Wednesday, July 30
- Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
- Reflection: The Spirit’s activities in our life aren’t always comforting. Sometimes they’re disturbing. Sometimes they turns our expectations upside-down. The energy of the Spirit cannot be tames or controlled.
Yet we can learn to listen and be attentive to where the Spirit is calling us, moving us, urging us. We can discern. We can surrender to such guidance.
When we are aligned with what the Spirit — God’s voice and presence — are imagining for us, we find ourselves filled with energy. We may feel surprised, and unprepared for what comes next, but also motivated and fulfilled by the possibilities that come with such a flow of God’s will and vision matched with our open hearts and minds.
This scripture discusses fruits of the Spirit. The outcome of aligning our lives with the Spirit can have deeper outcomes that we originally understood. While we cannot control God’s awesome presence and activity in our lives, we can say YES and become willing partners. We can cultivate the gifts of the Spirit’s that arise in our lives. These qualities remind us that true peace and stillness don’t mean an uneventful life, but rather a life whose deepest roots are centered in a place of abiding peace and commitment, - Spiritual Practice Prompt: Pick one fruit of the Spirit—such as patience or kindness—and focus on identifying the ways it reveals its presence in your life. How can you encourage its presence? In what way must you further connect to the Spirit and God’s presence to welcome more of this gift into your life?
Song:
- “Spirit of the Living God” by Vertical Worship: https://youtu.be/ogGOlGswStA?si=oX-D1xVpLlKUMC1c
Love is the ground for all other attributes of the fruit of the spirit to grow. Joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control grow where Love flows. ― Prasanth Jonathan
July 30 Daily Devotional