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Fruits of the Spirit

9/4/2023

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(Abiding in Christ and Bearing His Fruit)
Introduction: Vines and Branches, Seeds and Fruit 
Reading through the Gospels, one might think that Jesus was a farmer rather than a carpenter. He so often spoke of vines, branches, seeds, and fruit, using them as analogies as he brought his good news to the world.
 
In the parable of the sower found in Matthew 13, he told of seeds scattered about by a farmer. The soil they landed upon determined if they would wither or flourish, and he used this story to explain his very words.
 
Some people would hear, receive, and thrive while others would reject his words and perish.
 
He compared the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed later in that same chapter. Though the tiniest of seeds, it would grow to a mighty tree where birds could make their nests. Faith also was like that mustard seed, according to Jesus. Just a small bit of it could accomplish great things, just like that tiny seed.
 
Jesus likened Pharisees to plants his Father would root up and discard in Matthew 15. He cursed a fig tree for being void of fruit. He spoke of harvests, vinedressers, fields, and flowers.
 
And Jesus spoke of fruit:
 
  • “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance...And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” Matthew 3: 8,10

  • “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” Matthew 7:16

  • “For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.” Luke 6:43

  • “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” Luke 8:15
 
What is all this talk of fruit about? What makes a fruit good or bad? Where does this good fruit come from?
 
The Vine and the Branches 
In Chapter 15 of John’s gospel, Jesus explains what this fruit is all about.
 
Take a moment to read John 15 now.
 
Jesus describes himself as a vine with his Father as the husbandman, or vinedresser. God the Father faithfully tends to this vine, removing and discarding any branches that are not bearing fruit while carefully pruning the good branches to increase their fruit production.
 
So, if God is the vinedresser and Jesus is the vine, who are the branches and what is the fruit?
 
Jesus tells us in verse 5: “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”
 
Believers in Christ are the very branches attached to the life-giving vine of Jesus!
 
When we put our faith in Jesus and trust in his word, we enter into this very parable, becoming a branch firmly affixed to the vine and tended to by our heavenly Father so that we may bear his fruit.
 
Of course, we’re not talking about grapes here. The fruit Jesus speaks of, that we his followers should be growing, is the fruit of the Spirit.
 
The Apostle Paul defines this fruit in his letter to the Galatians. He says in Galatians 5, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
 
Nine attributes mark the life of believers in Christ, who through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, are being made into the image of God.
 
Let’s dig into Galatians and other passages as we explore these fruits of the Spirit. We’ll first take an overview look at this fruit, discussing the where, when, and how of its growth.
 
A chapter will then be dedicated to each of the “fruits” from Paul’s list:
 
  • Love
  • Joy
  • Peace
  • Longsuffering, or patience
  • Gentleness
  • Goodness
  • Faithfulness
  • Meekness
  • Temperance, or self-control
 
Ready? Let’s dive in.

Chapter 1: Fruit of the Spirit DefinedVerse for Today 
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
 
Reflection 
The Greek word for fruit used by the Apostle Paul in this passage is “karpos,” and while it is used to describe produce like grapes or figs, it is also used metaphorically to mean offspring or results.
 
The offspring or results of a person who believes in Christ and abides in him are the nine traits that Paul lists in this passage.
 
If you have ever planted a fruit tree or grown a garden, you know full well that fruit takes time to grow. A gardener will wait days, months, even years for a plant or tree to bear edible vegetation.
 
Likewise, this fruit of the Spirit does not appear overnight as soon as someone puts their faith in Jesus.
 
Paul tells us in his second letter to the Corinthians that we are, “being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18) We are not instantly transformed into his image. This is a process done by the Holy Spirit over time.
 
Though this fruit comes from the Spirit at work within us, we still play a part in its growth.
 
Before he lists the fruit of the Spirit, Paul describes the works of the flesh, sins like adultery, envy, murder, idolatry, and strife. He tells us to fight these things, putting off the sins of the flesh as we walk in the Spirit.
 
We grow in Christlikeness as we reject the works of the flesh. We also become more like him as we learn about him, studying the scriptures individually and corporately as a part of the church. We become more like him as we pray to God, serve others, reject sin, and abide in his word.
 
The fruit of the Spirit doesn’t appear instantly, but as a believer grows in their walk with the Lord, these nine attributes will grow as well and be on full display as a mark of a true believer in Christ.
 
Let’s take a look at each of these characteristics. We’ll find out what the scriptures say about them, how they are rooted in the character of God, and what they look like in the life of a believer.
 
Prayer 
Father God, you have called me out of darkness and into your marvelous light. Thank you for calling me to be your child.
 
Jesus, I have put my faith in you. I believe in your work on the cross, the way by which I can come to you and be saved. Thank you for this work of grace. I don’t deserve it.
 
Holy Spirit, I know that because of my faith in Jesus you have come to dwell within me. I confess that I don’t often think of you, rely on you, or even acknowledge your existence.
 
Lord I trust that you are at work in me, making me more like Jesus as I abide in you. Help me to put off the works of the flesh. Help me to fight the sin that tempts me. Strengthen me for this battle and equip me as I fight my sinful desires.
 
I want to be more like Jesus and bear his fruit in my life. As I learn about these nine characteristics, help me to grow in each and every one of them. Make them shining lights in my life to draw others to you.
 
Grow me in your likeness and help me bear your fruit in my life. In the name of Jesus, the vine, I pray. Amen.
 



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Fruits of the Spirit

9/4/2023

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(Executive Summary) 
 
Introduction 
  • Reading through the Gospels, one might think that Jesus was a farmer rather than a carpenter. He so often spoke of vines, branches, seeds, and fruit, using them as analogies as he brought his good news to the world.
 
  • In John 15, Jesus describes himself as a vine with his Father as the husbandman, or vinedresser. God the Father faithfully tends to this vine, removing and discarding any branches that are not bearing fruit while carefully pruning the good branches to increase their fruit production.
 
  • Believers in Christ are the very branches attached to the life-giving vine of Jesus! When we put our faith in Jesus and trust in his word, we enter into this very parable, becoming a branch firmly affixed to the vine and tended to by our heavenly Father so that we may bear his fruit.
 
  • The Apostle Paul defines this fruit in his letter to the Galatians. He lists nine attributes which mark the life of believers in Christ, who through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, are being made into the image of God.
 
  • “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, and temperance…”  (Galatians 5:22) These traits are perfectly demonstrated by God, and he calls his children to do the same with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Chapter 1: Fruit of the Spirit Defined 
  • The Greek word for fruit used by the Apostle Paul in this passage is “karpos,” and while it is used to describe produce like grapes or figs, it is also used metaphorically to mean offspring or results. The offspring of a person who believes in Christ and abides in him are the fruit of the Spirit.
 
  • The fruit of the Spirit does not appear overnight as soon as someone puts their faith in Jesus. Paul tells us in his second letter to the Corinthians that we are, “being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
 
  • Though this fruit comes from the Spirit at work within us, we still play a part in its growth. Before he lists the fruit of the Spirit, Paul describes the works of the flesh, sins like adultery, envy, murder, idolatry, and strife. He tells us to fight these things, putting off the sins of the flesh as we walk in the Spirit.
 
  • We grow in Christlikeness as we reject the works of the flesh. We also become more like him as we learn about him, studying the scriptures individually and corporately as a part of the church. We become more like him as we pray to God, serve others, reject sin, and abide in his word.
 
  • The fruit of the Spirit doesn’t appear instantly. As a believer grows in their walk with the Lord, these nine attributes will grow as well and be on full display as a mark of a true believer in Christ.
 
Chapter 2: Love 
  • It should come as no surprise that the very first attribute listed by Paul as a fruit of the Spirit is love. When Jesus was asked in Matthew 22 what the greatest commandment was, he gave not one but two answers, and both had to do with love.
 
  • The greatest commandment is to love God, followed closely by loving others. Loving God and loving others are the most important things we can do, and they should be the mark of the believer.
 
  • The word for God’s love is “agape”, and it differs greatly from the romantic love between spouses or the brotherly love between friends. This love is unconditional and is not contingent on it being returned.
 
  • Those who are born of God and know God are marked by love, because God is love. Love toward God and others should flow freely from those who have put their faith and hope in the Lord.
 
