Good Fruit

16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. Galatians 5:16-17 (NIV)

Blows and wounds cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the inmost being. Proverbs 20:30 (NIV)

• When we are in some kind of distress, whether it be physical, emotional, financial, is when we pull closer to God.
  
• God will allow these things in our lives to help discipline us, cleanse our thinking and make us get into alignment with Him.
  
• We're also brought to realize the weakness of the flesh, and realize that we can't count on the flesh, but we realize that the only One we can count on is God.
  
• God wants us to walk and live by the Spirit. The more and more we do, the more we desire the Holy Spirit and the fruits of the Holy Spirit, and the less we desire the things of the world.
  
• Even though we may be battered and wounded, be it physically, emotionally, financially, we can still bring out the fruit of the Spirit (even more so!) which is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control as described in Galatians 5:22.
  
• Because of our human nature, our goal to produce good fruit for God has to be intentional, and will take effort on our part to put it into practice.
  

Heavenly Father, let the trails in life that we are going through only strengthen our Spirit. I know that it is your will that we are made better and stronger by the challenges we face. Please let us have the acceptance we need, so that we are cleansed and only made stronger by these challenges. By doing so, I know that you'll continue to bless us. Let us become more like Christ Jesus, everyday. ~Amen