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It was my daughter’s idea. She told me she had been thinking about the Advent devotions and how to prepare her heart, not just her home, for Christmas. And she had a great idea!
Jen decided to give fruit away. Oh, not the apples and Christmas oranges that you see in the store. No, she told me she was asking God for opportunities to give away the “fruit of the Spirit.”
The “fruit of the Spirit” is comprised of nine qualities that the Bible says will show up in our lives as we daily ask the Holy Spirit to fill us. This fruit shows a watching world we are different because we follow Jesus.
Here is the list of fruit of the Spirit: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, self control, gentleness, goodness and faith” (Galatians 5:22).
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Each day, until Christmas, choose one fruit off the list and ask God to deposit this gift in your heart in extra measure. Then ask Him to provide an opportunity to give that fruit away in a specific act that day. It is both a rewarding and a challenging experience.
When we focus on allowing the Holy Spirit to overflow in our lives He may use the opportunity to highlight how very much we need Him. This fruit cannot be mustered up in our own strength with enough to give away. No, it is His work in our lives.
I’m taking Jen’s idea and asking the Holy Spirit to prepare my heart in a deeper way this Christmas. As a Jesus follower I want His fruit to be in abundance in my life. I want those around me to see the difference He makes as I choose to ask Him to fill me up every day. Why don’t you join me? Let’s ask Him to fill us afresh today. Then watch for opportunities to give it away. Together we’ll prepare our hearts for Christmas.
Father God,
I thank You that You do not leave us to try to live this Christian life alone. Thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit to fill us and flow through us to those around us. Today I ask that You would fill me afresh with Your Spirit. Cultivate Your fruit in my life today. Help me to be aware of Your deposit in my heart and show me an opportunity to give that fruit away today. Thank you for the amazing help of Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Questions: What are some ways that you can give gifts of “the fruit of the Spirit”? How can you be preparing your heart in a deeper way this Christmas?
About this Author Gail Rodgers
Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, God in the Winter, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog
Tags: advent, Christmas, Holy Spirit, Jesus, patience, peace
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Thank you, Gail, for today’s devotional. Pass the “thank you” on to your daughter, too! What a great idea. I pray for the fruit of the Spirit during my prayer time, but I like the idea about concentrating on one fruit each day and for the opportunity to “give” it away.
Yes, Gail I’ll join you and ask Him to prepare my heart to give out His wonderful spiritual gifts! What a lovely way to live out our Christian lives as gifts to others when we allow God to work through us to receive and give away that beautiful list in Galatians 5:22. I pray that our God will do a mighty work in us and through us as we surrender all thoughts and attitudes and emotions to Him so that we will be able to give out to others in a way that glorifies Jesus. Love to you all from here. Donna
Lord please help us all to remember the true meaning of Christmas
One a wonderful, positive idea. Thanks Gail
Hello Gail, I think this is such a wonderful idea. Thanks to your daughter for sharing her idea.
I have been thinking about how I can make this Christmas different for myself and others, instead of the rush and stress that I usually feel. What a wonderful idea, and I will certainly use this. AS I have been trying to have a closer walk with the Lord. Gail, you always bless my heart with your devotionals.
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Gail, thank you.
sharon, i strongly agree with you on your comment and i am finding this year in pulling out decorations I am almost ashamed at some of the ‘commercialism ornaments’ that have accumulated over the years. needless to say after the holidays and everything comes down, my husband and I have agreed that it’s time to re-new the approach on the real celebration this month.
one way I know I can give the fruit of the Spirit is continue to allow the qualities in me I have been blessed with that I may create others to long for God as well.
kanj i am so grateful for all of the blessings i have but this year just seems to be a little harder for me then others i was so shocked by the death of that young man at the walmart store and people just walked over him and kept shopping what a sad world we live in