Living Out the Fruits of the Spirit

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” — Galatians 5:22-23

Living Out the Fruits of the Spirit

Have you ever tried to change a habit? Maybe it was something small, like drinking more water or spending less time on your phone. It can be hard, right?

At first, there’s this excitement. You make your lists, set reminders, and tell yourself, "This time I’m going to stick with it." But as the days go by, it’s easy to slip back into old patterns.

I’ve been there. I once tried to make a habit of getting up early for quiet time with God. I had the best intentions—I really did. I even set my alarm, placed my Bible right by my bed, and promised myself I’d start each day in prayer. But as the mornings came, so did the snooze button. The habit I wanted to cultivate just didn’t take root as quickly as I hoped.

Living out the fruit of the Spirit can sometimes feel like that. We know the kind of life we want to lead—full of love, joy, peace, patience, and all the rest—but when the challenges of life hit, it’s so easy to slip back into impatience, frustration, or worry. Why is that?

The thing about the fruit of the Spirit is that it’s not something we can force or create on our own. It’s the result of the Holy Spirit working in us, transforming us from the inside out. Much like how a tree can’t will itself to bear fruit, we can’t will ourselves to exhibit these traits perfectly. But the good news is, God doesn’t expect us to do it on our own.

Living out the fruit of the Spirit begins with being deeply rooted in God’s love. Think about a tree again—if its roots are shallow or planted in dry soil, it can’t grow or bear healthy fruit. In the same way, if we try to live out love, joy, or patience without first being grounded in God’s love, we’re bound to struggle.

Jesus reminds us of this in John 15:5, where He says, “I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for apart from me you can do nothing.” The key to bearing fruit is staying connected to Jesus. When we spendt ime with Him—whether that’s in prayer, reading Scripture, or simply sitting in Hispres ence—our hearts become more aligned with His. His love fills us, and from that
love, we begin to see the fruit of the Spirit naturally growing in our lives.

I remember a time when I was particularly struggling with patience. I was juggling work, family, and what felt like a never-ending to-do list. I kept snapping at my kids over the smallest things.

One morning, feeling especially guilty, I prayed, "God, I just don’t have
patience for this day. Please help me." And you know what? That day didn’t magically become easier. My kids still argued, work was still stressful, but something was different in me.

As I leaned into God throughout the day, He gave me the strength to respond with more patience and grace than I could have mustered on my own.

One of the most beautiful things about the fruit of the Spirit is that it doesn’t always show up in big, flashy ways. Often, it’s in the small, everyday moments where we surrender to God’s work in us. When someone cuts you off in traffic, and instead of honking, you breathe and let it go—that’s self-control at work.

When a friend is going through a tough time, and you sit with them, offering a listening ear—that’s kindness and gentleness. When life feels overwhelming, but you can still find joy in the little things—like a sunset or a kind word—that’s the fruit of the Spirit, too.

It’s easy to feel like we’re not doing enough when it comes to living out these virtues. But remember, fruit takes time to grow. It doesn’t appear overnight. The same is true forthe fruit of t he Spirit in our lives. As we continue to walk with Jesus, He gradually shapes us to reflect more of His character. The moments where we stumble or fall short are opportunities to return to God, admit our need for Him, and trust that He is still at work in us.

One of the other amazing things about the fruit of the Spirit is that it’s meant to be lived out in community. God didn’t design us to walk this journey alone. When we live in fellowship with other believers, we can encourage and challenge one another to keep growing.

I’ve been blessed with friends who help me live out the fruit of the Spirit. When I’m feeling down, they remind me of God’s joy. When I’m quick to speak harshly, they nudge me toward gentleness. And when I struggle with patience, they offer grace, showing me that we’re all growing together.

In a world that’s often hurried, harsh, and divided, our lives, reflecting the fruit of the Spirit, stand out as a testimony to God’s love. People will notice when we choose peace over conflict, kindness over cruelty, joy over bitterness. And when they do, it opens the door to share the source of that fruit—the Holy Spirit living in us.

Closing Prayer:
Dear Hevenly Father, thank You for Your Holy Spirit at work within us. We know that we can’t produce these fruits on our own, but we trust that as we remain rooted in You, they will grow in our lives. Help us to live out love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,gentleness, and self-control, not just in the big moments but in the small, everyday
choices. May our lives reflect Your heart to those around us. In Jesus' name we pray.

May the amazing grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit be with you.

In His love

ray mileur