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Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are beautiful words we read in the Bible, hang on a wall, or wear on a t-shirt. But they are so much more. They are visible evidence of the Holy Spirit at work in your life. And as His Spirit begins to shape the way you think, speak, and respond, your child gets to see what following Jesus looks like in the way you live each and every day. Welcome to God Says So, the scripture-rooted podcast created to help Christian moms just like you grow in God's word, strengthen your faith, live by what God says, and pass his truth onto the children you love. So the next generation grows up rooted in Scripture. Hi, I'm Donna, and I hope that you'll feel right at home here. Together, we'll find encouragement and joy in what God says. You'll leave with one practical way to bring his truth into your everyday family life. So come join me. I can't wait to share today's message with you. Hey friend, I am so glad you're here. Okay, so we have only just begun with this new series, The Fruit of the Spirit in Everyday Family Life. Now, if you haven't already checked out Tuesday's episode, we talked about how the fruit of the Spirit grows as we remain connected to Jesus. Today, let's look at what the fruit of the Spirit actually is and what it can begin to look like in your life. Galatians 5, 22 through 23. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things. Okay, now notice how that begins. But the Holy Spirit produces. That matters. The fruit of the Spirit is not some checklist of nine things that you have to master. It is not something you earn and it is not something you produce just by trying harder. The Holy Spirit produces the fruit of the Spirit in us. As we stay close to Jesus, spend time in God's Word, pray, obey what He says, and we follow His guidance, His fruit begins to become more visible in the way we live. And just like fruit growing on a tree, it takes time. So you are now going to become perfectly loving and joyful and peaceful and patient and kind and good and faithful and gentle and self-controlled overnight. There will still be moments when impatience shows up, frustration rises, our tone changes, we react before we stop and think. And sometimes we may recognize it right away, but at other times it will become more obvious as we keep walking with the Lord. So the Holy Spirit begins showing us patterns and our reactions. And we then will start to notice these sooner. Okay. And just here's the thing: this is not me pointing a finger at you, nor should you think that this is you pointing a finger at you. The Holy Spirit can gently make us aware of the areas in our life where He wants to help us grow. And when He brings something to our attention, He can also bring God's truth to mind and help us respond differently. So, okay, so let's think about this. Think about a young child who becomes upset in a store because, well, mom said no to something they wanted. The child is having a hard moment, and mom may be having one too. She may feel embarrassed, rushed, frustrated, or just ready to leave. And maybe her first reaction is impatience. But over time, as she becomes more aware of the Holy Spirit's work in her, she may begin to recognize that moment sooner. So that way she could pause. She can still keep the boundaries, she can lower her voice and respond with patience and kindness and self-control. See, the Holy Spirit is growing the fruit of the Spirit in you. And as He does, your child gets to see what following Jesus looks like in your daily life. They hear gentleness in the way you speak. They experience patience when they are struggling. They see self-control when you are frustrated, but don't allow that frustration to control the way you react. Our children do not need perfect mothers. They need mothers who are willing to follow Jesus, and they are allowing the Holy Spirit to keep shaping the way they live their everyday life. Now, as we go through this series, I want to help you to begin recognizing those everyday moments because this is where the Holy Spirit's fruit of the Spirit becomes very real. We're going to take each part of the fruit of the Spirit and look at what it can look like in your everyday family life, how it shows up in your thoughts, your attitude, your words, and your responses, and what your children can learn by watching you live it out. Okay, so here's one practical step you can take to live this out today. Grab a notebook and your Bible and write down the nine qualities listed in Galatians 5, 22, 23. Now, this list that I've been using comes from the NLT. Okay, so I want to do, I want you to circle one or more qualities where you already see evidence of the Holy Spirit working in your life. Maybe you have become more grateful and joyful. Maybe you are learning to trust God and you're experiencing more peace. Thank the Lord. Or perhaps you have noticed more kindness in the way you speak and serve others. Okay, this is why I just want you to pause and thank God for that growth. Okay, then we're going to have you place a small, like maybe a star, beside one quality that needs to become more mature or visible in your life. So, okay, do not use this list to criticize or condemn yourself. Let it help you recognize where God is already working and identify one area you can surrender to Him as you continue growing. Okay, let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for giving me your Holy Spirit and for the work you are already doing in me. Thank you. I do not have to produce spiritual fruit in my own strength. Help me stay close to Jesus, rooted in your word and attentive to the Holy Spirit's leading. Help me become more aware of the everyday moments when you are showing me where I need to grow. Help me pause, shift my response, and follow where you are leading me. Shape my thoughts, my attitude, my words, and my responses so that the way I live reflects Jesus. And help me model for my child what it looks like to follow you and live by your word. In Jesus' mighty name, amen. Okay, come back next Tuesday as we begin with love. We will look at what it can mean to choose a loving response in your everyday family life. Oh, and if you haven't already, please follow the God Says So podcast so you never miss an episode. Oh, wait, one more thing. If the Holy Spirit puts someone on your heart while you were listening to this episode, would you please share this podcast with them? And together, we can reach more families, all for God's glory. Until next time, stay rooted in Scripture. Live by what God says, and pass it on.