  • Christians should be known as the most loving people on earth. We know God, who is love, and his very Spirit dwells within us. That love pours out of us as we serve God’s kingdom and his people, displaying his fruit and inviting others to join us as we enjoy it.
 
Chapter 3: Joy 
  • The Apostle Paul wrote of joy and rejoicing constantly throughout his New Testament epistles. Toward the end of his letter to the Philippian church, he gives his most emphatic command to have joy, saying, “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.”
 
  • Amazingly, Paul wrote Philippians from a Roman jail cell facing death, after years of persecution, hardship, and suffering. It’s hard to fathom a man who was beaten, imprisoned, shipwrecked, abandoned, abused, and wronged in the most unimaginable ways talking about joy in the midst of all that suffering.
 
  • Too often, we confuse the words joy and happiness. Happiness is based on our circumstances, which can change in an instant. A child is happy with their birthday presents, but that happiness is gone the moment mom and dad ask him to clean up the mess!
 
  • Joy is different. It is a state of being rather than an emotion. It comes from within and is therefore not dependent on exterior circumstances. We can have joy and rejoice even when the skies are dark, the diagnosis is grim, and the problems are pressing in.
 
  • We can rejoice regardless of trials we face, because joy comes from abiding in the Lord. Yet, we still need to be reminded to rejoice. Paul and the other scripture writers are constantly reminding us to have joy, be joyful, and rejoice.
 
  • God has been so good to his people, sending his own son Jesus to die in our place so that we can become his beloved children. His Spirit dwells within us, giving us joy that could never be found in the trivial, fleeting pleasures of this world. In that we can rejoice again and again!
 
Chapter 4: Peace 
  • Once again, we encounter startling words written by the Apostle Paul from that Roman prison cell. After speaking of joy and rejoicing despite suffering and trials, he makes a stunning statement about another fruit of the Spirit: peace.
 
  • He tells the Philippian church, and us, to not be anxious about anything. Instead of worrying, he tells us to bring those cares to the Lord in prayer, with thanksgiving. In return, God will give us peace even in the midst of terrible hardship and suffering.
 
  • This peace that comes from the Lord through his Spirit within us passes all understanding. We know this peace when we see it. It enables people to be at peace in the most terrible circumstances imaginable.
 
  • The peace of God surpasses all understanding indeed, and it can only come from within through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is a mystery to the world, yet to the believer in Christ, it makes perfect sense.
 
  • We have been given all we need through our faith in Jesus and his work on the cross. We have life everlasting through him, and his Spirit at work within us gives us peace despite the circumstances around us. Like joy, we experience peace regardless of the trials we face because it comes from within.
 
  • Isaiah tells us, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (Isaiah 26:3) God will keep us in his perfect peace when we fix our mind on him, trusting him who is utterly trustworthy. That peace is a fruit of the Spirit at work within us!
 
Chapter 5: Longsuffering 
  • Longsuffering is not often a word we hear today. Different versions of the Bible translate longsuffering as endurance or patience, which evoke images of running a race or waiting in line. Neither captures the essence of longsuffering.
 
  • The word longsuffering, as the King James Version of the Bible names this fruit of the Spirit, expresses an idea beyond endurance or patience. It means more than just suffering for a long time. It means more than just grinning and bearing whatever trial we are going through until it is over, and we can relax.

  • Longsuffering is patiently enduring with grace, mercy, and love, and is a trait of God. Numbers says, “The Lord is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.”
 
  • God is patient with his wandering people, seen time and again through the scriptures. He withholds the wrath they deserve while showing them the way back to him, enduring their rebellion, grumbling, and foolishness.
 
  • Likewise, he calls his people to be longsuffering in this life. The Apostle Paul prays for the Colossian church in the first chapter of his letter to them, asking God to fill them with knowledge, bless their good works, strengthen them with power, and make them longsuffering.
 
  • Paul knew they would face persecution, trials, sickness, poverty, abandonment, and death. He faced all of those things himself, suffering long as he spread the good news of Jesus throughout the Roman Empire. He knew many would fall away from the faith when those trials hit.
 
  • Suffering long with patience, endurance, and hope is impossible apart from the Spirit. God gives us his Spirit when we put our faith in Christ, and that Spirit enables us to endure the trials we will inevitably face while holding onto the God who promises to sustain us till the end.
 
Chapter 6: Gentleness 
  • The life of King David was anything but gentle. The unlikely anointed one, King of Israel, and forefather of Jesus led a life dominated by war, strife, animosity, and death. Despite his status as God’s chosen king, God did not deal gently with David. Or so it seemed.
 
  • In 2 Samuel 22, after brutal battle upon brutal battle, David writes a Psalm giving glory to God for delivering him once again from his enemies. He uses the language of war as he speaks of God’s power, strength, might, holiness, and glory.
 
  • David surprisingly speaks of God’s gentleness as a thing that made him great. The gentleness of God was shown to David in the midst of his greatest failure. When David took Bathsheba, another man’s wife, committing abuse, adultery, dishonesty, and murder, he deserved the wrath and judgement of God.
 
  • What God showed David was his loving, merciful, gentle grace.
In exposing his sin and making him live out the consequences of it, God led David to repentance. He drove David to himself. He saved David, and while it was difficult, it was gentle.

  • God calls us to display this kind of gentleness in our own lives, especially as we encounter people who do not know the love of God. Jesus showed such gentleness toward the woman at the well in John 4. Jesus spoke hard truth to her, but he was gentle, and it changed her life.
 
  • God is gentle to us when he saves us, and he calls us to do unto others with this same spirit of gentleness. If left to our own devices, we confront sin with wrath which only God can rightly wield. When we abide in Jesus, we show others the gentleness that we ourselves have been shown by our loving father.
 
Chapter 7: Goodness 
  • The word “good” is one of the first words recorded in the Bible. In the fourth verse of the first chapter of Genesis, God creates light and says that it is good. He goes on to create the sun, stars, earth and everything in it, declaring each aspect of his vast creation to be good. 
 
  • It’s such a simple word that it is hard to fathom it being the only adjective God uses to describe his awesome creation. Yet at its core, the word “good” perfectly describes God’s creation because it perfectly describes God’s character. He is good, and everything he does is good.
 
  • Goodness can be synonymous with kindness and mean “an uprightness in heart and life” according to Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon. This definition is so helpful, because it speaks to the “heart” within us as well as the “life” or actions that flow from it.
 
  • Goodness comes from within and reflects the goodness of God. A person is known as being good when they display attitudes and actions that support that goodness. They behave in a way that is kind, generous, loving, helpful, humble, and a host of other adjectives that confirm the goodness of their heart.

  • Psalm 31:19 declares the greatness of God’s goodness. What a curious choice of phrase! The goodness of God is so good that it is great! 
 
  • Not only is God exceedingly good, but he bestows that goodness upon those of us who fear him and have put our faith in him. The greatest good thing is Jesus, God’s only son who he sent to the world to live the perfect life we could never live, dying in our place so that we can be with God for eternity.
 
  • When we believe in Jesus and become a part of his life-giving vine, the Holy Spirit within us bears goodness. We grow in that goodness as we become more like Jesus and display that loving-kindness to those around us.
 
  • Sharing that “uprightness in heart and life” to others can be challenging. Sin has entered the world and our hearts, creating the opposite of goodness. We are hateful, bitter, selfish, jealous, and angry. So are the people all around us.
 
Chapter 8: Faithfulness 
  • Merriam-Webster defines the word faithful as “steadfast in affection or allegiance; loyal.” The definition rings true as we think of a faithful spouse, employee, friend, or even a faithful family dog.
 
  • But have you ever considered the fact that the God of the universe is steadfast in affection, allegiance, and loyalty to you? Our God is a faithful God, as Moses declares in Deuteronomy 7. God had proven his faithfulness to his people time and again, enabling Moses to make this bold statement.
 
  • Moses knew intimately his God, and could confidently declare his faithfulness, promising that God would keep his covenant to a thousand generations. Those of us who put our faith in the God of Moses are a part of that thousand generation covenant! God is the same yesterday, today and forever.
 
