Geese at the Ross Barnett Reservoir
I raced the sunrise to the reservoir for Bible study, mostly because I had to go to the grocery store and pick up dog food. 😊
I’m in Galatians now, and the end of today’s chapter was the fruit of the Spirit, which always makes me think of my Mom because of the ways that she taught them to us, but more importantly, the way she lived.
That’s love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It’s a pretty important list.
As I read, I thought how we always notice when people don’t have those traits, but I’ve literally never heard anybody say, “That person really shows the fruits of the spirit.” We talk about spiritual gifts a lot, but we don’t talk about spiritual fruit, which is a lot more about the person you become when your heart is in tune with God. You literally become a better person because the One you love most in all the universe makes you better by his very existence.
But, as 1 Corinthians tells us, “The greatest of these is love.” We’re told here that our faith in our Lord expresses itself through love. That love that you put out comes back to you, because God rewards those who listen to his voice and follow his prompting.
I’ve had people in my life who influenced me for the better, but over the last few years, drawing nearer to God has made me see things I never thought I’d see before in others and myself and the world. Knowing Christ doesn’t mean your problems will go away, but it gives you a coping mechanism and a place to go with your fears and a peace you’ll never understand. ❤️
“In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33
