Christianity Oasis Forum

[kimberly]

You’d think, after 24 years with Jesus, my emotions would be perfected.
Hah. My mind still has that sarcastic vein, the one that attaches to my mouth. I fight urges. I DON’T say the things that would not be kind, gentle, or good. I’m silent a big part of my time, which recalls my ‘Shut Up Anointing’ days.

I have learned something important.

In order to have fruit, you have to practice.
For that, I needed the Holy Spirit’s help. No way could I do it on my own. But I knew that whatever I lacked, the Holy Spirit could make up the difference, and then some. It wasn’t about what I couldn’t do. It was about what He could do in me.



So I used the list of the 9 fruits of the Spirit as a progressive list.
{Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, & Self-Control.}

I prayed for Him to give me chances to love others....and be loved. It’s not just about a person giving. You must learn to receive as well.
It seemed the more I gave and received love...(and my way issharing in different ways with others),
I felt joy. You can give and receive joy too.
The more there was joy, the more I had the peace of Christ.
You can give that also. It gives a weary soul peace to hear something timely from the Bible, that you have learned in your walk with Jesus. Give a stressed out mother a little peace by watching her kids. Do some shopping for a person who can’t get out, make a phone call to someone alone or suffering.
With the peace came patience with others attitudes, their careless words or unhappy moods, their petty differences or dislike of others, gossiping....all things that drive me to slap-that-outta-ya mode.
With patience it’s easier to be kind, good, and gentle with those who bristle and get offended easily.....because you realize all that anger comes from a place of hurt.
By being these things you realize you’re showing faithfulness to Him who saved us, and you’re sneaking up on
The biggie: Self Control.
And it all came because you practiced showing God’s grace and love to others, even those who seem unloveable. Because you’ll never look at the face of a person God doesn’t love. He may not love their ways, but He loves them.
And that has been the heart of the matter for me....how God feels, not how I may be feeling.
Have I mastered it all? Heck, no. We will not be perfected until we see Jesus.
But I keep at it.
Because I learned long ago, my opinion is not important at all. But His Word and will are.
And those sarcastic thoughts? Well, that’s the kind of thought that has to be taken captive unto Christ. Usually I can just whisper “Jesus”’ and that does it. Some days I have to whip out psalm 19:14. “Look it up. Say it out loud” I hear the Holy Spirit say to me. It does the trick.
God bless you always.
Kimberly

[Mackenaw]

Beautiful! Awesome!

Thank you for sharing, Kimberly. Thank You Holy Spirit!

God bless and keep you, Kimberly.

Love,
Mack