  • Revered nineteenth century preacher Charles Spurgeon said, “The glory of God's faithfulness is that no sin of ours has ever made Him unfaithful.” God is perfectly faithful to us, and there is nothing we could do that could cause his affection, allegiance, and loyalty toward us to falter.
 
  • Created in the image of our faithful God, we are called to be people of faith. We often think that becoming a Christian is a thing that happened once. We made a commitment, walked an aisle, said a prayer, and that was that. We put our faith in Christ once and for all.
 
  • Yet faithfulness to God is far more than a one-time decision. It is a decision that we make every hour of every day. It is that steadfast affection, allegiance, and loyalty toward the one who is utterly faithful to us.
 
  • We don’t deserve his faithfulness, but he certainly deserves ours. When we put our faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives within us. That step of faith taken as we first believed will begin to grow as we walk with him, learn about him through his word, trust his promises, and abide in his love.
 
  • When life is difficult and trials about, it is easy to question the promises of God. Does he really love and care about me? Will he take care of me? Is he even really there? The wandering Israelites asked the same questions, and Moses constantly reminded them of the faithfulness of their God.
 
  • God is faithful to those who love him, and we are to display faithfulness to him through the power of the Holy Spirit. Great is his faithfulness to us, and great is our faithfulness to him by the power of his Spirit within us.
 
Chapter 9: Meekness 
  • Meekness is an often-misunderstood trait. People equate it with weakness or passivity. A meek person is a pushover, one who can easily be abused and taken advantage of. When we look at Jesus, nothing could be further from the truth!
 
  • Jesus describes himself in Matthew 11 as being meek and lowly in heart as he invites his followers to enjoy his easy and light yoke. Meekness could not mean weak, since Jesus was anything but a weak man. He was brave and bold, and endured the ultimate pain on the cross.
 
  • No -- meek does not mean weak. Jesus was meek, yet strong. Merriam-Webster defines meekness as having a “mild, moderate, humble, or submissive quality.” Now that sounds more like Jesus, doesn’t it?
 
  • Meekness as personified by Jesus is a controlled strength. It is a willing submission to God’s will based on faith and trust. It is the humility he displayed while speaking with a woman by a well, welcoming children into his arms, and kneeling to wash the dirty feet of his friends.
 
  • Jesus was never weak, but he was totally and completely meek. He tells us in his Beatitudes that the meek shall inherit the earth. We are to be like Jesus in this way, displaying a mild, moderate, humble, and submissive quality. This meekness can only happen through the Spirit at work within us.
 
  • Meekness allows us to submit to the will of God and trust him, just as Jesus did. Meekness allows us to serve our neighbors and show them the love of God, just as Jesus did. Meekness allows us to take up our own cross, whatever that may be, and follow Jesus, who bore the worst cross of all for us.
 
  • Meekness allows us to admit that we need Jesus and cast our burdens upon him. This meek and lowly in heart savior will replace the burdens that weigh us down with his light and easy load of love, grace, and mercy. He will fill us with his Spirit and meekness will begin to grow as we learn to be like Jesus.
 
Chapter 10: Temperance 
  • Peter might be the most unlikely source to teach about temperance. After all, the Apostle Peter was not known for his self-control. He was constantly putting his foot in his mouth and doing rash things during his three years following Jesus as one of his closest companions.
 
  • Peter lacked temperance and proved it time and again in his words and deeds. So how could a man who lacked this trait write about it in his second epistle? What right does Peter have to teach about self-control?
 
  • Peter is actually the perfect person to teach us about temperance. His life was transformed by the resurrected Jesus. He was further transformed at Pentecost when he received the promised Holy Spirit.
 
  • Peter was no longer an impetuous, undisciplined, hot-headed man when he wrote this letter. He was a new man, changed by the power of the Spirit at work within him. He was being sanctified by the power of the Holy Spirit, just like we are when we put our faith in Christ.

  • Temperance does not come naturally to sinful humans. Conquering the sin in our hearts, resisting the desires of the flesh, and fighting temptation is a daily battle. We fail in self-control all the time, just like Peter did.
 
  • God does not leave us to our own devices, wishing us the best of luck as we strive toward godliness. He gives us the Holy Spirit, our helper and our comforter, which is at work within us as we walk in faith and strive to be more like Jesus.
 
  • Denying our fleshly desires requires self-control, but the Spirit at work within us will help us. This fruit of the Spirit will grow as we trust God, learn from his word, and cling to him in faith as we live out our lives with him.
 
Conclusion: Growing Fruit 
  • The list of fruit of the Spirit can be daunting if looked at from a purely human perspective. Can anyone live up to it? If left to our own strength, we can never be fully loving, joyful, peaceful, longsuffering, gentle, good, faithful, meek, and self-controlled.
 
  • It is an impossible list of character traits for fallen people to live up to. We must look to Jesus, the only perfect human to ever walk the earth, as our example and our hope:
 
  • Loving. Jesus was perfectly loving as he brought his good news and the truth of the gospel to the world.

  • Joyful. He was perfectly joyful as he fulfilled the will of his Father.

  • Peaceful. He was perfectly peaceful as he walked the earth. He brought peace to the world by reconciling it to God.

  • Longsuffering. Jesus was perfectly longsuffering as he put on human flesh and lived in a fallen world enduring the ultimate suffering on the cross.

  • Gentle. He was perfectly gentle as he dealt with sinners like us. To the poor in heart who came to him with their needs, he was utterly gentle, loving, and kind.

  • Good. Jesus was perfectly good in every way. The goodness within him flowed out of him as he healed the sick, raised the dead, and welcomed the sinner into his kingdom.

  • Faithful. Jesus was perfectly faithful to his Father, never wavering from his faith and his mission.

  • Meek. Jesus was perfectly meek as he followed the will of God. His meekness enabled him to withhold his power as he carried out his duty as the gentle and lowly savior.

  • Self-controlled. He was perfectly self-controlled facing evil. He could have called angels to save himself, but he put his flesh aside to fulfill the will of his Father.
 
  • We could never live up to Jesus in all of these ways, but when we abide in Jesus, these traits will grow within us by the power of the Holy Spirit. God does not leave us without help as we strive to be more like Jesus. His promised Holy Spirit dwells within us and enables us to grow in the likeness of God.
 
  • Jesus is our example as well as our source of strength as we strive to be more like him. Like Peter, we are sinful people who will fail at every turn. We will be brash, arrogant and impetuous. We will be unloving, unkind, and unmerciful. We will deny him, fight against his will, and rely upon our own strength.
 
  • God will, out of his mercy and love, strengthen us, help us, and uphold us by the power of his Spirit at work within us. The fruit of the Spirit will grow within us and pour out of us when we trust God, abide in Jesus, and allow the Spirit to work within us.
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Fruits of the Spirit

9/4/2023

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Introduction 
  • What comes to mind when you think of the fruit of the Spirit?
 

  • Read John 15. Take a moment to write your thoughts on the vine and branches analogy.
 

  • Why do you think Jesus so often used seeds, fruit, and the like in his parables?
 

  • Read Galatians 5:22-23. Which fruit of the Spirit comes easy to you? Why do you think that is the case?
 

  • Which fruit of the Spirit do you struggle with and why?
 

  • What do you hope to glean from studying the fruit of the Spirit?
 
 
Chapter 1: Fruit of the Spirit Defined 
  • Why do you think Paul uses the word fruit to describe the characteristics that come from the Spirit?
 

  • Why would God not instantly bestow these traits upon a person once they become a believer? What is the point of this slow-growing process?
 

  • Which of these nine traits are you least familiar with? Why do you think it is included in this list?
  • Read James 3:17-18. How does this passage compare with and support Galatians 5:22-23?
 

  • Think of a person in your life who most completely displays these characteristics. Describe them and reflect upon how and why they display these traits.
 

  • What in your life is keeping you from more fully walking in a way that displays these nine traits?
 
 
Chapter 2: Love 
  • Read 1 John 4:7-21. Highlight or underline the word love. How many times does John use this word?
 

  • There is so much to learn about love from this passage. Answer the following questions using this passage:
 
  • Where does love come from?
 
  • What do people who love have in common?
 
  • How does God show his love to us?
 
  • What is love?
 
  • Why should we love others?
 
