We are on the 2nd day of a 9-day journey to learn about all of the fruit of the Spirit – the gifts of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that come from God.

What is the Fruit of the Spirit?
When you think of the word fruit, you probably think of something like an apple or a banana, right? Well when Paul talks about the “fruit of the Spirit” he is not referring to piece of fruit that you might eat with your lunch. What Paul has in mind here is what comes out of a person who has been filled with the Holy Spirit.

Lots of things and situations can make us happy, but what does it mean to have joy? True joy comes from knowing and following Jesus, and God gives us joy as one of the fruit of the Spirit.

Jesus said to His disciples, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11). That sounds almost too good to be true! How can we experience this fullness of joy?

“The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

Unfortunately, the world has a shortage of joy and a surplus of fear, worry, discouragement and depression. Even the “pursuit of happiness” and obsessive pleasure-seeking do not bring deep and lasting joy.

Biblical joy—the true joy—comes from filling the spiritual void with good relationships, primarily an intimate relationship with the One who is pure joy. Jesus put it this way: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit”(John 15:5). That fruit includes much joy!

What then? Our unique joy begins because Christ lives in us. (Galatians 2:20). He tells us to “rejoice because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). We then have an intimate relationship with the One” Psalms 43:4 calls “God my exceeding joy.” In His presence “is fullness of joy” (Psalms 16:11).

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, I welcome you into my heart. I thank you for your Joy and Happiness, and the spiritual fruits that you gave to me. True Joy is not possible without the presense of Your Holy Spirit in me. I love You Lord.. In Jesus’ name I thank you and praise you. Amen.

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If you are seeking Jesus in your life or want to recommit your life to Him. Click here to learn more.

Rob Lavallee

Scriptural Seeds Ministries

http://www.scripturalseeds.org