Have you ever read about the Fruit of the Spirit and wondered… “What does this actually look like on an ordinary Tuesday?”
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control sound beautiful… until you’re tired, overstimulated, frustrated with your spouse, helping children, or dealing with difficult people or situations.
The Fruit of the Spirit isn’t just something we know; it’s something we live.
What is the Fruit of the Spirit?
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” Galatians 5:22-23.
1. Love
When I think of Love, I think about the scripture where God reminds us to love our neighbors as ourselves.
“And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Matthew 22:39.
A few examples of walking in Love are:
Choosing to extend grace to others when they have not deserved it, just as God extends it to us when we fall short.
Choosing to speak kindly when others don’t, or when we feel they didn’t earn it.
Choosing to serve family/friends/community.
2. Joy
When I think of Joy, I think of pure and genuine happiness that doesn’t come from a tangible item or person. It comes from within, from being in a state only God can give.
“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:11.
A few examples of walking in Joy:
Choosing to feed others with your smile. You never know who needs that genuine smile that only you can offer.
Choose to rejoice in every circumstance, whether exciting or overwhelming.
To grow in joy, keep spending time with God and ask him to give you the joy that comes only from being in his presence.
When it tries to steal my joy, I remind myself of what it could have been but wasn’t; then I rejoice and thank God for the blessing of what it was, and I move forward in thanksgiving.
3. Peace
When I think of peace, I think of our Heavenly Father and this scripture:
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.
That’s it right there! The formula: “In me” abiding, resting, worshiping, spending time in his presence; that is what I think of when I read “In me” we will have peace with God.
A few examples of walking in peace…
Make a continual decision to recognize when a conversation or life event is trying to attack your peace.
He warns us that this world brings trials and tribulations, but in him we will be comforted and overcome.
4. Patience
When I think of patience, I think of waiting in line without losing my cool, or waiting for the time I scheduled an important appointment.
“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.” Psalms 130:5
When I read this scripture, it spoke VOLUMES to me because it reminded me that as I wait patiently for that outcome, I can recite God’s word in my mind to penetrate my heart and keep my fleshly desires from taking over, getting frustrated, or acting out impatiently.
A few examples of walking in Patience are:
Waiting on prayers can be so hard because the enemy can lead us to believe God has forgotten us or that blessing isn’t for me. This is where we put our hope in God’s Word and walk it out daily, no matter what it looks like.
Choosing to extend grace when a child keeps repeating mistakes, and all the parents say, “Amen!” LOL, not, but seriously.
Remember the times you knew God told you to stop sinning, to leave that person alone, yet you still chose to do what you wanted with your grown self because you felt your way was better… let’s pause… yeah, God demonstrated patience and grace.
5. Kindness
When I think of Kindness, I think of beautiful gestures—gentle speech, seasoned with truth and love.
“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”Colossians 3:12
An example of walking in Kindness is:
Helping someone by opening the door. Or handing them the last grocery cart. It could just be smiling back and saying hi or “have a great day.” You never know who could use your kindness.
6. Goodness
When I think of Goodness, I think of small daily gestures that can make a huge impact and dramatically change someone’s life.
“But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.”
Luke 6:35.
An example of walking in goodness would be listening to someone. Offering sincere words that can help them in that moment or season they’re navigating. Running errands to help, like changing a flat tire, is another. There are countless ways to show goodness, and I believe it is such a beautiful fruit of the Spirit to intentionally walk out daily.
7. Faithfulness
When I think of Faithfulness, I think of someone loyal, someone committed to what they said they would do, no matter the cost.
“Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.” Deuteronomy 7:9.
An example of walking in faithfulness is being trustworthy at home, at work, in everyday life, and in every area, while also being a good steward of what God has entrusted to my hands.
8. Gentleness
When I think of Gentleness, I think of a soft touch, of the warmth that comes from being comforted; just reading the word Gen-tle-ness sounds so precious.
“to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.” Titus 3:2
An example of gentleness is quietly pulling a coworker aside to tell them they have something in their teeth rather than pointing it out loudly in front of others. Another example is speaking to someone who is upset in a calm, steady voice instead of yelling at them.
9. Self-Control
When I think of self-control, I think of the words that come out of my mouth, the ones I choose based on what I’ve learned or what I’ve experienced.
I also think about the words I wish I could take back and never let out.
“A person without self-control is like a city with broken-down walls.” Proverbs 25:28.
Praying for this fruit matters because walking in it, or out of it, can lead to life-altering events.
A few examples of walking in Self-Control are:
When you expect an outcome from a situation, and you get the total opposite. Or when you get news that’s a hard pill to swallow, and you really didn’t want to deal with it. But despite the unexpected outcome, you choose not to allow it to alter your state of mind.
Okay, but how do I actually produce these fruits…
All of these sound amazing, but how can I produce these fruits, or remember to walk these out daily?
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”John 15:4.
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5.
To abide means to live, to remain, to stay constant over time. Reading the Holy Bible and meditating on the scriptures is the only way we can produce the fruits needed to walk this journey.
In closing…
Heavenly Father, thank you for this individual on the other side of this screen. Thank you for bringing them here to read the words you’ve allowed me to articulate, to do one thing: pierce their heart and soul with your words, to transform their lives, all for your glory and honor.
Father, I pray this blog gives them a hunger to read your Word, commit to spending time in your presence, and be led by you alone. Thank you, Lord,, for this opportunity,, and I pray you continue carrying them and helping them navigate this walk of faith. In Jesus’ Name, I pray. Amen.
Thank you, reader. If you haven’t already, like, share, comment, read, or listen to one of my other blogs to help, encourage, and give hope, all for the Glory of our Savior.
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