BEFORE WE GET STARTED, LET’S ALL FOCUS ON OUR FATHER, SEEKING HIM & THEN PRAY FOR A CLEAR MIND & SPIRIT AS WE CONTINUE TO RID OURSELVES OF OUR OLD IDENTITY & ACTIONS & MOVE TOWARDS OUR NEW IDENTITY, NEW ACTIONS & RECEIVE HIS WORD. Galatians 5:22-26
New Living Translation (NLT)
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. 25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. 26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
Wow! GOD always has a way of hitting home. Cindy & I were out of town yesterday, so we missed the message. But Sunday night our small group study dealt with Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes & whether money, success, women etc. offered joy, love, peace etc. We discussed how none of this satisfied Solomon & life was meaningless. Many of us in the small group could relate.
Then I discover that I am supposed to write the Blog on Galatians 5:22-26. I go to my Bible & see that it is completely marked up & highlighted. It related to the same thing that we had discussed & confessed in our small group. My old identity is convicted.
My old identity was/is not patient, kind, gentle or peaceful; nor was/is it satisfying. I admit that I have not always shown the joy, love, self control that being in the Spirit provides. Many of you that know me know that patience has not been/is not 1 of my virtues.
I also remember my wife asking me a while back why I was angry all of the time. I did not know that I was angry, but because I was not satisfied I could not enjoy the life that GOD surrounded me with. I realized that I was not enjoying the fruits of the Spirit, nor the love of Jesus Christ. I figured out that I was getting up, going to work, coming home, working out, eating dinner, watching TV & going to bed so that I would be ready to do it again tomorrow.
I have since started praying & asking GOD to give me patience, love, joy, peace & satisfaction in my life. I continually thank HIM for being patient with me, even though I have not always been patient with others, or HIM.
I am developing my new identity. Is it complete-No Definitely Not (ask my wife). It is an ongoing process. But through this developing new identity, I am acting different (I think, I hope). I have placed my life in GOD’s hands. If I am struggling with finances at work, I pray that GOD provides. I stress over how I am going to meet my bills & guess what, HE provides.
I am sometimes a slow learner. This leaving it in GOD’s Hands is a process that I have by no means perfected. I have come a long way, but I have a long way to go. I don’t know why I am always surprised when GOD comes through for me. HE tells me if I am faithful, HE will be faithful & provide the fruits of the Spirit-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self-control.
HE has done that for me (when I have let HIM). I can’t do it myself. It is HIS plan, HIS agenda & HIS (not mine) timeframe.
Any of this resonate with you? Do you have any of these same struggles? I would love to hear from you.
Blessings & Love,
Jerry