Tag: fruit of the Spirit

Posted on

Love as You Have Been Loved

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (TPT) …Love joyfully celebrates honesty…

Beloved, rejoice in what is good. Celebrate integrity. Encourage those around you to walk in what pleases Me and is righteous, not out of some legalistic sense of morality or a sense of superiority resulting from your view of your personal behavior, but birthed from a desire to honor and bless Me and for all people to be blessed by walking in a way that aligns with My word.

Lead by example. Rather than trying to drag someone who is intent on doing wrong kicking and screaming from the shadows, simply shine your light unapologetically and allow the beauty of its rays to draw others to its warmth. Shine, beloved. Love as you have been loved. Continue reading “Love as You Have Been Loved”

Posted on

Character Building

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (TPT) Love is not… quick to take offense…

Beloved, I AM slow to anger and rich in mercy, my grace knows no bounds; and you were crafted in My image. Refuse to allow your flesh to mandate your responses. Refuse to indulge pride or self-righteousness. Instead be steadfast in humility, grace, and compassion, allowing the fruit of My Spirit to be manifest in your walk as you submit your character to the fiery trials of testing.

Remember, beloved, My Spirit is at work in each of you. It isn’t your job to ensure someone learns a particular lesson, that role is Mine. Leave it to Me, knowing if I desire your assistance, it will never be when you’re operating in the flesh, so persist in dying to it daily that the beauty of Me in you might shine brighter day after day. Continue reading “Character Building”

Posted on

Joyful Expectations

Philippians 1:4 (NLT) Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy,

Beloved, be not influenced by the ebb and flow of the circumstances around you, but rather stay firmly rooted in Me and the joy found in My presence. With hope-filled persistence, bring your petitions to Me, trusting Me to hear and respond in My great wisdom (which may or may not align with your request).

I AM always good. I always hear you. Refuse to be discouraged or to allow bitterness to take root. Remain in joyful expectation, trusting fully in Me. Allow your steadfast trust to set the spiritual climate surrounding you, shifting others into that space rather than allow people or circumstances to pull you from it. Stay faithful and persistent, and wait on Me.

Posted on

Be Sensitive

Galatians 5:22-23 (AMP) But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is…gentleness…

Beloved, there are moments to be bold, but there are also moments to be gentle. Allow My Spirit to show you the difference. Keep your flesh in check in the moments it wants to reign free, but I’m calling you to keep it in check – remember that you rule it, not vice versa. Allow Me to lead and trust Me as I do.

In the same way My voice both thunders and is still and small, so must you be sensitive to what the moment calls for. There are some to whom a raised voice will always equal violence, and in the same way, some view gentleness as a license to walk all over you. Trust Me to know the difference and allow My Spirit to bring forth My fruit in your character as you stay yielded to My flow. Continue reading “Be Sensitive”

Posted on

Be a Living, Breathing Testimony

Colossians 1:10 (VOICE) May their lives be a credit to You, Lord; and what’s more, may they continue to delight You by doing every good work and growing in the true knowledge that comes from being close to You.

Beloved, draw near. Come close and abide. Fix your heart on Me and hold Me close, meditate on My word – delight in Me. Make Me your filter, see everything through Me and My heart. Refuse to experience the world simply through the reactions of your flesh or be slave to your fickle emotions, but rather be firmly rooted in Me.

May your life be a testament to Me. You are a child of the day. Shine, beloved, reflect the Son. May the peace in your heart be the evidence of your time dwelling in My presence. Let My joy pour forth and infiltrate everything you do. Bear fruit. Give evidence of your relationship with Me. Be a living, breathing testimony.

Posted on

Conduit of Blessing

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (TPT) …Love does not traffic in shame…

Beloved, nothing is gained by putting others down. Sarcasm and mockery at another’s expense speaks to the character of the one whose breath carries it and the one whose amusement supports it, not the one to whom it’s addressed – even when it is intended in jest. You never know what will be the “last straw” for a hurting heart, so don’t take a chance your words may be it. Refuse to indulge in careless words remembering you are held accountable for every one that leaves your mouth.

You have a choice to bless or to curse, choose to bless. Do it consistently and do it often. Be intentional to build up, see the good, speak to the potential – prophesy, beloved! Let your mouth be a conduit of blessing and your words a river of life. Let My living water flow forth from within you untainted and sweet. Be known by your delicious fruit that tastes like Me. Continue reading “Conduit of Blessing”

Posted on

Position Your Heart

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (TPT) Love…refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else…

Beloved, resist the temptation to resent when someone else receives the blessing you desire, or to question Me as to My decision on when and whom to grant it. Trusting Me to know best and rejoicing with all in their seasons of blessing positions your heart to receive.

Resist the urge to feel overlooked or undervalued, beloved, for you are precious to Me. Walk in joy and gratitude. See and know that love all around you and reflect it back out to others even as you yourself have received. Continue reading “Position Your Heart”

Posted on

Walk in Strength and Wisdom

Romans 6:1-2 (CJB) So then, are we to say, “Let’s keep on sinning, so that there can be more grace”? Heaven forbid! How can we, who have died to sin, still live in it?

Beloved, choose wisely and walk with wisdom in the freedom you’ve been gifted. Treat with sober understanding the responsibility it brings. Sobriety isn’t an antithesis of joy, it merely prevents folly. To foolishly belittle the grace you’ve been granted dishonors and disrespects the Giver.

In holy reverence enjoy your liberty by truly being free – free from the plots of the enemy and the sins that so easily beset us. Walk in strength and wisdom, empowered by My Spirit. Reflect Me and give honor with your deeds as well as your words.

Posted on

Be My Love with Skin On

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (TPT) …Love is gentle and consistently kind to all…

Beloved, refuse to allow pride (or any fleshly response) to bait you into responding rashly or causing hurt to another. A fool vents his emotions, and you are no fool. You are master of your emotions (for My Spirit empowers you) and have no need to thrust them on someone else for a moment’s pleasure.

Bring those feelings to Me. Bring all your hurts and frustrations, all the injustices and woundings. I AM the healer and restorer, I will tend your heart. So be intentional about reflecting Mine.

Walk in kindness and compassion. See past someone’s poor response to the heart of why they’re reacting the way they are. Are they immature? Demonstrate good behavior. Are they having a bad day? Encourage them. Are they frazzled and on edge? Seek to bring peace. Use the discernment of My Spirit, beloved, and be My love with skin on. Continue reading “Be My Love with Skin On”

Posted on

Passionately Pursue

1 Corinthians 12:31 (TPT) But you should all constantly boil over with passion in seeking the higher gifts. And now I will show you a superior way to live that is beyond comparison!

Beloved, passionately pursue Me. Passionately pursue My gifts and the fruits of My Spirit. Refuse to settle for a lack luster, mediocre relationship with Me. What I have for you is rich and deep, it is powerful and sweet, it is life-changing, and it is worth fighting for – worth pursuing.

Don’t waste time or focus on being envious of others’ walks with Me because each is unique and special just as each person is unique and special. I meet each of you exactly where you need. You don’t need – nor should you want – a duplicate of what someone else has, but rather something uniquely wonderful tailor-made just for you. That is a superior way to live – it is beyond comparison.