The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-25
Dear Lord Jesus, I’m praising you today for fresh fruit—starting with peaches, blueberries and strawberries. Just seeing these three intermingled in a bowl is a visual feast in itself—igniting my tastes buds with salivatory anticipation. But, O the magic that occurs when their juices intermingle, and their contrasting textures become a culinary delight of exquisite pleasure… with or without a dollop of homemade vanilla ice cream on top and a slice of moist lemon pound cake underneath…
I praise you today for fresh fruit, Lord Jesus, and I can only imagine the cornucopia of produce we will enjoy forever in the new heaven and new earth. But I also praise you today for fresh fruit of the Spirit—when I get to taste this sumptuous fair in others and when you grow a new crop in me. Indeed, Holy Spirit, I’m yearning for signs of an emerging harvest in my life, for I have no greater joy than to give my world a taste of the beauty and bounty of Jesus.
But I’m utterly shut up to your work in my life. For I can no more bring forth love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control… than I can sprout a stalk of bananas… or germinate a couple of watermelons… or grow a pint-basket of cherries. However, here’s my hope. I know I belong to Christ Jesus and I know the dominion of sin has been broken in my life, forever…
I also know you live in me and I know I live by you, so guide my steps into the limitless and lawless realm of your fruit. Bring forth more of the loveliness of Jesus in my life… that others may be fed and marvel at the mercy and grace of such a Savior. By the good news and great power of the gospel, grant me quick repentances and unmistakable signs of your work in my life… from little buds to a full harvest. So very Amen, I pray, in Jesus’ exalted name.