The Bible tells us in Galatians 5:22 that “the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness.” It also tells us in Romans 8:5 that “those who living according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the spirit.” Meaning of course that what we put our attention towards and what we work for is what determines the outcome of our everyday. God’s physical manifestation of His word tells us directly that if we are spending time with the Spirit, and if we are pouring our time and our attention into Him, He will give us what He promised in Romans.
The thought of chasing after a relationship that can seem so abstract is daunting. Before the race if someone told me they were going to go sit and simply spend time with God, I wouldn’t know what image to conjure up in my head of what that looks like. If I was told that someone read their bible every single day I would feel impressed, but not jealous that they possessed that desire. If I was looked at and asked what listening prayer was, I would have looked back with a blank and confused stare. Before my race however, I was stressed almost all of the time. About college plans, about my future, about family, friends, relationships, and small issues that everyone deals with in daily living. Of course I found joy and peace, so I don’t mean for you to misread this. My life was actually very happy. But I couldn’t seem to maintain that state of happiness and calm. That feeling you get after a problem has been resolved of complete peace and comfort.
Now, I know why.
I’ve woken up every morning for going on 55 days, and before I attempt to handle the day, or the people, or thoughts about what I need to accomplish or what issues I have to deal with, I pray. I wake up with the Lord. I open His word, I allow Him to speak over me about what He wants my day to be like and what He wants me to focus on that will draw me closer to the spirit.
I was laying on my bunkbed the other night sick, covered in mosquito spray, and sweating way too much to sleep when the girls on my squad started filing in to get ready for bed. And as I listened to all of their happy chatter and ministry stories of the day, I laid there and smiled to myself as a feeling of complete satisfaction and peace swept over me. How cool is it that I live with 10 beautiful girls day in and day out who are all living their lives fully for the Lord? What an amazing example. How incredible is it that we are all in this crazy adventure together? In that moment, I wasn’t focused on being sick and itchy and hot. I was thanking my Father for putting me in Haiti.
I sat in a hammock the next day as our squad leader lead worship. I had spent an hour that day going over Revelations feeling at a complete loss for understanding. And as I sat there getting ready to sing, my mind was buzzing with questions and ideas and possible answers. But facing away from the music, staring out at the distant lights and the stars scattered above me and the mountain silhouettes, my mind became clear as the goodness of the Lord was revealed to me. And I sat there and marveled as joy bubbled up when I realized that never before have I longed so badly to study the word of God and truly understand it.
This past week I stood on the porch of a man’s house in a village named Laveque. He told us about how his father was a voodoo priest and he had grown up in a household where Christianity was unacceptable. But when he was old enough he had left home and joined the church. And standing there with us even though he lived in a simple block house with no power or water, and even thought he had no current job, what he did have was a wife who he loved, 3 children who were being educated, and God in his life. When he shook my hand and told me that he was proud of us for spreading the gospel I experienced the fruit of the spirit. I saw faith in action, I saw what joy the spirit can bring you, and I saw what patience will give you if you work with the Lord’s timing.
Romans 8:5 taught me several weeks ago what the fruit of the spirit looks like, and ever since then every morning as I start my day out with God, I ask Him to show me. I am learning how to live according to the Spirit, and I’m learning quickly that the fruit is actually so much more then simple moments of joy or delight. Its a lifestyle that actually allows me to live in a constant state of unity with my God. It’s a thought process that gives me the option to look an obstacle straight on and feel at peace because I know with the Father I can overcome it. And it’s a window that in moments of discomfort, tribulation, and hardship, I can look through and actually see Beauty. I can see happiness, carefully sculpted truths that my Father hopes I pick up on, unity with the people around me; and, Abba, working and present in my every day, every hour, and every moment.
