I discovered some moldy strawberries in the back of my fridge and threw them out. It reminded me that fruit is fragile, beautiful, and nourishes. Fruit is best when it is fresh and fruit only grows by being connected to the source.
It is a great picture of how the fruit of the Spirit grows in us.
The fruit of the Spirit isn’t achieved by working, but is birthed by abiding.
If you want fresh joy to infuse your spirit, you don’t get it by trying to be joyful, you get it by abiding in God’s presence.
Galatians 5:22 in the Amplified Translation says, “But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”
How is your fruit?
Are you holding on to moldy love? Jaded joy? Puny peace?
There is no need to hold on to rotten fruit.
Throw it out and get into God’s presence.
Bask in the light of His love, drink in the rain of His grace, sink your roots deep into His faithfulness, and lift your eyes to God.
How often are we living our lives in moldy love, old joy and last month’s peace?
Fresh fruit is best.
Don’t settle for less, spend some significant time with your Father today.