Salutations~
Galatians 5:22-23 (The Message version)
“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.”
Yesterday we learned that there is a better way of doing things, and it's God's way. Doing things His way--no matter how difficult and frustrating--leads to gifts. And these gifts appear the same way fruit does in an orchard--little by little.
It's a growth process. You don't plant an apple seed and then see a million apples the next day.
The good news, however, is that eventually there's a harvest.
So my shout out to you today is to give yourselves a break. When you momentarily lose your mind and overreact at something--rein it in next time. Love more, be kinder, be gentler, be good, do good, have joy, promote peace, and before you know it your orchard will be the most fragrant and fruitful of all. So much so, in fact, that others will take notice.
Your spouse, kids, relatives, friends, neighbors, and even complete strangers will marvel at how you can be so jolly all the time. Keep in mind that this takes a dedicated effort. None of us starts off perfectly lovely all of the time. Practice really does make perfect.
Start thinking of all the challenges in life as an oppotunity to bear fruit.
Tomorrow we will look at one of the number one causes of being unhappy and what all this talk about fruit has to do with it.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, We want to do things Your way but we get in the way of it ourselves with our very human limitations. Strengthen us to do the right thing because we all need and desire the gifts You bring when we do. In Jesus' name, AMEN~
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