  • How can we know and rely on God’s love?
 
  • What effect does love have on fear?
 
  • What else do you see in this passage related to love? How does it help you grow in this area of your life?
 
 
 
Chapter 3: Joy 
  • Explain the difference between joy and happiness.
 

  • On a scale of 1-10, how joyful are you? What is keeping you from being more joyful.
 

  • Philippians is known as the “Book of Joy.” Look up the following verses and write what you learn about joy from them:
 
  • Philippians 1:17-19
 

  • Philippians 2:1-4
 

  • Philippians 2:14-18
 

  • Philippians 4:1
 

  • Philippians 4:4-9
 
  • Paul wrote Philippians from a Roman prison. How was he able to speak of joy in such dark circumstances?
 
 
Chapter 4: Peace 
  • What in your life keeps you from having peace?
 
 

  • Read Philippians 4:6-7. What do you think “peace that passes understanding” means?
 

  • Describe a time when you felt at peace despite difficult circumstances. Where did this peace come from?
 

  • Read Isaiah 23:6. How does a person keep in perfect peace according to this verse? What would it look like for you to live this out?
 

  • Read John 14:26-27. What can you learn about peace from these words of Jesus?
 
 
Chapter 5: Longsuffering 
  • Define the word longsuffering in your own words.
 

  • How does longsuffering differ from patience and endurance?
 

  • Read Colossians 1:10-12. How does Paul link longsuffering with the following traits:
    • Patience
    • Joy
    • Thanksgiving
    • Knowledge
 
  • Read Exodus 34:5-7. How is God longsuffering according to this passage?
 
 
 
Chapter 6: Gentleness 
  • We looked in this chapter to the life of King David and his statement in 2 Samuel that God’s gentleness had made him great. Explain in your own words what David meant by this.
 
 

  • Psalm 23 was written by King David. Read this Psalm and reflect upon it. List all the ways it shows the gentleness of God.
 
 

  • How has God been gentle to you?
 
 

  • What people in your life are you gentle toward?
 
 

  • What people in your life do you struggle to display gentleness toward? How can you grow in this area?
 
 
 
Chapter 7: Goodness 
Look up the following verses. Write what you learn about the goodness of God.

  • Exodus 33:19
 

  • Psalm 23:6
 

  • Psalm 25:7
 

  • Psalm 31:19
 

  • Psalm 52:1
 

  • Isaiah 63:7
 

  • Romans 2:4
 
 
Chapter 8: Faithfulness 
Consider the lives of the following Biblical figures. Describe how God was faithful to them:

  • Noah (Genesis 6-8)
 

  • Abraham (Genesis 17-20)
 

  • Joseph (Genesis 37-39)
 

  • David (2 Samuel 12)
 

  • Peter (John 21)
 

  • Paul (Acts 9)
 
 
How has God been faithful to you in your life as he was to these men?
 
 
 
Chapter 9: Meekness 
  • Define meekness in your own words.
 

  • Read Ephesians 4:1-4. What two other fruits of the Spirit does Paul link meekness with? Explain how these three fruits work together.
 
  • Read the Beatitudes, found in Matthew 5:1-12. Jesus lists blessed people who are defined by certain characteristics, meekness among them. Reflect upon this list as you answer the following questions:
 
  • How are all of these people similar?
 

  • What kinds of things will these people inherit?
 

  • Why do you think the meek will inherit the earth? What do you think this means?
 

  • How does Jesus himself exhibit these qualities?
 
 
Chapter 10: Temperance 
  • In what areas of your life do you struggle with self-control?
 
 

  • Read 2 Peter 1:5-8 where Peter gives a list of qualities which we are to build upon each other. Reflect upon this as you answer the following questions:
 
  • How does faith lead to virtue?
 

  • How does virtue lead to knowledge?
 

  • How does knowledge lead to temperance?
 

  • How does temperance lead to patience?
 

  • How does patience lead to godliness?
 

  • How does godliness lead to brotherly kindness?
 

  • How does brotherly kindness lead to charity?
 

  • What does Peter say about fruitfulness at the end of this passage? How does this confirm the truth found in Galatians 5:22-23?
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A Biblical Look at Marriage

9/4/2023

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Introduction: A Good Marriage 
  • Everyone knows a good marriage when they see one. We’re not talking about the unrealistic marriages we read about, watch from afar, or even fantasize about, but the ones we all see up close and personal with two ordinary people who are living in a loving marriage and making it look so good.
 
  • We know it when we see it, and we want it too. Clearly, it’s not that easy, or these types of real-life, happily-ever-after marriage stories would be the rule and not the exception.
 
  • Marriages struggle all around us, leading to a plethora of marriage books, marriage counselors, and marriage help in all possible forms. Divorce is at an all-time high, even among Christians. Marriage is hard and imperfect. There are no guarantees.
 
  • Some might even say that marriage itself is under attack. People say it’s an outdated institution that is unnecessary, pointless, antiquated, and downright foolish. Why even bother with such a thing when it seems to be fraught with such misery, struggle and grief - at least more often than not?

    • It’s a question that deserves an answer, and as Christians, we can turn to God’s word to find it.
 
  • God’s word talks about marriage from beginning to end. The first marriage is found in the opening chapters of Genesis, taking place in the Garden of Eden between the very first humans created by God. We also find marriage in the last pages of scripture as well, in the book of Revelation during the marriage supper of the lamb.
 
  • Marriage is a critical element of the lives of the people written about throughout the scriptures, and the struggles they faced are some that we face even today. Jesus spoke about marriage and the Apostle Paul had a ton to say on the subject all throughout his letters to the early church.
 
  • Marriage must be important for God to include it so prominently all over the scriptures. It’s not antiquated, irrelevant, or foolish. It’s designed by God and it is good.
 
Chapter 1: Marriage in the Garden 
  • God created the world and declared it to be “very good,” and yet something was missing. Despite the perfect garden, abundant vegetation, countless creatures roaming the earth, and the very presence of God himself, Adam was alone. It was not at all good for Adam to live a solitary life.
 
  • Adam needed a companion, a helper, and a friend, so God created a woman and gave Adam a wife. This marriage in the garden was unlike any other. It was perfect in every way, created by God and untainted by the sin that was to come. And before it was about anything else, it was about companionship.
 
  • The solution to man’s loneliness was a wife. Marriage is about friendship, companionship, and partnership. The man needs a helper to do things he cannot do, and the wife needs the same.
 
  • This perfect partnership forged in the garden would soon be marred by the fall. Sin enters the world and enters the marriage, causing trouble and chaos and pain. It still does today, and we see it all around us.
 
  • Yet, a marriage built on friendship first and foremost is a beautiful thing.
Would you describe your marriage as primarily a friendship? Is your spouse first and foremost your closest companion? We may not always think of our marriage in such terms, but marriage was designed by God to meet the need of loneliness.

  • Marriage is the unique relationship that God designed to resolve loneliness. Not only does marriage uniquely meet the need for companionship, love, and intimacy, but it is a picture of the Gospel itself as husband and wife love each other, sacrifice for each other, and forgive each other.
 
Chapter 2: Two Becoming One 
  • The Bible goes so far as to describe the unity of marriage as “two becoming one flesh,” and this unique relationship is only to be attained within marriage. No other relationship on earth is called to such unity, not even the deep bonds between parent and child, siblings, or lifelong friends.
 
  • Two individuals become one, but of course they maintain their individuality as people and are responsible before God for their own sins. They become unified with their spouse within marriage in a relationship like no other, described by the Apostle Paul in Ephesians Chapter 5 where he says:

    • “So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church.”
 
  • Husband and wife are to love each other as they love themselves. They are to care for each other, cherish each other, and love each other completely. Adam and Eve were completely safe in each other’s company, treating each other blamelessly according to the Golden Rule long before Jesus ever spoke it.
 
  • The two becoming one flesh is lived out physically within the intimacy of the marriage bed. This physical act of unification was designed by God to be a beautiful, pleasurable, and fruitful expression of love within the safety of marriage.
 
  • We all know how sin has corrupted this union. Sex has been removed from marriage entirely. The holiness of it has been degraded. It has been cheapened and turned into a thing taken far too lightly. At its worst, it has been made abusive, hurtful, and destructive.
 
