Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT)
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, and self control. This reads like a wish list for those of us in recovery. We have spent years either chasing down these things in vain or arrogantly pushing them away. Some of us choose to begin drinking or using because we (or someone we cared for) lacked these things. So we looked to find them in our addictions. If you’re reading this now, you know all too well that you can’t achieve these things with self will or by your own power. You can’t even achieve them through a person or a particular group. And the reason we can’t is this- we are all human. And we suffer from the human condition.
There is good news though! We are able both to get and give these things when we allow God to fully redeem us and take control of our lives. The most beautiful gift we’re offered, salvation, goes hand and hand with another promise- the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, or God’s Spirit within us, will come in and dwell where welcomed. While this may sound scary (or you’ve seen the Spirit and its gifts abused by religious reprobates), it’s the greatest thing you can receive in this life. It means God is in control of your life. You can love unconditionally. You can have joy in the midst of ALL circumstances. You can have peace regardless of your past. You can personify patience to yourself and others. You can display kindness to your enemies. You can be gentle in situations smothered by pain. And you can possess self control of the cravings, desires, and lusts of this weak flesh.
That alone is cause enough to seek His Spirit in your life. And the power of the Holy Spirit residing in you and doing these things is but the tip of the iceberg. His Spirit is strongest when we are at our weakest. It will give you the courage to do anything. Ask Charles, who could never read that well. But empowered by the Holy Spirit, boldly volunteered to read the Scripture and devotional daily. Imagine what you could do if you truly sought, and listened to, God’s Spirit.
Discussion Questions:
1. Write down the fruits of the Spirit and place it where you look the most (desk, car dashboard, tool box, the mirror, the tv…)
2. Every time you look at them, say a quiet prayer that the Holy Spirit plant their seeds in your life
3. After looking and praying, get about the business of practicing them in your every -day- walking -around life
