Being thankful is a clear and fruitful blessing. It doesn’t mean we like everything all the time, but it does mean we can find God’s gifts all the time, every day, in every circumstance. Without gratitude we can become self-centered, believing we achieve everything on our own. Thankfulness keeps...
Self-control is exactly what it sounds like: control of self. Biblically it is the resistance to temptation in the ways of the world. It’s not about depriving oneself but about living a life in harmony with God’s purpose. It’s a reflection of the transformation in our hearts as we seek to live...
Often associated with weakness, gentleness can be challenging to understand and practice. Our culture overlooks the importance of gentleness, yet the Bible presents it as a powerful and important quality. Translated as “meekness”, it does not mean weakness. It involves humility and thankfulness...
Faithfulness is the seventh characteristic listed in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22 NIV) and is described as a virtue of loyalty, trustworthiness, and a commitment in our relationship with God. It is the belief in what the Bible says about God–his existence, his works, and his character....
Goodness, the sixth characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23, ESV), is defined biblically as naturally doing good actions or a zealous activity to do good for another person’s benefit. As Christians we are called to live in a way that reflects the character of Christ and by...
Kindness is the fifth characteristic of the fruit of Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) which results when we allow the Holy Spirit to develop spiritual maturity in us. While kindness is a quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate with good deeds, it is more than a moral principle. It is a...
One of the godly characteristics from the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23) is “longsuffering” which is translated as “patience”. When we think of patience, we often associate it with self-control, or restraint while waiting. But the patience listed in the fruit of the Spirit has a different...
One of the strongest human desires is for peace, whether it be peace in our families, peace with our neighbors, peace with our co-workers, peace between nations, or even peace within our own minds. There are many situations in our life and in the world that make us feel we have no peace. At times...
Joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23, ESV) that comes from God. The joy of the Lord is the gladness of heart that comes from knowing God, abiding in Christ, and being filled with the Spirit. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, every believer is to grow the fruit of the...
The Bible’s definition of love is active, based not on human emotions, but rather on what we do. Scripture tells us God’s definition of love is the outward flow from inward growth of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23, ESV). It transforms us and shapes us into the likeness of Jesus....
The Apostle Paul presents nine attributes of a godly life: the fruit of the Spirit. These are evidence of a life led by the Holy Spirit. His purpose is to encourage those who belong to Christ to no longer be slaves to their sinful nature. When a person chooses to follow Christ, they receive the...
Christmas is a time to celebrate the gift of God’s love to the world though the birth of the Christ child: Jesus. God knew mankind was in a hopeless condition, and because of his love, he sent a way to save us from the death our sin requires. With the birth of his Son, God offers a new life of...
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