God is so kind to share with us the characteristics that our lives as Christians should produce: love, joy, peace, forbearance (or patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are the products of our life when we allow the Holy Spirit to rule our lives. It could be easy to read these nine characteristics as a checklist comparing ourselves to them. Instead, I hope these verses bring encouragement of the possibility of what living God’s way has to offer.
John 15:4 says, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” We don’t go to our local store to purchase bad fruit; we go to find good and healthy fruit. When we remain in Christ’s love for us, good and healthy fruit is what our lives produce. No matter where you feel like your meter is with each fruit of the Spirit, reconnect your heart to God’s and allow Him to fill you.