Page 14 - GHOPC Womens Magazine January 2021-7 FINAL_Neat

'The Fruit ohhe Spjrit (1 of 9)- By Tamika Tyler
"The fruit that the Spirit prodl!_(:es in a person's life
is love,joy, peace, patience,,.lfindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is
no law against these kinds of things. Those who
belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their si,iful self. They have given up
their old selfish feelings and the evil things they wanted to do. We get our
new life from the Spirit, so we should follow the Spirit." Galatians 5:22-
23a, 24-25 (ER"V)

Living as a Christian requires not only listening to but applying the truth
of His Word. How can we say we are a Christians, if the fruit of His Spirit
is not being allowed to grow within us? The fruits of the Spirit consist of
love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,
and self~ontrol. Let's take a closer look into the fruits of the Spirit.

Self-control: Merriam Webster defines self-control as the ability to
exercise restraint over one's own impulses, emotions, or desires. It is one
of many things that separates humans from animals. What an interesting
way to word that ... the separation between humans and animals! How
many times have you witnessed someone "losing it" in the grocery store, a
mall parking lot, or at a family gathering? "They are acting like animals"
is phrase that may come to mind. While we often view someone with self-
control as being a person who does not easily lose their cool, this fruit also
pertains to how we govern our impulses and desires. A shopaholic can be
one that lacks self-control, having the inability to stop their buying
impulses. A lack of self-control can also be seen in someone who desires
attention to the point of berating others or doing extreme things to draw
attention to themselves. Humans have a natural impulse to respond first; to
quickly lash out before taking the time to assess the situation. This can be
easily seen when looking at the behavior or interactions of children. If one
sibling hits another, the typical response is for them to hit back. This is
because children respond based on what's natural for them and must be
taught to make a different choice. This goes for adults as well. We must
exercise our ability to refrain from yielding to our impulses.
"

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