Gal. 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
- love: ardent affection for; high esteem and regard for. Love can be known only from the "actions" it prompts... not always the result of ardent affection. Spirit-inspired love never fails, but always flourishes. 1 Cor. 13:4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; Col. 3:14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
- joy: a positive attitude or pleasant emotion produced by the Spirit of God. This kind of joy is distinct from mere happiness and is possible, even in the midst of sorrowful circumstances. Phil 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Neh. 8:10 Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
- peace: hope, trust and quiet in the mind and soul, brought about by a right relationship with with God. John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
- long-suffering: forbearance; patient endurance; perseverance. James 5:11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
- kindness: graciousness, favor, Divine mercy and forgiveness. Rom. 12:10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.
- goodness: what is beneficial; the quality of being good; praiseworthy character; moral excellence. Rom. 15:14 Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
- faithfulness: dependability, loyalty and stability. 1 Cor. 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
- gentleness: meekness; mildness combined with tenderness; a spirit of fairness and compassion. Phil. 4:5 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
- self-control: temperance; control, restraint or discipline exercised over one's behavior or emotions. The Christian believer is to be governed by God, not by self. Self-control is developed over time through continual maturity. 2 Peter 1:5-8 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Eph. 5:8-10 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
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Col. 3:12-13 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
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Heavenly Father,
We approach the throne of Your grace in humility and contrition. Forgive us for all we've done, said and thought that has not lined up with what we know to be right. Thank You that You have made us the righteousness of Christ Jesus and laid upon Him the penalty for our sin. We thank You that there is no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Holy Spirit. Thank You that we are predestined to be conformed to the image of Your Son.
Your word is a lamp to our feet and a light unto our path. We pray for Your continued guidance for we know that You are able to keep that which we have committed to You against that day when we shall see our Savior's face. Help us to walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Help us to grow and mature and honor You with our lives. In Jesus' precious name we pray, Amen.