  • The marriage union is holy because God has designed it to be special. The unity between husband and wife is like no other relationship. Part of the wedding ceremony often includes a warning that “marriage is not to be entered into lightly” for good reason.
 
  • Loving your spouse as you love yourself is the charge of marriage. Becoming one with each other is the reality of the relationship. It is a beautiful, Godly arrangement that is to be cherished.
 
Chapter 3: The Marriage Covenant 
  • “What God has joined together let not man separate” is commonly spoken at the end of a wedding ceremony, but few people realize they are the very words of Jesus. He spoke these words to counter the trick question posed to him by religious leaders.
 
  • God has joined a man and woman together in marriage. Man should not separate it. Marriage is a covenant relationship designed by God to last a lifetime.

    • Divorce was as common in Jesus’ day as it is today. We live in a disposable world where nothing seems to last. Items are discarded and contracts are broken. It is not to be so with marriage.
 
  • The writer of the book of Hebrews says in Chapter 13 that marriage is to be honored. It is a serious, sacred relationship. It should be entered into with total commitment and left only in extreme situations where there is no other course of action.
 
  • This covenant relationship is holy, set apart by God as a unique human bond that should last a lifetime. Yet sin entered the world corrupting marriage, and divorce is a part of that.

    • Jesus himself tells the leaders in Mark 10:5 that Moses had to write exceptions for divorce into the law because of the hardness of sinful hearts.
 
  • Marriage is meant to last a lifetime, since it is a covenant relationship designed by God to display the Gospel.

    • Do you feel that you and your spouse are in a covenant relationship with each other, committed to each other “till death do you part?”

    • Are you living out the Gospel in your relationship, or are you struggling in your commitment?
 
  • The Gospel is about love, grace, sacrifice, and forgiveness. It’s about Jesus laying down his life for his beloved, the church. It is about God putting the needs of his children above his own. It is about a covenant relationship between God and his people that will last for eternity.
 
 Chapter 4: Walking in Love 
  • In Ephesians chapter 5, the Apostle Paul gives some of the most direct instructions about how to live a Godly life.

    • The last portion of that chapter is specific commands to husbands and wives. However, making to-do and not-to-do lists based on this chapter would be a mistake without paying special attention to the first couple of verses.
 
  • Paul opens this passage by telling us to walk in love. But not just any love. We are to walk in the same love that Christ has shown to us.

    • The love of Christ is not romantic love, although that kind of love is a gift within marriage. It is also not brotherly love, though we’ve already discussed how marriage is about this kind of friendship, companionship, and affection.
 
  • The love of Christ was displayed on the cross, where he suffered and died for the sins of the world.  John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
 
  • This kind of love shown to us by Jesus is what we are to emulate, according to Paul. It should be the umbrella that covers all of our human relationships, especially marriage. Everything we do in our marriage should be done out of love.
 
  • So, when Paul tells us later in Ephesians 5 that wives are to respect their husbands, even using the dreaded word submission, it should be done with the love of Christ. When Paul tells husbands to love, cherish, and nourish their wives, it should be done out of this love.

    • The husband should be willing to lay down his very life out of love for his wife, just like Jesus did for us.
 
  • The love of Christ is first and foremost sacrificial, coming from a heart of utter humility. Paul tells us in Philippians 2 that we are to emulate this kind of sacrificial love in our relationships.

    • Jesus put aside his rightful place equal to God and humbled himself by becoming a man and giving up his very life on the cross. This is the love we are to live out within our marriages.
 
  • Are you walking in love in your marriage and loving your spouse the way Christ loves you? If not, what is keeping you from this kind of sacrificial love?

    • It’s often said that marriage is a 50/50 arrangement with each spouse doing 50% of the work. If we are to walk with the love of Jesus in our marriages, then it should be more like 100/100, with each partner sacrificing all for the other out of love.
 
 Chapter 5: The Greatest of These 
  • It’s easy to assume that the scripture most often read during the wedding ceremony must be 1 Corinthians 13. This well-known passage on love written by the Apostle Paul is beautiful, poetic, and inspiring. It’s the perfect words to be spoken before a bride and groom as they begin their new life together.
 
  • Imagine how differently marriages would look if these words spoken over a husband and wife on their wedding day were lived out by them in the hard days to follow. We wouldn’t need all those marriage books, counselors, and attorneys!
 
  • The passage tells us that love is patient. Some versions use the word longsuffering. Two flawed, sinful people living together in such a close relationship will need to be patient with one another, suffering long through the challenges that will surely come.
 
  • This love should also be marked by kindness. It sounds so simplistic and trite, but being kind to your spouse goes a long way toward showing how much you love them. Ephesians 4:32 says, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”

    • Compliment her new dress. Bring him a cup of coffee. Empty the dishwasher without expecting a thank you. Forgive quickly and easily, remembering how God has forgiven you.
 
  • Love isn’t envious, boastful, or proud. It’s not dishonorable or self-seeking. Rather, it is content, humble, and subservient. It puts the needs of your beloved before your own. It thinks the best of the other person, rather than the worst. We are to remember that we are sinners in need of a savior, just like our spouse is.
 
  • This love is slow to anger and keeps no record of wrong. We should show grace to our spouse, forgiving and forgetting quickly and often. This is how the holy God treats us and calls us to treat others, especially our spouse.
 
  • Love delights and rejoices in truth, and it fights evil. The truth is found in God and in his word. Evil is all around us, but God equips us to fight it. Living out a godly marriage is a battle, but one worth waging, especially knowing that God is with you in the fight.
 
  • Love protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres. A godly marriage is to be marked by protecting your spouse and your relationship, trusting them and trusting God, hoping in his goodness for your life, and persevering through all the ups and downs.
 
  • Love never fails, since according to 1 John 4:8, “God is love.” Ultimately our hope, trust, and our faith is in God who will never fail. Our spouse will let us down and our marriage will not be perfect, but God’s love will endure forever. We can love our spouse with this kind of love because God has loved us first.

Conclusion: A Godly Marriage 
  • The love, trust, companionship, and partnership found in the unique relationship of marriage can be one of God’s greatest earthly blessings. It’s something so many of us long for, and it can be elusive.

    • Sin has infiltrated every part of the world, especially marriage. Rather than a beautiful union filled with love, joy, and peace, it too often devolves into a place of tremendous struggle, pain, and disappointment.
 
  • It need not be this way, however, especially not for Christians who know God, his word, and his love. Those of us who have put our faith in him can turn to him and his word to help us live out a marriage that is the picture of the Gospel that it was meant to be.
 
  • Ecclesiastes tells us of the great blessing of having a helper by our side. Two are better than one, Solomon tells us, because one can lift the other when they fall. One can keep the other warm at night. One can defend the other when under attack.
 
  • This partnership is most beautifully displayed within a marriage where spouses have each other’s backs. They help each other, protect each other, comfort each other, and serve each other. They love each other fiercely, sacrificially, and completely.
 
  • It is not good for man, or woman, to be alone, so God made marriage. 
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Love: The Great Commandment

9/4/2023

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Introduction 
  • An unlikely recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize was Mother Teresa. She was not a great head of state or diplomat, but a humble nun who served the poorest of the poor.
 
  • Mother Teresa spoke often about the love that motivated her to dedicate her life to serving the unlovable. Her love of God fueled her to love His people.
 
  • Few of us love others with the kind of self-sacrifice displayed by someone like Mother Teresa. Yet, we can look to people like her as shining examples of living out the greatest commandment.
 
  • The greatest commandment found in the Bible is to love God and love others. Let’s look at the scriptures and let them inform us about what this looks like.

Chapter 1: Biblical Love Defined 
  • The word love is found all throughout the Bible and represents a foundational truth of the Christian faith. God is a God of love, and as people created in His image, we are to be people characterized by love.
 
  • While the English language has only one word for love, the original Hebrew and Greek of the Bible utilized several forms of this critical word. The Bible uses different words for love to display the nuanced differences within loving relationships.
 
  • The Greek word “phileo” is used in the Bible to denote friendship, fondness, and affection. It is the love that Jesus had for Lazarus when he wept at his tomb and is not a uniquely Christian idea.
 
