I was so anxious about my son’s life. I had this overwhelming fear that I would lose him or my husband. So I assumed that He would teach me how to surrender the things in my life that I believe are mine when in reality they are His first and foremost. God is continuing to teach me that truth, but in His kindness, He taught me much more than that. 

He taught me that I need to learn to surrender my desire to control every single part of my life. So when I look at the fruit of the spirit listed in Galatians 5:22, I’m reminded that the fruit of the spirit is not produced by our best efforts. It is produced only by the spirit. These fruits can only be established by abiding in Jesus.

 I don’t want to rely on creating my own goodness, but instead I want to learn the beauty and peace of trusting the only one who is truly good, God. 

Less of me and more of God. I need to try less and abide more. So this morning, let us repent of every ounce of good that we have tried to produce on our own and instead look to the One who embodies goodness. Next time you catch yourself saying something like, “Lord I really am trying to be better in the way I speak to my husband,” or “Lord I really am trying harder not to gossip with my friends,” pause for a moment and remind yourself that it’s not about you. It’s about the one who abides in us as believers and followers of Christ. Change that language to something like, “Lord teach me your ways that I may walk in your truth (Psalm 86),” or “Lord, help me yield up my spirit to your authority. Teach me submission to your control over my tongue, my actions, my thoughts, and reactions and let them be honoring to you.”