Living in Increase (Part 11) - Increase in JoySample

Joy in Freedom

This is one of my favorite verses. We will automatically follow the rules when we operate in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Is it easy? Not always. Does our flesh win out sometimes? Yes. That is why Paul mentions crucifying the flesh. If we allow the Spirit to lead, the Spirit is stronger than our flesh.

Imagine you’re in a busy grocery store. You head to check out, and all the lines are full. You start in one line that seems to be going slow. You get impatient–foot tapping, finger drumming, heavy sighing, impatient. Another line appears to be going a little quicker, so you jump in that line only to have the customer in front of you counting change out one by one. You look at the first line you were in and see the customer behind you checking out now. That could’ve been you had you been operating in patience. Now you must wait even longer–your flesh won, which didn’t bless you.

We are free because we have a choice–to operate in the flesh or the Spirit. Which option will bless others and ourselves more? Which will bring God glory?

When you are faced with choosing between flesh or Spirit this week, I challenge you to choose Spirit. Watch how God will bless you and increase your joy.

Monica Barnes

Action Step: Choose to operate with the fruit of the Spirit this week.