  • The Greek word “agape” is used far more often in the Bible and represents a love unique to the Christian faith. Agape is often described as unconditional love, or an altruistic love directed at someone who you know may give you nothing in return.
 
  • Agape is sacrificial, and always seeks the best interest of the beloved. It is present and active regardless of emotions or circumstances.
 
  • Love is of God because God is love. Those of us who know God, know love, and have experienced it unconditionally through him.

Chapter 2: A Question for Jesus 
  • Sometimes Jesus taught with parables and stories which the hearer needed to interpret. This teaching through stories often confounded those who listened out of selfish curiosity or sinister motives.
 
  • Yet, at other times, Jesus’ teaching was crystal clear and couldn’t possibly be misinterpreted. When a lawyer asked Him what the greatest commandment is, he did not answer in a parable but spoke plainly, not leaving room for interpretation.
 
  • It may surprise some that the most important commandments given by God are all about love. People often wrongly think of our God only as a harsh judge, yet our God is defined by love, and he says so clearly all over the scripture.
 
  • The first greatest commandment is to love God completely. Our heart, soul, and mind are to be entirely devoted to loving God.
 
  • The second commandment behind loving God is loving others. When we love God, the love for others naturally flows from it.
 
  • This love for God and love for others is fundamental to the Christian faith, and it begins with God’s very character. His whole being is love, and we cannot be a part of him if we do not have love.

Chapter 3: God’s Love for His People 
  • In order to follow the two greatest commandments, loving God and loving others, we must first understand God’s love for us. John tells us in his first letter that, “We love him, because he first loved us.”
 
  • The love God has for us is hard to fathom since we are so undeserving of it. God’s “agape” for us is so undeserving that we often don’t believe it.
 
  • The proof of God’s love for us is in His words and His actions. God, through His word, tells of his great love for His people while demonstrating it in countless ways.
 
  • God’s love for us is sacrificial. He needs nothing from us yet gives us all we need out of His great love toward us. Our greatest need is for Him, and He is more than enough.
 
  • God’s love for us is not dependent on our goodness. The ultimate proof of God’s love is that He would sacrifice His only son to die in the place of undeserving sinners like you and me.
 
  • Nothing can separate us from God’s love. The Apostle Paul knew how undeserving of it he was and how lavishly God had poured it out on him anyway.
 
Chapter 4: Our Love for God 
  • We know that God loves us through His words and actions. God expects us to love Him in return with a love flowing from the greatest love, His undeserving, unconditional, sacrificial love for us.
 
  • In the same way, we can show our love for God through our words and actions. He commands us to love Him because He knows we need that reminder, but we cannot just say that we love Him without somehow living out that love.
 
  • We can speak our love for God through praying, worshipping, and sharing the truth of His word. All of these forms of communication tell God verbally how much we love him.
 
  • We can put our love for God in action by obeying Him. Jesus himself said in John 14, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” The way to live out our love for God is to obey Him.
 
  • God knows our love for Him will not be perfect. We will fail to love Him and follow His commandments as we should, yet His love for us is complete and covers all of our sins and shortcomings.
 
Chapter 5: Our Love for Others 
  • From the command to love God flows the command to love others. We cannot love God without also loving His people. The two commands are not to be separated.
 
  • All people are created in God’s image and therefore worthy of His love and ours. We don’t love because people deserve it or have earned it, but because we have the love of God within us.
 
  • We are called to love others the way we love ourselves. We should strive to see others as God sees them and us, as precious children created in His image and worthy of His love.
 
  • Jesus tells us to love others the way He has loved us. Jesus’ love looked like utter humility and complete sacrifice with no expectation of getting anything in return.
 
  • Loving others the way Christ loved us will enable us to live in peace with one another. Loving others will help us to bear with them even in the midst of sin and brokenness, living alongside them in peace.
 
Chapter 6: Jesus, Our Loving Example 
  • Jesus is our example of love. Being the sinless Son of God, he loved both God and people perfectly in His time on earth.
 
  • Jesus met a woman drawing water at a well and met her with love. We can learn much about how Jesus loved people from this profound interaction found in John Chapter 4.

  • Jesus didn’t shy away from people different from Him. The woman at the well was a Samaritan, a group of people despised by the Jews. He loved her despite her differences.
 
  • Jesus drew near to people, meeting them in their place of brokenness and sin. He knew full well that this woman was a sinner, yet he spoke to her, challenged her, and loved her, not despite her sinful state but because of it!
 
  • Jesus gave people what they most desperately needed. The woman at the well might have had personal, physical, and financial needs, but Jesus knew that ultimately, she just needed Him.
 
  • We are to love others the way Jesus loved them. We can love them with the love of the Lord despite their different race or ethnicity, and despite their sin and brokenness.

Conclusion: The Greatest of These 
  • Paul’s famous discourse on love found in 1 Corinthians 13 teaches us so much about this overused word. It teaches us that love is patient and kind with a host of other virtuous characteristics.
 
  • Human love cannot live up to this definition. This profound passage is read at weddings and printed on Valentine cards, but even the most beautiful of human relationships are fraught with sin and struggle.
 
  • It is only through knowing the love of God that we can in turn love Him and love others. The love of God is far greater than anything we can possibly imagine apart from Him.
 
  • Paul prays in Ephesians that we would grasp the wide, long, high, and deep love of Christ. His love is greater than anything, and the Christian who knows God knows love.
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God’s Remedy for Anxiety Finding Peace In A World That’s Worried

9/2/2023

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God’s Remedy for Anxiety
Finding Peace In A World That’s Worried
 
An Anxious World 
 
Do you often find yourself weighed down with anxiety and worry?
 
Are you tempted to feel like you’re alone in this battle? You’re definitely not!
 
We live in an anxiety-prone world. Far more people than you can imagine grapple with this challenge, and the number is only growing each year.
 
Some professionals estimate that at least one third to one half of all Americans have major levels of anxiety. Globally, various forms of anxiety are reported to be the most significant mental health challenge.
 
The impact of anxiety can range from mild to severe, from tiresome to devastating. Some forms of anxiety require serious intervention from professionals, often involving medication. Please consult a medical professional if you’re struggling with devastating effects of anxiety.
 
Most people recognize that worry of any variety takes a toll on their mental wellbeing. Fewer people are aware of the physical side effects.
 
In the short term, our body’s natural response to stress isn’t harmful — adrenaline, increased heart rate, and blood flow help us to focus on a problem and constructively deal with it.
 
Stress that goes on and on, however, even if it’s related to normal, everyday difficulties, produces effects that are unhealthy.
 
Apprehension about traffic, missing a deadline, meetings you’re not quite prepared for, interviews, crying children, more responsibilities than you can fit in — these common situations provoke a physical response.
 
There are also much broader categories:
 
  • Money and job security
  • The future
  • Health
  • Children
  • School 
 
That’s just the short list of topics that we humans are tempted to be anxious about!
 
Many of the things we worry about are small things while others are significant. Some worries are rational, while others are in the irrational category.
 
You may even worry about whether you’re worrying too much.
 
Dealing with anxiety is a part of life. As long as we’re in this present world, temptations to be anxious will always be close at hand.
 
The world offers a myriad of practical suggestions for battling anxiety — exercise, getting more sleep, support groups, individual counseling, therapy, and many others.
 
These ideas could help you to some degree. There’s no reason not to implement ones you find supportive.
 
But it’s far more helpful to recognize that there is One who has conquered anxiety.
 
Because of God’s immense love for us, He clearly shares in scripture that there’s a way to experience peace in spite of anxious thoughts.
 
Want to learn more about scripture’s antidote to anxiety? Let’s take a closer look.

Chapter 1: Don’t Worry About Anything? 
Verse for Today 
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6
 
Reflection 
Could it really be possible to stop giving in to anxiety and worry?
 
Notice in the verse above that God commands us not to be anxious. That must mean it’s possible to live without anxiety. It would be unreasonable for Him to command us to do something that isn’t even attainable.
 
Keep in mind that there are two things to understand about this fight:
 
Experiencing the temptation to worry, and giving into the anxiety, are two different things.
 
Temptation isn’t the same thing as sin. It’s important to recognize the difference. Situations that lead to anxiety aren’t going to magically disappear once you reach some level of spiritual maturity. Wouldn’t that be nice!
 
