Friday, August 21, 2020

Developing the Fruits of the Spirit



By: Sarah Geringer 


Would you like to learn a unique way to develop spiritual fruit? Meditating on verses pertaining to the fruits of the spirit can help you grow! Here are some examples to get you started.


Love

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

John 13:34

Jesus spoke these words to his disciples soon before his crucifixion. If you meditate on this command, you will understand why love is the first fruit of the spirit.

God is love, and he loves you so much that he saved you from sin through Jesus’ sacrifice. His love for you is infinite, self-sacrificing, and unconditional. He wants you to follow Jesus’ example in your love for others. Meditating on verses about love will make you a more loving person.

 

Joy

You make known to me the path of life;
    you will fill me with joy in your presence,
    with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Psalm 16:11

This verse shows us that joy comes from being in God’s presence. Through meditation, you fill your mind with God’s Word and enter his presence. You also discover the path of life he has chosen for you, and you will discover the eternal pleasures he has in store for you. Meditation can unlock the door to greater joy.

 

Peace

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.

Isaiah 26:3

Many of us are searching for peace in our hurried, chaotic world. By meditating on verses about peace, like this one, your mind will be steadfast on God’s character and promises. You will have a deep source of peace from hiding God’s Word in your heart.

 

Patience

A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense.

Proverbs 19:11

So many people struggle with impatience. Would you like to be known as a patient person? Meditate on verses like this one to understand the benefits of patience. You can also look up verses on “waiting” and “waiting on God” to grow in patience. Meditation will guard your heart in times when you are tempted to feel impatient.

 

Kindness

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32

Our world needs more kindness. When you meditate on verses about kindness, you learn about God’s kindness toward you. You also learn that God wants us to show kindness to others, and you may be inspired to pray about opportunities to show kindness to others.

 

Goodness

They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

Psalm 145:7

When you meditate on verses about God’s goodness, you develop a greater taste for goodness in your own life. God’s Word calls us to a life of goodness, which means living with purity and wise choices. Start meditating on all the ways God is good, and your ability to bear the fruit of goodness will grow.

 

Gentleness

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.

1 Timothy 6:11

In his final charge to Timothy, Paul entreats him to put off worldliness and put on godly traits like gentleness. Meditating on Jesus’ gentle example can help you find ways to become a gentler person.

 

Faithfulness

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22-23

Scripture is filled with examples of God’s faithfulness. Meditate on the ways God was faithful to his people in the Bible, and your faith will be strengthened. You’ll also have examples of God’s faithfulness to follow in your own life.

 

Self-Control

Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.

Proverbs 25:28

Self-control is an area in which all of us can improve. By meditating on verses about self-control and godliness, you can learn what God expects from you and ways to defeat your sinful nature.

 

Which fruit of the spirit will you meditate upon first?


Here's a prayer to encourage you today:

Heavenly Father,

I praise you for the fruits of the spirit you bear in me.
Thank you for the Holy Spirit's presence in my life.
Help me meditate on verses that will inspire me to bear more fruit.
I trust that as I hide your word in my heart, you will develop more fruit in me.
I thank you in advance for the fruits you will bear in me this year.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Want more tips on Christian meditation? Check out my book, Transforming Your Thought Life: Christian Meditation in Focus and the 31-Day Christian Meditation Challenge I'm currently hosting.

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Have a wonderful weekend!

Blessings and God's peace to you,





Photo from Canva.com




Thanks to BibleGateway.com for easy scripture navigation!

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