I have had the picture below for a while. One day as I was looking at it, I heard The Lord say:
Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb – to take risks in My name…for My glory!
Don’t only do those things that you know you can do under your own power.
Will you risk failure…so I can show My Power in you?
I am looking for those that are willing to move out in their weakness so I can show My strength!!
“… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 ESV
I am so thankful that I am not expected to display the fruit of the Spirit in my life through my own strength and ability! When I try to “live right” many times I come up short. But, as I draw closer to the Lord and seek the Holy Spirit to manifest HIS fruit in and through me – I discover that the fruit of the Spirit becomes more evident in my life.
I know that most of you have heard the saying “Bloom where you are planted.” I was thinking about this today. Brothers and Sisters, we are planted in a very unique place right now. We are planted in the “garden of quarantine.” We are being instructed to restrict ourselves to a stay-at-home environment.
I would say to you, Brothers and Sisters, that we have been placed in a very special kind of home/house. I believe that many of us find ourselves in a “hothouse.”
I was thinking about what a hothouse is in gardening. But, as I began looking up definitions – I saw meanings that went beyond a greenhouse definition and really related to the times we find ourselves in.
A couple of definitions I discovered were:
1). an environment that encourages rapid development 2). an environment where there is great pressure
I would definitely say we are living in a “hothouse” type of environment! Are you feeling “great pressure” as we continue to live in this time of isolation?
I believe the Lord is using this time to “encourage rapid development” in our spiritual lives. It is a time of diving in deeper into the things of the LORD! We need to ramp up our prayer lives; immerse ourselves in our Bible study; and let worship infiltrate into all areas.
I am reminded of Acts 17:28
“For in him we live and move and have our being…”
Dearest LORD, as we continue to make this journey with each other and more importantly – with YOU – I pray that You will use these times of great pressure to develop in us a deeper capacity to bear greater fruit in the world. We desire to bloom during this time and not wither. We thank You for all that You are doing in us and through us for Your glory! Our deepest desire is to truly LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING IN YOU!! Amen and Amen!
~Tina K. Roach
Happiness is externally driven. Joy is internally driven. We have joy because of Who resides within us!! Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit – HIS joy manifested in and through us! God IS the Joy Giver!!
Lord, when we are “squeezed” by the actions and words of others…may Your Love pour out!!
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”
(John 15:12 NIV)
I am sitting here the day after my birthday feeling a renewed sense of purpose. I desire to be all that God wants me to be! I don’t want to hold myself back with my own limited expectations. I want to live out GOD’S expectations of me.
LORD, I place myself in Your hands! Empower and Anoint me for the days ahead to be Your vessel of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…”.
May You be honored in everything I say and do. Forgive me, Father, where I have fallen short! Manifest Your purposes in and through me, O LORD!!
I’m willing…I’m ready! I stand with an open heart, an open spirit, an open mind, and arms opened wide! Fill all of me with YOU, LORD!
I worship and adore You!!
May we overflow with thankfulness!! As we live for Him, focused on Him, rooted and built up in Him – we will indeed find ourselves strengthened in our faith as He lives through us – transforming us to be more and more like Him!!
[vision]. I see a tree (us) with strong roots growing into rich, life-giving soil (Jesus). I see healthy, strong, beautiful fruit (fruit of the Spirit) covering the tree.
May others be drawn to Jesus by the fruit that is evident in our lives!
I am THANKFUL!!!
Sometimes we forget that these are the fruit of the SPIRIT!
When we try and produce this fruit under our own power – we fall short.
This fruit will be evident in our lives to the extent that we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives!
Reflection of Glory! 