You’re likely to experience the onset of anxious thoughts time and time again throughout your entire life. Temptations to worry will arrive without giving you prior notice.
 
God is the one who provides the ability and strength to grow in battling anxiety.
 
Surviving the assaults of anxiety is not meant to be a solo journey. Putting all your confidence in yourself to just work harder at not being anxious is destined to fail.
 
As a created being, you are prone to weakness, sin, and failure, like all of mankind. God is perfect, but we are not. Becoming dependent on Him to help you change is the only lasting solution.
 
Recognizing that God is the one who brings growth doesn’t mean that there’s nothing you need to do. The expression “let go and let God” isn’t a good strategy for overcoming anxiety.
 
You play a significant role in your own spiritual growth. Developing a habit of communicating with God about your anxiety and asking Him for help is essential.
 
If you’re not already in the habit of praying, start small and ask Him for help. You can start by just saying “Help!” Even the desire to pray comes from Him.
 
So the moment you start to feel anxious, turn to God in prayer.
 
Prayer 
Heavenly Father, I want to grow in my communion with You. Help me to remember to thank You for all You have already done for me. I know that I need your help to overcome my fear and anxiety.
 
I recognize how easily I can depend on myself instead of casting my burdens on You. I recognize this can add to my anxiety, because I forget You in the midst of the trouble. Instead of immediately asking you for help, I try to handle everything on my own, which makes my anxiety even worse.
 
Please teach me to run to You quickly. Deepen my trust in You, because You want to hear from me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Chapter 2: God’s Perfect Love 
Verse for Today 
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18
 
Reflection 
Because you are God’s child, you can know that He loves you very much. Regardless of the circumstances you find yourself in, you can run to God in prayer.
 
Rejoice in the fact that, as a believer in Jesus Christ, you can speak directly with the Maker of the universe about EVERY detail of your life, whether large or small.
 
And everything really does mean everything! Prayer isn’t meant to only be used in crises. Avoid resigning yourself to tolerating things the way they are. Go to Him! Be brutally honest. Be humble. Admit your need for his help.
 
You don’t need to be fancy when you talk to God.
 
Prayer is simply talking with God, the way you’d talk with a close friend. Addressing worries in your life should begin with prayer. You can praise and worship Him as part of prayer, as well as share your worries and thoughts.
 
Just like a parent would enjoy talking with a cherished child, our heavenly Father wants to hear all the cares that you want to talk about. The good, the bad, and the ugly. He knows it all anyway.
 
You are welcome to entreat God for help or a favor, remaining mindful of his power and might. We approach Him reverently, but at the same time, with freedom and confidence — not timidly — since Christ paved the way.
 
Prayer 
Father, thank you that your perfect love casts out all fear. Please help me to rest in and trust your perfect love for me. When I’m anxious or worried, help me to find peace in your deep love.
 
Forgive me for the times when I haven’t rested in your perfect love. For the times I’ve let my imagination get the best of me. For the times I’ve given in to sinful worry rather than trust my good and loving Father.
 
Right now, I give all my worries to you. I choose to let your amazing, powerful love drive out all the fears and anxieties that are plaguing me. I receive the peace you offer. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Chapter 3: Gratefulness Drives Out Worry 
Verse for Today 
“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”
Matthew 7:11
 
Reflection 
Life can get overwhelming. We’re easily discouraged or burned out when things are beyond our control.
 
How do you turn your gaze away from the challenges and turn to God?
 
One of the best ways is to describe past and current blessings.
 
You can offer up thanksgiving to God for all He has given you and all He has done on your behalf. You shouldn’t only go to God to ask for things, as if he is Santa.
 
There is so much you can thank Him for — from small, everyday provisions to truly significant ones.
 
  • Waking up to a new day
  • A kindness or financial provision that was unexpected
  • Beautiful weather
  • Healing from illness
  • Utilities and transportation
  • Time with friends and family
  • An enjoyable meal
 
The list of things to be thankful for is endless!
 
An attitude of thanksgiving has a connection to experiencing inward peace.
 
Reflecting on God’s goodness reminds you that He is good and that He is in control. It’s not you, or other people, or your circumstances that determine what’s going to happen.
When you’re feeling anxious or worried, try flipping the script.
 
Instead of focusing on the negative things in front of you, turn your attention to all the amazing ways that God has blessed you!
 
Pull out a journal and start writing them down. With each blessing, pause and thank God for it. Try to make this a daily habit if possible. The more grateful you are, the less anxious you’ll be.
 
Prayer 
Father, thank you for all the amazing blessings you have poured into my life. They are beyond counting! The greatest blessing that I have is my relationship with you. The fact that I can call you my Father is simply incredible.
 
But beyond that, you’ve given me so much more. Forgive me for all the times I’ve been more focused on what I don’t have than what I do have. Forgive me for being ungrateful despite having received so very much.
 
Today, I am choosing gratefulness over anxiety. I’m choosing to be grateful for all I’ve been given instead of unhappy about what I wish I had. Fill me with a grateful heart today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Chapter 4: Specific Prayers For Specific Worries 
Verse for Today 
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”  Matthew 7:7
 
Reflection 
Throughout the Bible, God invites you to bring very specific prayer requests to Him. Of course, God already knows what you want or need, since He sees and knows all, but you are told to ask for it.
 
If God already knows what we need, why should we ask Him? Because when we see God answer our specific prayers, it reminds us that He loves us and is active in our lives.
 
There’s a handy acronym that can remind you to be specific in your requests. It spells out the word “GASP”:
 
  • God
  • Answers
  • Specific
  • Prayers
 
Tell God specifically what you want or need and ask Him to provide that for you. Even though God knows what you want or need, He tells you to ask Him for it.
 
God is able to answer vague prayers but being precise helps you to recognize that you’re actually taking part in what God is doing.
 
And specific answers to prayer are exciting!
 
This doesn’t mean that you’ll get everything you ask for, or that God will always solve situations in the way you are hoping He will or in the timing you prefer.
 
Sometimes things come out differently or at a different time.
 
God may know that what we’re requesting isn’t necessarily the best solution. He is the master planner.
 
Prayer 
Father, thank you for inviting me to bring my specific requests to you. I’m so grateful that I can come to you with all my needs, big and small. Forgive me for the times I’ve held back in prayer, not believing that you are eager to answer them.
 
Help me to trust you in times of waiting. I know that you love me and that everything you do for me is good. Even when I don’t see the answer to prayer that I’m expecting, I know that you’re working.
 
When I’m weighed down, help me to come to you rather than trying to figure everything out on my own. Even if I don’t know the solution, you do. You will help me and meet my needs in ways that I can’t even imagine. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Chapter 5: All Things For Good 
Verse for Today 
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
 
Reflection 
God is infinitely wise. The Bible reminds us that there are things which we, having finite minds and bodies, won’t be able to comprehend here and now. There are things that we can’t understand no matter how much we try.
 
But because God is all wise, good, and powerful, you can trust Him even when you don’t understand your circumstances.
 
His plan for your life cannot be compared to what you might choose if left to yourself. You may not understand the challenges He allows to come into your life, but you can trust that his sovereignty is working all things together in the best possible way.
 
Honestly, would you want to serve a God that you can easily understand? That would put Him on the level of a human!
 
We need help from someone wiser, stronger, bigger. Someone awe-inspiring, whose sovereignty extends to all that’s happening in your life, and who reigns over the universe.
 
Sovereignty means supreme power or authority. That’s a great description of the realm of the Creator.
 
Despite the fact that you don’t understand everything about Him, you can grow in your ability to trust Him.
 
Because God is loving, merciful, and kind in addition to all-knowing, you can trust that He knows exactly what types of needs or worries you’re experiencing.
 
Prayer 
Father, I thank you that you are working all things together for my good. There are a lot of things that I just don’t understand. I don’t know why you allow me to go through certain circumstances.
 
But I do believe that you know exactly what you’re doing. Nothing is outside of your control. Nothing is beyond your knowledge and power. You absolutely know what is best for me and are causing all my circumstances to work together for good.
 
