Connect 21- Prayer + Fasting - Holy Spirit, Our HelperSample

Day 9 | The Fruit Starts with Love

The nine attributes mentioned in Galatians 5:22–23 as the fruit of the Spirit originate from God’s sacrificial love. When a Christian exhibits love toward others, this leads people to Christ.

Patience, kindness, goodness, and gentleness are primarily exhibited in gracious behavior toward others. In contrast, joy, peace, faithfulness, and self-control are concealed aspects only God can perceive. Growing spiritually in these traits causes transformation as believers grow in grace and strive to be more like Christ. The Holy Spirit, who lives within them, helps them in this journey.

Love is the foundation of the fruit of the Spirit. We may enjoy the affection of our parents, children, spouses, and friends. Still, there is much more pleasure derived from the selfless love of God, which can only be demonstrated via the Spirit Himself. Sacrificial love is the act of selflessly giving up our own desires and needs for the benefit of others and to honor God.

Spiritual joy comes from the Lord and provides strength and happiness during challenging and distressing situations. Spiritual peace is the inner state of tranquility and serenity that is devoid of anxiety, achieved by confidence in God’s Word. When faced with aggravation, patience exhibits a serene composure. In contrast, kindness displays genuine thoughtfulness toward others, reflecting the compassion of the Lord.

A Christian who does good for others and puts others’ needs first is showing God’s goodness. Steadfastness is observed in the righteous individual who displays unwavering dependability. The saint who exhibits gentleness demonstrates selfless concern for another without being timid or feeble. Christians who possess self-control are not easily angered, as they renounce their own wishes and indulgences for the sake of Christ.

Some individuals may excel at cultivating specific aspects of spiritual fruit on their own. However, the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit can only truly occur in an individual who is filled with the Spirit. To demonstrate these qualities, we must grow in grace, mature spiritually, and keep our sinful tendencies in check.

Our lives will only bear the fruit of God’s Holy Spirit if we live, walk, and pray sincerely and truthfully. When we do this, we can confidently declare, like Paul, that it is not us living on our own strength but rather Christ who lives within us.

Reflection: Spend time reflecting on the thought that love is the foundation of the fruit of the Spirit and that it transforms our interactions and relationships with others. Determined to hear from the Holy Spirit and be committed to making adjustments in your love walk as He directs.

Prayer: Father, I want to be a vessel of Your grace in all my relationships. Help me to love others as You have loved me—without conditions or discrimination. Let me be an example of Your life and love. In Jesus’s name, I pray, amen.