When I woke up Monday morning, I stayed in bed for a while
to pray. I began thinking about the
Sunday morning service and our evening growth group get together. Both were a blessing and refreshment to
me. As I was pondering the word given in
the service and our discussion that followed that evening, I believe God put
this on my heart - “The word given and worship experience is a small foretaste
of a greater ushering. These times do
not change your heart, rather, your change of heart will usher in more of Me.” I started to pray for God to change my heart,
then He began to show me a beautiful picture of the fruit of the Spirit.
LOVE – To fully be able to love others, I need to believe
that God truly does love and accept me.
JOY – “This is My commandment that you love one another,
that your joy may be full.” When I
believe that God truly loves and accepts me, it brings forth an abundance of
joy.
PEACE – By embracing the Father’s love and experiencing
abundant joy, I have a peace in knowing Whose I am.
PATIENCE – Embracing the Father’s love, experiencing
abundant joy, and having peace in knowing Whose I am, brings security to be
patient with myself and others, which gives a willingness to wait and tarry.
KINDNESS – Embracing the Father’s love, experiencing
abundant joy, having peace in knowing Whose I am, and being patient with myself
and others, allows me to understand how to show kindness to others.
SELF CONTROL - Embracing the Father’s love, experiencing
abundant joy, having peace in knowing Whose I am, being patient with myself and
others, showing kindness to others, walking in righteousness (by grace alone),
being faithful toward God, as He was faithful toward me by sowing Goodness in
my heart, allowing me to be a full extension of the same gentleness with others,
as my Father is with me when crushing and pressing to make new wine, rids the
urge of indulgences as there is no room left for idols.
God is so good to us.
He loves us. He forgives us. He refines us. He fills us with His Sprit. He gives us spiritual gifts to edify the body
of Christ. He uses us to be an extension
of Himself to others through the fruit of the spirit. He gives us weapons for
battle. May we earnestly seek His face
and be willing to lay ourselves and our traditions down, and allow His Spirit
to move in this place.
