The Fruits of the Spirit need to be operating in me so I can receive and do rightly with the gifts of the Spirit.
A Prayer About Fruits and Gifts
Lord teach me I pray,
To Your fruits in Your gifts display.
May the fruits of the Spirit abide in me.
May I with Spiritual gifts faithful be.
Make me mindful not to separate them but keep them whole and good.
Make me with fear and trembling do with them as I should.
Help me Your servant to up hold what is right.
Help me to obey You and be Your delight.
My Garden
Just as the love of gardening is at the center of my gardening. Love for God and others is at the center of the gifts of the Spirit. Because with out love all the gifts would be empty and wouldn't work properly. Because I take great joy in gardening it shows in the appearance of my garden. Spiritual gifts must be done with great joy. Because the gifts we receive at not for us to keep but are used to give to others what is needed. The Lord loves a cheerful giver. People can receive the benefit of a Spiritual gift I have a lot better if I use that gift cheerfully. A peaceful time in my garden brings rest. I need to have peace with God, others, and myself for Spiritual gifts to function properly. Because I if I am not at peace with God He isn't going to give me a gift, if I don't have peace with others they aren't going to want to receive anything from me, and if I don't have peace with myself I wont function properly. Just as patience is an important part of gardening, it is also important to have patience when using Spiritual gifts. I must patiently wait on the Lord for the gift and the right time to use it. I must be patient with everyone around me, and wait patiently to see the fruit it produces. I take flowers from my garden and give to others its a form of kindness. When others are touched through the proper use of a Spiritual gift, they see the kindness of God. It shows the that God still loves them and cares enough to reach them through their brothers and sisters in Jesus. Gifts need to be mixed with kindness to make them more effective. Unkind words and acts will only produce sour fruit. When I look around at my garden I see the goodness of God. Like God looked and saw all that He made and said this is good. God made all the gifts of the Spirit and He made us and His goodness should shine through the gifts of the Spirit as well as through me when I function in what ever gift He gives me. (goodness, righteousness, rightness with God) With out goodness the Spiritual gifts would have an uneasiness to them and rightly so because the absence of goodness is evilness. I thank God for His faithfulness to give me a beautiful garden every year. If I don't have the fruit of faithfulness God won't give me a Spiritual gift. Like He said if I can trust you with a little I can trust you with a lot. To the one that has gained more will be given, but the one that buried his talents even what he has will be taken away. Faithfulness breeds trust worthiness and that is very important when one is entrusted with a Spiritual gift. I love gentle breezes in my garden that bring the scent of flowers to my nose. Gentleness is an important to have when operating in Spiritual gifts that deal with fragile, hurting people. It takes lots of self-control for me to not buy every plant I see. Self-control is important when using Spiritual gifts because if I don't gain control over my flesh I may say or do more than the Holy Spirit is calling me to. Sometimes the mind thinks more is better and wants to add to whatever has been said or done. When operating in the gifts of the Spirit I must keep my mind and flesh in check.
Gifts of the Spirit 1 Corinthians 12, Fruits of the Spirit Galatians 5:22-23, The story of the talents Matthew 25:14-30
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