Fruit of the Spirit

I had always thought that the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) was something that came from the outside, obtainable through practice and experience. I never thought that the fruit of the Spirit came from within ourselves- that we are the bearers of this fruit. I realize now that it is the Spirit who works within us to grow and eventually bear our fruit, which will have the marks of the fruit of the Spirit. To enjoy the fullness of the fruit of the Spirit, we must let the gardener (the Spirit) do his work in watering, tending, and growing the fruit, which all takes time and patience (ironically, a fruit of the Spirit). When we try to enjoy fruit of the Spirit that is not grown in the soil of our hearts by the Spirit himself, we cheat ourselves and others of what real fruit should taste like. Furthermore, we have missed the point of bearing fruit when we try to solely work on practicing and experiencing the fruit of the Spirit- the fruit is not for ourselves to eat, but it is meant to bless others out of the abundance of what we have experienced in God. God, give us the patience to know that you are making the fruit of our lives more like the fruit of the Spirit; that this fruit is meant to display your glory and your abundance in our lives.

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