Though I may not know why something happens, I know that you’re good and that nothing happens apart from you. Help me to rest in these truths when I feel anxious or worried. Help me to rest in you and find peace in you. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 
Chapter 6: God Is Dependable 
Verse for Today 
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10
 
Reflection 
From before the beginning of time and forever into eternity, our God has not, does not, and will not change. His character remains the same. His promises do not change.
 
This is such wonderful news for you as a believer. God is dependable and you can possess an unshakeable confidence in Him.
 
You can trust God to write your life story.
 
When you take the time to look back, you’ll see evidence of his hand on your life. Reflecting on the past helps you realize that you can truly trust Him, even when anxious thoughts about a current situation assail you.
 
It’s very possible that, in the years ahead, you’ll look back and ask yourself why you worried so much.
 
You’ll see all the ways that God guided you and led you. You’ll see how He protected you and even the ways that He redeemed the mistakes you made.
 
Anxiety is often the result of looking into the future and trying to figure out what will happen. You experience peace, on the other hand, when you trust the One who knows what the future holds and knows how He will lead you.
 
Ultimately, you must learn to trust in God’s wisdom more than your own.
 
God’s wisdom is more than just intelligence or knowing facts and figures. He understands everything, so His decisions are always the very best decisions. His competence and abilities are beyond your comprehension.
 
You can rest in those truths and find peace for your anxious heart.
 
Prayer 
Father, I praise you that you are always dependable. You never change. All your promises are trustworthy and will come to pass. While there is so much in life that is unreliable, you are a rock that I can always trust.
 
Forgive me for trying to figure out the future instead of trusting you. You know exactly where I’m headed, and you have good plans in store for me. Though the future may look cloudy to me, it’s crystal clear to you.
 
By your power, I will trust in your wisdom more than my own. Your decisions are always best, and I will find my rest in the plans you have for me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 
Chapter 7: Could Anxiety Actually Be A Blessing? 
Verse for Today 
“In the multitude of my thoughts within me, thy comforts delight my soul.”  Psalm 94:19
 
Reflection 
Anxiety never feels like it’s a good thing.
 
Worries make life appear to be out of control, overwhelming, difficult, and before you know it, you fall into believing that nothing will ever change or that it’s simply too much to cope with.
 
You can end up living in “survival mode” as anxious thoughts swirl around you unchecked.
 
But here’s a unique viewpoint to consider:
 
It’s possible that battling anxious thoughts, as uncomfortable and depressing as that can be, could be beneficial for you in ways you aren’t seeing clearly right now.
 
  • What if anxiety guides you into a greater awareness of God’s great power and love, or helps you to see truth more clearly?
 
  • What if the outcome is a more peaceful, patient, and mature version of yourself, an individual who loves, trusts, and cherishes God more as a result?
 
As you experience anxious thoughts and feelings, consider the different things that God might be teaching you. Maybe you’re learning that you don’t have control over others or situations that tempt you to be worried. Or that you’re not as powerful or wise as God, who IS able to bring change.
 
Let anxiety be a teacher for you. Let it push you into God, so you can learn the good things that He wants to teach you.
 
Prayer 
Father, I thank you that you are with me even when I’m experiencing anxiety. That you are teaching me good, valuable things even during tough times. You’re never absent from my life. You’re always at work in me, even when I’m anxious.
 
When I feel anxious or worried, help me to see the lessons you have for me. Help me see beyond the darkness and experience your smiling face. I know that you always have my best interests at heart and that you want to use anxiety as a blessing in my life.
 
Help me to avoid running from anxiety and have eyes to see all the good things you’re doing behind the scenes. You are my rest, peace, joy, and fortress. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Chapter 8: Never Alone 
Verse for Today 
“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.”
Deuteronomy 31:6
 
Reflection 
Scripture promises you that God will always be with you through this life and beyond.
 
Even in the darkest of circumstances, the Lord is still present. Jesus said, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world..." Matthew 28:20.
 
And Jesus also promises in John 14:18, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”
 
Doesn’t that encourage you? There will never be a single minute of your life when you are alone. God is always with you, always on your side, always guiding you, always protecting you.
 
There may be times when you feel like you’re alone, but you’re not. Throughout the Bible, God is often described as a shepherd. Shepherds always keep a close watch over their sheep.
 
They ensure that the sheep are fed and protected. If a wild animal approaches, the shepherd will fight the animal and drive it off.
 
God cares for you in the same way, constantly watching over you and fighting on your behalf.
 
Don’t ever believe the lie that you’ve been abandoned by God. He will never leave you or forsake you. The devil may whisper in your ear that you’ve been abandoned, but you can be absolutely confident that you haven’t.
 
God won’t fail you. God won’t forsake you. God won’t leave you. When you feel anxious, take comfort in God’s constant presence in your life.
 
Prayer 
Father, thank you that you will never leave me or forsake me, regardless of what I’m going through -- whether I’m having a good day or bad. You’re always by my side and will sustain me even in the toughest times.
 
Help me to rest in your constant presence. Your presence is my peace. Your presence is my joy. Your presence is my hope. When I feel weighed down by worry and anxious thoughts, I take comfort knowing that you are always with me.
 
Forgive me for the times when I haven’t taken refuge in your presence. For the times when I’ve ignored prayer or your Word. When I feel anxious, help me to immediately run to you and experience the peace you offer. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Chapter 9: Anxiety Is A Liar 
Verse for Today 
“Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?” Matthew 6:27
 
Reflection 
Anxiety and worry are kind of silly when you think about it. Obsessing about anxious thoughts doesn’t help you in any way whatsoever. That’s the lie of anxiety. It tells you lies about the future and then makes you think about them constantly.
 
As you confront the very things that make you anxious, you’re like a soldier attacking an unseen enemy. The problem with the unseen is that you forget that it’s there! Your “spiritual eyes” must be opened.
 
Imagine for a moment that anxiety (fear) is actually a person.
 
This person wants to keep you unsettled, so he whispers things to you all the time, things that are untrue. He tells you that bad things are going to happen. The fact that these things won’t actually happen doesn’t matter. He just wants you to expend tons of energy thinking about them.
 
And if you pay close attention, you’ll probably notice that most of your anxious thoughts don’t include God in the picture. You’re imagining a future where God isn’t present to help you.
 
So, the next time anxious thoughts cloud your thinking and tempt you to leave God out of the picture, remember this vivid concept of a lying person who hates you.
 
And the truth is, the devil really does want you to be so preoccupied with worry that you forget about God. The more time you spend worrying, the less time you spend praying, loving others, and trusting God.
 
Prayer 
Father, forgive me for all the time I’ve wasted worrying. Forgive me for believing the lies of anxiety. Forgive me for listening to anxiety rather than the promises you make in the Bible.
 
By your power, help me to spend more time thinking about you and all the ways you bless me rather than my anxiety. Help me to fix my gaze on you, not being distracted by anxiety but constantly trusting you instead.
 
I know that anxiety is a liar and that you always tell the truth. When I feel anxious and worried, help me to tune out the lies and focus all my thoughts and energy on your wonderful truths. Thank you for loving me and being with me even when I’m worried. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 
Trusting In God To Change You 
If you’ve struggled with fear and anxiety for a long time, you might be tempted to think that you’re never going to make any progress.
 
If you were the one ultimately responsible for making all the changes, you would have reason to be discouraged.
 
But the good news is that God is the one who can change us.
 
He conquered fear and death, so God certainly has the ability to transform you and manage your anxious thoughts! He also loves you more than you can possibly imagine.
 
Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us…:”
 
God’s power is at work in you! He can do more than you could possibly think, ask, or imagine. Imagine living a life free from anxiety. God can do even more than that. He can set you free from anxiety and worry in ways that you never thought were possible.
 
Your Father in heaven knows the plans He has for you, and those plans are good ones. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
 
God has plans of peace for you. Plans of rest. Good plans full of blessings.
 
Peace in the midst of trouble is a process of growth. Some days will be easier than others, but you have a strong ally in your fight against anxiety.
 
These words written by hymn writer Stuart Townend capture the glorious present and future reality your loving Father has for you:
 
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me.
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand.
Till He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.
 
We may struggle with fear and worry now, but as we ask God for help, He will begin to transform us.
 
Now that’s some good news!

September 02nd, 2023
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