But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. {Galatians 5:22-23, The Message}
How I long to live a life of freedom!
Do you?
The modern language of The Message engages me with God’s Word in new ways.
As I read these phrases here in Galatians, I find myself making mental comparisons to the oh-so-familiar list of the fruit of the Spirit:
Love: affection for others
Joy: exuberance about life
Peace: serenity
Patience (aka longsuffering): a willingness to stick with things
Kindness: a sense of compassion in the heart
Goodness: a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people
Faithfulness: loyal commitments
Gentleness: not needing to force our way in life
Self-control: able to marshal and direct our everyday energies wisely
To live with all of these things in place in my life consistently would definitely be a life of freedom!
To live with all of these in place would mean that my mind and my heart are focused first on Jesus and then on others, with my own needs put into proper perspective.
How often I fail at that and put my own fleshly desires above everything else!
When I find myself not allowing the Holy Spirit to influence my soul {my mind, will, and emotions}, I get tripped up and some of these fruit aren’t seen in my life. And that, my friend, means that I live less free than God has intended. My quest to have what I want ends with me as a prisoner to my own flesh.
Despite consistent growth in Jesus over many years, sometimes I still want what I want and I want it now {more times than I would care to admit}. And instead of enjoying my life, I am miserable.
I understand more and more that to have the joy, peace, and love that I desire, I have to, as this passage says, live God’s way!
Today, will you commit with me to live God’s way, manifesting the fruit of the Spirit so that together we can live the life of freedom that God has planned for us?
Rebecca
Love this blog and the list! Makes it easier to see or not see in my life. I do know everytime I focus on what I want instead of the Lord, the fruit gets hidden behind leaves of expectation and disappointment. Our nourishment comes from the Lord. Abiding in Him is the only way to bear fruit. He wants to make us a tree planted by the rivers of water, where our leaves will not whither and we will bear fruit in due season. I so want to bear fruit for His glory. I am determined to keep my eyes and heart off me and mine and seek His face. I will continue to sit at His feet to hear His voice. Glad there is plenty of room at those feet because I know I am not alone! Come a little closer and get cozy! Cry, sing, or just lay down. We will rise refreshed!
Deborah, I just LOVE your heart for our Daddy! Your focus on Him inspires me to press in even harder!