How to Grow Good Fruit

Ugh! If only little Emily had exercised some patience! How badly young Ethan needs some self-control!

We parents find it easy to see our children’s shortcomings. Character holes show up clearly in family interactions. So, we pray for our kids (and ourselves) for more fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

But then … we pray on our own terms. “Lord, give me patience, and give it to me quick!” Or we say (only half-jokingly), “Don’t pray for patience because God will give you something that makes you practice it.” And as we pray, we chide ourselves and our kids that we have to work on these things.

It’s not much of a gift if we have to work it out ourselves. Thankfully, that’s not what the verse in Galatians says. Rather, Paul says, “God’s Spirit makes us” like this. Other translations call it “the fruit of the Spirit.”

God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways.

Galatians 5:22-23 (CEV)

Vineyard pastor Jay Pathak points out that if we focus on the results, we’re turning the verse upside down. He gives an example: An apple tree doesn’t have to strain, focus, or use willpower for an apple to appear. The fruit grows naturally from a healthy tree.

The part we can focus on—and teach to our children—is being in the Holy Spirit. Instead of trying to force the gift, pray for more of God in your life and theirs. Pray for a deeper connection with Christ. Pray for the old, sinful ways to be pruned.

We do this by cultivating regular habits that bring us closer to God: spending time alone with him, singing and worshiping him, meditating on his ways and his character, praying, meeting with other Christians, and studying His Word.

As we do these things, the fruit we all desire will well up within us in the supernatural way that is natural for God.

PRAY

Father God, how our family needs your good fruit. We need you. Show us ways we can grow deeper in our relationship with you. Please make us fruitful. Amen.

TIME TO TALK

Conversation starter for kids: Provides you with questions and prompts to facilitate a time of applicable discussion with children to lead them towards knowing God and His Word more deeply.

Question(s): How do you like to spend time with God? Is there another way we can try?

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help parents expand their Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Swipe to read the passages today.

Matthew 7:17

Luke 6:45