GROWING in FAITH
Daily DevotionalCultivate steps for spiritual growth each day this week.
Daily DevotionalCultivate steps for spiritual growth each day this week.
January 21: Cultivating Fruits of the Spirit
- Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23 –– The Fruit of the Spirit –– By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control
- Reflection: These characteristics — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control — are all aspects of personal growth that we can nurture and develop. Each of them deepens our own internal balance and wellbeing, helps us become a more whole human being, and also offers enrichment to the world around us. Be patient, as such growth takes time and consistent effort to strengthen.
On the other hand, as writer Melissa Camphell observes, “Trying to produce these fruits of the Spirit of our own will, power, and strength will leave us feeling exhausted before we even get started. The key is to notice who is supposed to produce the fruit in our lives–it is the Holy Spirit. It isn’t up to us because it’s not our job to produce the fruit. Our job is to allow the Holy Spirit to do … work within us.” - Spiritual Practice: Identify one fruit of the Spirit you want to cultivate more intentionally and take one step towards that goal. Begin by asking — through prayer — for God to be your guide and partner in this endeavor.
SONGS:
- Cultivate Joy by Plum Village: https://youtu.be/4Rt3eu06_S4?si=HU1NKkFkTjKvkbDs
- What You Sow You Reap. Cultivating Love by Reflections of Life: https://youtu.be/bKSIgkVYYVI?si=lJIPWkhgIZ_2Hb0Y
- Peace Be Still by Hope Darst: https://youtu.be/lsIpGiz3SfQ?si=F_d8g9JMdLH5knfI
- Grow: A Song about Patience by Firefly Family Theater: https://youtu.be/jl3x8y-qnaw?si=sDWe_hf4SrWKKBSp
- Kindness by Little Ripples: https://youtu.be/9XKgeKsGVds?si=v4ih7zWcTAZofOlU
- Generosity by JC Collins: https://youtu.be/nF3yJg45NZY
- Faithful by Iveth Luna: https://youtu.be/paGrLrTjZTg?si=07zG6gf34oIFQMej
- A Heart of Gentleness by The Praise Porch: https://youtu.be/-TheoZqi5HQ?si=DYEpU2RRmb0Awrla
- Self Control by David Kisor: https://youtu.be/5_mgwOOq7hs?si=-8i5tIOx1xqOF3bj
- Holy Spirit Dwell in Me by by Keith Lancaster, The Acappella Company: https://youtu.be/EQ3s87SuyWU?si=HLJZiLGLxqk9OS5x
- Spirit Song by Maranatha Singers: https://youtu.be/KWEDBaFy0SI?si=SdhjR9wZ_C3WCsuF
- Fruit of the Spirit by Go Fish: https://youtu.be/f-ejASqf1VE?si=XkkNQ56m6msdxZnC
- I Wanna Bear Fruit by CJ & Friends: https://youtu.be/xdKj8pntC2Q?si=AFOaZT9GaWHK-VvU
This is what’s most annoying and beautiful about the windy Spirit and why we so often miss it. It has this habit of showing up in all the wrong places and among all the wrong people, defying out categories and refusing to take direction. —Rachel Held Evans, Searching for Sunday
Jan 21 Daily Devotional