Self-Control Is...

The presence of God’s Holy Spirit in our lives offers us the fruit of self-control. Self-control is the fruit that enables us to deny self. This is not the ability to control ourselves, but it is the freedom from being controlled by the desires of the flesh. Through divine enablement we are empowered to say no to our personal desires. Here, we have been granted the divine ability to fulfill the will of God by saying yes to the desires of the Spirit.

BIBLE TRUTH

“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there” (Gal. 5:16–17, 24 NLT).

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
Self-indulgence, as counterfeiting self-control, emphasizes the putting off of personal restraint and giving in to the desires of fleshly longings. Only when the desire is certainly more painful than it is potentially pleasurable does one say no. As we submit to the Holy Spirit, we will see evidence of the Spirit’s fruit of self-control in our lives when we renounce self-indulgence that gives way to discouragement.

PRAYER
Lord, I do not want to be dominated by my sinful nature that thinks about sinful things. I desire to be controlled by Your Holy Spirit and think about things that please Your Spirit. I know that letting my sinful nature control my mind leads to death. Instead I want to let Your Spirit control my mind which leads to life and peace. (Rom. 8:5–6)


(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)


We would love for you to share in the COMMENTS the insights you have received on your journey.

Psalms 32 Prayer Pattern

This psalm was chosen to provide a model designed by God showing ways we can approach Him in a desperately dependent fashion. Use Psalms Prayer Patterns to pour out your heart to God while acknowledging your weakness and His strength, as you grow deeper in your relationship with Him.

Psalms Prayer Pattern

Oh, what joy for those
      whose disobedience is forgiven,
      whose sin is put out of sight!
Yes, what joy for those
      whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt,
      whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
When I refused to confess my sin,
      my body wasted away,
      and I groaned all day long.
Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
      My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. Interlude

Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
      and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.”
      And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. Interlude

Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time,
      that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.
For you are my hiding place;
      you protect me from trouble.
      You surround me with songs of victory. Interlude

The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
      I will advise you and watch over you.
Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
      that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”

Many sorrows come to the wicked,
      but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD.
So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him!
      Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!       —Ps. 32 NLT

(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)


We would love for you to share in the COMMENTS the insights you have received on your journey.

Gentleness Is...

Gentleness is the fruit of the Holy Spirit that enables us to reflect God’s grace to the world. Grace is God’s power to live that enables us to fulfill His will and be complete. The transforming presence of Christ establishes the order of our souls so we can convey God’s grace through gentleness. As God’s Spirit produces gentleness in our lives, He establishes our attitude, fashions our approach, and directs our actions with others. When we are blessed with the fruit of gentleness, His abundant supply must overflow into the lives of others.

BIBLE TRUTH
“Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom” (James 3:13 NASB).

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
Without God’s grace, selfish ambition asserts, “I must be served”; “My way must be followed”; and “I am right.” Having control over life’s resources is seen as the priority and must be the object of life’s pursuit. Selfish ambition is not concerned with the welfare of others but with the power we have over our domain. We can exemplify the fruit of gentleness when we relinquish our selfish ambition and its resulting alienation. Enabled by the Spirit, I can reflect God’s grace.

PRAYER
God, enable me to gently instruct those who oppose the truth. I desire to see their hearts changed and for them to learn the truth. (2 Tim. 2:25)


(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)


We would love for you to share in the COMMENTS the insights you have received on your journey.

Faithfulness Is...

Faithfulness is the fruit that enables us to trust Christ and rely continuously upon His truth. This fruit of faithfulness is not about our being worthy of trust, but recognizing God as being worthy of trust, which leads to a constant reliance on Him.

The faith given by the Spirit is intricately involved in connecting to God. It is essential to pleasing God and possessing His power. Through this divine fruit we can accomplish His purposes. Here we see the reciprocal relationship of divine enablement leading to personal empowerment.

BIBLE TRUTH
“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Phil. 4:13 NASB).

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO ME?
Too often we choose to counterfeit faith when we pretend we can handle everything. A crisis quickly exposes the pretense when anxiety invades. In the midst of anxiety we give mental energy to the resolving of our own problems as opposed to trusting God to resolve our problems. Our feeble attempts are lacking without genuine trust in Christ. Trust either waits on God to provide direction or it acts on what God has already instructed. We will evidence the fruit of faithfulness when we lay aside our pretense and its resulting anxiety in exchange for trusting Christ.

PRAYER
Father, please help me to understand that it is impossible to please You without faith. I want to come to You and I believe that You exist and that You reward those who sincerely seek You. (Heb. 11:6)


(excerpts from Desperate Dependency by J. Kirk & Melanie D. Lewis)


We would love for you to share in the COMMENTS the insights you have received on your journey.