My ladies and I started a new book study this month. We are reading “A Woman’s Walk with God” by Elizabeth George. It is a study of the Fruit of the Spirit. Earlier this year, my ladies and I read another book by Elizabeth George titled “Quiet Confidences for a Woman’s Heart.” It was a study of Psalm 23. You can read my thoughts on this book by clicking on Psalm 23 in the sidebar.
In chapter one of “A Woman’s Walk with God,” Elizabeth George introduces the study and gives an understanding of the Fruit of the Spirit. She gives an illustration of a string of Christmas lights to help us understand how the Fruit works in our lives. She says “…if one bulb goes out, the entire string goes out. That’s how God’s fruit is borne in our lives. No one of them can be missing, and all must be evident to be God’s fruit.” She goes on to say “And as a whole, these characteristics are all produced in the same way. Everything that is said of one characteristic is true of the other eight. They are one and the same fruit, interwoven and related to one another, produced as we look to God.”
Those words spoke to me. Sometimes you hear how a person might have some of the Fruit of the Spirit, but not all. The author’s statements tell us otherwise. If we have the Fruit, then we have all of the nine fruit, not just some of them.
In our walk with God, we need to realize that there may be “stumbling stones” along the path. The first stumbling stone is legalism. The author defines legalism as “the careful keeping of a set of rules which exceeds what is written in Scripture.” The second stumbling stone we may encounter is the conflict between the flesh and the Spirit. This conflict begins the moment we accept Jesus as our Savior. Galatians 5:17 tells us that the fleshly pursuits result in deeds of the flesh. In Galatians 5:19-21, Paul lists the sins and vices of deeds of the flesh. We need to ask God to help us recognize these stumbling stones and then confess anything that He reveals to us “and submit once again to the transforming power of His Spirit. That’s what walking by the Spirit is all about!”
“Right after the ugly list of sins, Paul moves on to the Fruit of the Spirit” found in Galatians 5:22. “Walking by the Spirit means living each moment in submission to God. Walking by the Spirit means seeking to please Him with the thoughts we choose to think, the words we choose to say, and the actions we choose to take. And walking by the Spirit means letting Him guide us each step of the way. It’s letting Him work within us so that we can bring glory to God.”
In order to bear fruit, we must abide in Jesus (John 15:2-5). “Abiding has been defined as ‘continued fellowship with the Lord,’ ‘dwelling in His fellowship and being submissive to His will,’ and keeping ‘contact with Jesus…a constant contact.”
Elizabeth George gives us ways we can enjoy a closer walk with Jesus:
1. Spending time in God’s Word-we must be diligent in spending time in God’s Word.
2. Spending time in prayer-an act of worship to help us commune with and abide in Christ.
3. Obeying God’s commands-make choices that honor Him and His Word.
4. Renewing our commitment to Christ-ask ourselves if we are alive spiritually.
Here is a thought provoking question the author asks at the end of chapter one:
1. Read John 15:1-8. Make a plan of action for how you will abide in Christ this week. Be specific about when and/or how you will do each of the following:
• Spend time studying God’s Word
• Spend time praying
• Live in greater obedience
• Renew your commitment to Christ
Let’s pray. Father, I thank You that You call us to abide in You. Help us to actively cultivate the Fruit of the Spirit in our lives in order to reflect Your Glory. I pray for each person reading this. May we all draw closer to You in our walk. May we spend more time in Your Word and more time in communion and worship to You. May we make choices to honor You and may we be alive spiritually. Thank You Father. We give You all Glory and Honor for there is no one like You! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Join me next week as we discuss love.
Blessings,
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