Let's talk about our fruits... by Amanda

Hey everyone! I'm so glad to be back!
​The devil really attacked me last week! I had the worst case of carpal tunnel syndrome in my right hand and wrist. The pain and numbness were unbelievable! I could not type or write. Thank you God for helping me get better. Now for the thoughts on my brain! 

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 I was attacked because I was doing some work for others. My mother in law has wanted her kitchen tiled for along time. Now that I am home I have time, so I got started and finally finished! The tile turned out great but I was in a lot of pain night and day with my hand.

I was reminded of Galations 6:9, "Let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart" NKJV.  The original text or KJV says, "and let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." I sort of felt like the last version!  I was weary and did not know if I might faint or fall over!

I believe that the devil comes at us strongly when we are trying to do God's plans. But just as He promised, we must press on for the prize. The blessings of self sacrifice are always well worth it in God's repayment. I am so blessed!

I began to think about myself and ask myself how well I am doing with the fruits of the spirit.
"Is my fruit ripe and am I harvesting it in God's will? Or is it rotten and not being used to serve God?
Is it perfect looking on the outside but hollow and fake like ceramic fruit?"

Lets look at the attributes of what each "piece of fruit " represents.  
In Galatians 5:22-23 we learn that the fruits of the spirit are love, joy, peace, long-suffering (patience), gentleness(meekness), goodness, faithfulness, kindness and (temperance) self-control.

Let's start with  LOVE - an attitude of good will toward others.
Originally written as Agape which is the most pure and unselfish kind of love. To give freely without looking at whether the other person deserves it or not, and without expecting anything back. This means we should only do something for someone else if we are not going to gripe about it. True charity a gift without the what's in it for me? Ask yourself, "Am I truly doing this as Christ did for me, totally unselfishly? Nothing expected in return?"

The next is JOY-  a feeling of gladness based on the nearness of God and his Holy Spirit, rather than the events of good and bad that happen during the day. It actually shows up best during hard times! We tend to cling to God more and are often in constant prayer. Ask yourself, "Am I truly experiencing joy from God or from the things that are going my way?" I have sometimes had to give my self an attitude adjustment and go to God in prayer, alone and stay there till I felt his joy!

The next is PEACE- a presence of tranquility even when everything is going haywire and total chaos. You sense that God controls everything and it gives you a sense of wholeness.  Ask yourself, "Am I frazzled when the waves of life come crashing down or am I experiencing the peace that surpasses all understanding? Am I easily set off or irritated when things don't go my way?" Time in prayer and reading the Bible help with this.

Then there is PATIENCE - an ability to handle the events of life with endurance and making it through rather than paying others back or lashing out. The "patience of Job" is a phrase often used when someone has a run of bad luck, but keeps on going...and then praises God anyway! Ask yourself if you are able to handle bad turn of events without blaming God.

Ok girls,  we will continue this next week. Until then, ask yourself, "What sort of fruit is in my bowl?"

I am praying for you all because we are all human and fall short. I have struggled with the 4 above fruits at one time or another. Nobody is perfect, but it is all what you do with it!
Until next time!  Blessings, 

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