Fruit of the Spirit

     As I filled my bucket with produce from my garden, I was amazed by the amount of okra, peas, tomatoes, and eggplant I had picked and was, also, thankful that God had just provided the rain needed to create more blooms which would soon give off even more amazing vegetables.  The yield was good but not as fulfilling as the "fruit of the Spirit."

Galatians 5:22-23(NIV) "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control."

     When considering the fruit of the Spirit, I was interested to find an article taken from Dr. Stanley's writings where he described these fruits.  He defined the fruit of the spirit as follows: 

Love - The highest form of love, chiefly characterized by self-sacrifice
Joy - Gladness of heart, not based on circumstances; Christ's joy within us that is manifested even in difficult or painful situations
Peace- Tranquility of mind and soul, based on a right relations with God; a sense of rest and contentment even in the darkest storms
Patience- Ability or willingness to be long-tempered as opposed to quick-tempered; steadfast endurance of provocation, wrong, or ill treatment, without thought of revenge
Kindness- Goodness in action, expressing itself in grace, tenderness, compassion and love
Goodness-Moral and honorable excellence manifested in deeds
Faithfulness- Trust in God, taking Him at His word; trustworthiness and dependability
Gentleness- That temper of spirit which accepts God's dealings with us as good
Self-Control- The virtue of one who masters his desires, passions, impulses, and appetites.

     Just as God watered my garden to provide more summer produce, we need to nurture our relationship with Him in order to produce the fruit of the Spirit. 

Galatians 5:24-25 "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. "