Some days I read Galatians 5 like it’s a checklist I’m failing.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…”
(And I’m over here praying for patience while yelling at the dog to stop barking at the wind.)
Truthfully? I’ve dropped this fruit basket more times than I care to count.
🍎 Fruit Doesn’t Happen Overnight
The thing about fruit — real or spiritual — is that it takes time to grow.
You don’t plant a tree and wake up to a harvest. You water, you wait, you protect it from storms.
And that’s how the Holy Spirit works in us, too!
He’s not looking for perfection — He’s producing transformation!
So if you’re feeling like you don’t have enough joy today or your patience expired before breakfast, you’re not failing. You’re just growing. You’re being perfected!
🍒 Let’s Talk About the Fruit (And Why I Drop It)
- Love: I try to love the way Jesus teaches, but I definitely have “selective grace” some days.
- Joy: It’s easy when life is smooth, harder when disappointments occur. But I have experienced pure joy in the Lord, even when everything felt chaotic around me!
- Peace: I’ve prayed for peace… while worrying myself into a full spiral. When I do choose to trust Him, the peace I experience is beyond measure!
- Patience: I’m convinced God tests this through long lines and slow internet. But, even more so when it comes to people not doing what I think they should.
- Kindness & Goodness: These I can do — usually with cookies! But, I still fall way short oftentimes
- Faithfulness: Showing up in the small, unseen ways. Keeping my eyes on the Lord and trusting His will over mine.
- Gentleness & Self-control: Still a work in progress, especially when I’m tired, or feeling menopausal!
🛑 The Gut Check: Galatians 5:24–26
“And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
Not race ahead. Not fall behind. Just… keep in step.
🍇 What Does This Look Like in Real Life?
- Praying before I speak (even if it’s just “Jesus, help me not lose it right now.”)
- Choosing kindness over clever comebacks. (Tough sometimes)
- Loving people who are hard to love (and asking God for help when I can’t. I ask Him for help a lot!).
- Letting the Spirit shape my heart, even when it’s uncomfortable. (I want to be more like Him and less like me)
- Celebrating someone else’s success instead of comparing. (This one is super tough in Real Estate, but, I’m learning how to let that go!)
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you – James 4:10
🌱 Here’s the Hope
We don’t have to produce this fruit on our own. We actually can’t produce any real fruit apart from Him. When we submit, His goid work can begin!
It’s not about trying harder, it’s about yielding more.
More of your thoughts.
More of your actions and reactions.
More of your everyday moments — handed over to Jesus.
And when you drop your fruit (because we all do), just pick it back up, pray it through, and keep walking in His Perfect Grace!
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. – James 4:8
Let’s sit a while.
— Cas
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