“Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God — truly righteous and holy.” (Ephesians 4:21-24 NLT)
You need more power than just willpower in your life. You need God’s power in your life.
The “fruit of the Spirit” are the qualities that God puts in your life when the Holy Spirit lives through you. They are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
How does God produce the fruit in your life? Not by willpower. You don’t go out and say, “I’m going to be a more patient person!” That doesn’t work.
The Holy Spirit has to grow it on the inside. You try to say, “I’m going to be more patient. I’m going to be more loving.” It’s like tying some oranges on a eucalyptus tree and calling it an orange tree. It doesn’t work that way. Fruit can only come from the inside — his Spirit living through you.
How does the Holy Spirit work in your life? The answer is gradually: “And the Lord — who is the Spirit — makes us
more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image” (2 Corinthians
3:18 NLT emphasis mine).
When God wants to make a mushroom, he takes six hours. When God wants to make an oak tree, he takes 60 years. The question is: Do you want your life to be a mushroom or an oak tree?
You didn’t collect your hurts, habits, and hang-ups overnight. It took you a long time to get as messed up as you are! Someone approached me once and said, “Pastor Rick, I need you to solve my marriage problem.” I said, “How long have you been married?” Fifteen years. “How long have you had this problem?” Ten years.
And you want a five-second answer? It isn’t going to happen! You’ve got to peel that onion one layer at a time.
The Holy Spirit works within us to become gradually more and more like him. Your character is the sum total of your habits. Your responsibility is to develop new habits to change.
Talk About It
- What new habits do you want to develop so that the Holy Spirit can continually work in your life to make you more like Christ?
- Ask your small group or accountability partner to pray for you as you work to develop these new habits.
Decide Ahead of Time
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE:
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18, NIV
TODAY'S WORD:
Have you ever said to yourself, “I’d be happy if…”? Maybe you’re thinking, “I’d be happy if my spouse treated me better.” “I’d be happy if my boss moved to another planet.” “I’d be happy if I didn’t have to sit in traffic every day.” If you are thinking those thoughts, then you are allowing what you can’t control to sour your life. You have to change your approach.
At the first part of the day, before you get out of bed, make the decision that no matter what comes your way, you are not going to get upset. No matter what somebody says, you’re not going to be offended. No matter what interruption or delay, you’re not going to be sour. The key is to decide ahead of time. Then when life happens, when traffic is worse than normal, when your children forget their homework at school, or when your plans don’t work out, it’s no big deal. You’ve already decided that “this is the day the Lord has made.”
Friend, don’t wait until you’re in the heat of the battle. Make up your mind to rejoice no matter what happens. Decide ahead of time to give Him praise in all things so you can move forward in the joy and peace that He has prepared for you!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Father, today I choose to rejoice in You. In all things, at all times, in every circumstance I will praise You. I release what I cannot control. I submit myself to You and thank You for the victory in every area of my life in Jesus’ name. Amen.
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