
Life can be difficult, but we know we can always find answers in the Bible. This can be especially true regarding difficult situations and difficult people we encounter in our lives. Sometimes it’s hard to respond in a Christ-like way. In these times, we need to reflect on the fruits of the Spirit and how Jesus wants us to represent him in our daily lives.
The Fruit of the Spirit: Understanding the Biblical Definition
What are the Fruits of the Spirit?
Nine attributes describe a person or community living by the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the fruits.
Love: The Foundation of the Fruit of the Spirit
Loving one another is one of the biggest instructions given to us in the Bible. We are called to love God, love others, and love our enemies all the time.
Matthew 22:36-40 (NLT) says: “Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the law of Moses? Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.”
Matthew 19:19 (NLT) says, “Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Matthew 5:44 (NLT) says, “But I say love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you.”
How can we show love to people in our everyday lives?
-Tell our friends and family we love them every day. The cliché is true: we don't have a promised tomorrow, and life can change in an instant.
-Say ‘hello’ or smile at your neighbor in passing.
-Give someone a hug.
-Send a text message and tell someone you love them.
-Send an e-card and tell someone how much you love them.
-Surprise a friend or coworker with coffee or their favorite treat and let them know you love them.
Joy: Cultivating Positivity in Challenging Times
What is joy?
Let’s start with what joy is. Many people get joy and happiness confused. Joy is a selfless feeling of extreme happiness or pleasure. Joy can come from taking care of others, practicing gratitude, and godly experiences.
Happiness is a state of emotional well-being that involves positive emotions and life satisfaction.
How can we show joy in our everyday lives?
-Smiling.
-Complimenting others.
-Seeing the positive in any situation. As my grandmother used to say, you may think you have it bad, but there is someone else who always has it worse. Therefore, we should look for the silver lining in every situation.
Peace: Navigating Life’s Storms with Inner Calm
What is peace?
According to Merriam-Webster, peace has several definitions: A state of tranquility or quiet, a state of security or order within a community provided for by law or custom, and harmony in personal relations, to name a few. No matter how you define it, we as Christians are called to be peacemakers.
Matthew 5:9 (NLT) says, “God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God.”
Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT) says, “Do not worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
We live in a world of chaos and distrust. It's hard to choose peace over anger. However, we need to remember that anger breeds anger. Instead, we need to root ourselves in peace and patience. How can we do this?
-Take a deep breath and count to 10 before reacting in situations.
-Pray for the right words to say to calm people down and restore peace.
-If you are going through a situation, pray for peace and patience.
-Always remember that getting angry won’t help the situation.
-During storms, remember that Jesus is the Prince of Peace.
Patience: The Art of Waiting Gracefully
What is patience?
Patience is the ability to stay calm while facing adversity, waiting, frustration, or suffering.
Being patient can be difficult when you are waiting for an answer about something or going through a hard time. It can also be hard when dealing with other people.
How can we show patience to other people?
-While in traffic, be patient and give other people grace. The driver who's frustrating you could be new to driving or elderly.
-Be patient with kids. Remember, they are learning about the world around them and may struggle with some things. This also goes for children with special needs. They need your patience.
-Show grace to those who work in retail and restaurants. This may be their first day at a new job, or they may be having an off day. Instead of complaining, be patient.
Kindness: Small Acts that Make a Big Impact
What is kindness?
Kindness is the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.
We see it on posters and social media all the time. Always be kind because you never know what someone is going through. This is so true. Our world is full of people who need kindness and are looking for something more. How can we show kindness to those around us?
-Smiling at someone.
-Complimenting someone.
-Doing something nice for someone just because.
-Letting someone into your lane of traffic.
-Paying it forward. This could be in the drive-thru, at the coffee shop, or at the grocery store. Start a ripple effect of kindness.
-Buying a homeless person a meal.
-Helping a single mom or a struggling family.
-Adopting a stray animal.
There are tons of ways to show kindness to other people, in both big and small ways. Even if you can’t do something extravagant, always remember that a minor act of kindness can mean the world to someone.
Goodness: Living a Life of Integrity and Service
What is goodness?
Goodness has several meanings, like being moral and upright, but in biblical terms, it means holiness and righteousness. God shows us his goodness by guiding us and protecting us.
How can we show goodness to others?
-We can show people goodness by thanking God for His goodness in our lives. This is a great example of our faith. I was just telling a friend the other week that God is good when I had to get my car fixed because it cost way less than I thought it would.
-Waving at someone; it may make their day.
-Righting a wrong.
-Volunteering to serve others.
-Helping someone who is in an unexpected situation. For example, helping someone change their tire on the side of the road or paying for someone’s drink or meal if they lost their wallet. When you show the goodness in your heart, you may restore someone’s faith in humanity and possibly God.
Faithfulness: Building Trust in Relationships
What is faithfulness?
Faithfulness means the quality of being loyal and steadfast. How can we show people faithfulness?
-By showing our faith through how we act and not following the world.
-Being faithful to our spouses.
-Always being there for our friends at any time.
-Being committed to our jobs.
-Faithfully studying the Bible and praying every day.
Gentleness: The Power of Humility and Softness
What is gentleness?
The quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered. The biblical definition of gentleness is showing care and respect for others in the way you speak and act.
How can we show gentleness in our lives?
-Being considerate of other people’s feelings and needs. Listening actively to others and discover their feelings and needs.
-Showing people empathy and that you can relate to what they are going through.
-Always treating others the way you want to be treated.
-Always being respectful of others' opinions and showing respect and consideration.
Self-Control: Mastering Our Desires for Greater Freedom
What is self-control?
We define self-control as the ability to control one's emotions or desires, especially in difficult situations.
This is a big issue in our society because it seems nobody has any. People are constantly getting into arguments online, fighting at sports events, and doing all kinds of other crazy things.
How can we show self-control in our lives?
-Living a godly life.
-Controlling our words and not letting the first thing we think come out of our mouths.
-Keeping control of our emotions and keeping them in check. Sure, our emotions will boil over from time to time. We’re human. It’s how we respond to those out-of-control emotions that counts.
-Developing healthy habits so you don’t overdo it.
-Pausing and thinking before making impulsive decisions.
We live in a crazy world, but by living the fruits of the Spirit in our everyday lives, we can show others what these nine fruits are all about.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Stephanie Harvey