Galatians 5:22 – But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives:
Heavenly Father, to start with, thank you for sealing us with your Spirit (2 Cor. 1:22), indwelling us by your Spirit (Rom. 8:9), and transforming us through the Spirit’s work (2 Cor. 3:18). May he grow a bumper crop of fresh fruit in our lives—for your praise and the benefit of our neighbors.
Love – Father, keep us alive to your extravagant love for us in Jesus, for this is the supply we need to love others well. Stun us with your love; liberate us by your love.
Joy – Grant us a joy that transcends our circumstances, sabotages our excuses, and turns our whines into worship.
Peace – Father, may your peace trump our worries and tame our fears. Grant us a core of peace.
Patience – Help us see your heart and hand at work in all things and people. Free us from our controlling, rigid, testy ways with people.
Kindness – Help us lead more with your kindness than our rightness. There’s no justification for us being curt, rude, and harsh.
Goodness – Father, we know we’re not save by our works, but for a life of good works. Order our heart and hands accordingly.
Faithfulness – Forgive us when we make promises lightly, and/or fail to follow through on little stuff, and big stuff. Great is your faithfulness. That’s not just a great hymn; it’s who you are. Make us more like you.
Gentleness – Gentle our rough edges, edgy words, and tart reactions, Father. Cultivate a non-anxious spirit within us that welcomes the broken.
Self-control – Whether it’s with our eating or speaking, listening or spending, exercise or spiritual disciplines—Father, forgive us for confusing laziness with grace. Empower us for the freedom of self-control and taking responsibility for ourselves.
There is no law against these things! Father, thank you that it’s impossible to be too zealous for the Spirit’s fruit; we cannot go “overboard” with wanting to be like Jesus. We’re grateful you began this work in our lives, and you will complete it (Phil. 1:6). So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ loving and powerful name.
