But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: Gal. 5:22a
Heavenly Father, in this current season of unrest, may the Holy Spirit be like redemptive-Miracle-Grow in our hearts and midst. In the garden of our protests, grow a garden full of this fruit.
Love – Keep us alive to your outrageous—even scandalous love for us in Jesus. Only your love can conquer our prejudices, melt our hearts, and free us to love all men and women equally.
Joy – Grant us a joy that sabotages our excuses, and fuels our servanthood towards one another.
Peace – Father, may your peace trump our anxieties, tame our fears, and diffuse our anger. Bring the reconciling power and peace of the Gospel into our hearts and cities.
Patience – This is a season for listening. Grant us teachable hearts towards one another.
Kindness – There’s no justification for us ever being curt, rude, or harsh—ever.
Goodness – Father, we know we’re not saved by our works, but for a life of good works. Order our heart and hands accordingly.
Faithfulness – Great is your faithfulness. That’s not just a great hymn; it’s who you are. Make us more like yourself in these coming weeks.
Gentleness – Gentle our rough edges, edgy words, and tart reactions. Jesus is gentle and lowly. We want to be more like Jesus.
Self-control – Work long-term, Gospel-discipline deep into our hearts. Rallies are one thing, culture-change is another.
There is no law against these things! Gal 5:22b
Father, thank you that it’s impossible to be too zealous for the Spirit’s fruit; we cannot go “overboard” with wanting to be like Jesus. We’re grateful you began this work in our lives, and you will complete it (Phil. 1:6). So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ loving and powerful name.