I’ve been burdened lately with my lack of self-control…especially with my eating. I don’t stop when I should stop. I don’t resist where I should resist.
I poured my heart out to God about it yesterday and he reminded me of the fruits of the Spirit found in Galatians 5:22:
…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
I had really focused on this passage a couple of years ago as I had prepared to speak on the topic. During that time, God showed me that when I pray for things like more patience or more self-control that I’m actually asking for the wrong thing.
You see, the Bible tells us that things like love, joy, patience, and self-control are the FRUIT, or the RESULTS, of having more of God in us. I don’t need more self-control…I need more God.
When I get busy I stop reading God’s truth and turning my face toward His. (Please tell me I’m not the only one!) However, when I “fertilize” my spiritual life, I bear more fruit–the very fruit I’m longing.
How about you? Have you been praying for the wrong thing? What “fruit” have you experienced when you’ve put God back in first place in your life?
Exactly what I needed to hear Jill. Exactly! And no – you are not the only one. It’s good to know I’m not the only one! Thank you
Not that you need affirmation from me, but “no” you are not the only one. Thanks for the great reminder today, as I too was laying in bed this morning thinking about the self-control thing. Thanks for the post.
This really caught my eye…. I pray for patience and self control every day- I have a 3 and a 5 year old and often lose my temper and get frustrated. And I get pulled in so many directions that sometimes I only have a moment to read my online devotional in my inbox (and mostly at the end of my day!). So I’m now confused- what do I need to pray for if I have been praying for the wrong things??? (I’m asking honestly. I’m not trying to challenge what you wrote because what you said does make sense.)
Krista, we need to be praying for more focus on God and his word. We need to ask Him to help us see Him—the Mountain Mover instead of our problems–the mountains. We need to ask Him to help us find times to sneak in reading the Bible (when my kids were small, I used to read one or two verses when I went to the bathroom!) When we have more focus on God, more truth in our heart, the result is more patience, more peace, more joy, more love—all of the fruits of the Spirit we long for!
Does that make sense, Krista?
Here’s something physical to go with the spiritual truth. More fruit – the tangible stuff, and vegetables fill you. Really fill you, the old “apple a day way.” I’ve found that adding goodness to my diet physically, and in copious amounts, negates the binges. It’s like physical warfare mimicked in spiritual warfare. If you focus on more GOOD, the bad can’t get a foot hold. (true on all levels) Lots of good books on eating more green, less gross. It works for me.
I really needed this message today… Thank you, Jill!
ME TOO!!! I am in training this week-but looking forward to working on a ‘normal’ schedule now that my boys will be in school to include my regular God-time 🙂
Jill- I had to read this twice! I have never looked at this passage and caught that. You are absolutely right- I need more God. Thank you for this much-needed reminder.
Wow! I think you really hit the nail on the head with this post! Thank you so much for such a simple, concise and clear reminder of what I REALLY need more of!
Glad it was helpful, Kelli!
“I don’t need more self-control…I need more God.” How true and yet I’ve never thought about it that way before. I’ve been in a season lately and really needed to hear this! Thanks for sharing what God spoke to your heart.