The Fruit of the Spirit.  By Laura Carson.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galations 5:22-23 NKJV

Several years ago I attended a one-day Christian Women’s conference in a neighboring town. As my friends and I entered the church, I noticed some very large wooden block letters hung on the front wall. They boldly spelled out the fruits of the Spirit.  After staring at the message for a moment, I asked my friend,

“Does ‘self-control’ look bigger than all the other letters?”

“No! What’s the matter with you?” came the reply.

I very quickly ascertained what was wrong.

I had been ignoring something for too long! The Lord was trying to get my attention regarding my lack of self-control. Without verbalizing it, but by my actions I was saying to God, I will do this and this and that. But don’t ask me to do that!

My long-standing habit of self-soothing with comfort food started in Junior High School. That was about the same time that my dad’s drinking got worse.

I asked Jesus into my heart about a year later. I was excited about my new found faith. I hungrily read the Bible. But, long into adulthood I continued to ignore, avoid, procrastinate, and hide my lack of self-control.

God continued to pursue me. He wanted a better relationship with me. My lack of self-control, my disobedience, was keeping me from a real true and full relationship with the Lord.

About a year ago everything changed. Thankfully, through much prayer and time alone with the Lord and His Word, I was able to finally seek His forgiveness and give Him my desire for self-control. This was not an easy thing. We humans can so easily fall back into our old habits.

BUT GOD!  He is so faithful and patient. I continue to work at it and God is faithful to help me.

Fruits of the Spirit are virtues that grow in us much like fruit grows on trees. But we need to be rooted in Christ and “water” our fruits by staying in the Word.

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” I Corinthians 6:19-20 NKJV

Check yourself to see if there is anything that you love too much and bring it to Jesus in prayer.