“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Believe it or not, there are times when I know that I’m
lacking a bit in one or more of these nine virtues (smile). OK, so I’m always lacking in all of them, to different
degrees, as is every other human being on earth, I believe.
But there are days when I know I am being especially
impatient or unkind or non-joyful… And
on those days, if you were listening in or could read my mind, you’d probably
hear something like, “God, give me patience!” multiple times throughout the day.
But I was thinking the other day, though it sounds good to
beg God to grant me patience, maybe that’s not what I should actually be
asking.
Because it says in that verse that patience (and the rest of
those virtues) is like a fruit that the Spirit produces, which I guess by
analogy means that I’m like a tree where this fruit can grow if He is in
me. So, if God is the gardener who has
planted these seeds of virtues in me by His Spirit, I shouldn’t be asking for
more seeds or for the fruit itself. I
should be asking for more water and more sunshine. I should be seeking a consistent supply of
Living Water and daily exposure to the Light: Jesus.
Asking God to make me patient vs. asking God to make me more
connected to (and by result, an imitator of) Jesus, who is patient. Maybe that doesn’t sound like too big of a
distinction. But for me, it represents a
reminder that what I’m seeking isn’t the product but the source. The main concern isn’t the fruit but the
roots, the nutrients. Because when the
roots are well nourished and taken care of, the fruit will come and it will be
good.
So, God, please fill me with the desire to live this day
connected to Jesus, who is the Living Water & the true Light. And I know that walking with Jesus throughout
the normal routines of the day, drinking in what I see in Him even in the
mundane, the fruit of the Spirit will grow and flourish, for Your glory!
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