Archive for July 2020

But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.
Galations 5:22-23
When compared to the acts of the flesh discussed in the verses 19-22 of Galatians, the fruit of the spirit seems to contain the polar opposite in its qualities: love over hatred, joy over rage, self-control over drunkenness, etc.

The purpose of the book is to help believers find God’s will for our lives. Wilkin is clear that finding God’s will is less about asking, “What should I do?” than about asking “Who should I be?” Dallas Willard wrote about this idea in his classic, Hearing God, suggesting that as we become more like God, we begin to think as he thinks and to see as he sees. As we walk closely with him, we don’t need messages written in the clouds to know his will—we know his will because we know what he is like, and we are becoming as he is.

A friend asked the question: What are prayers for unbelievers I should pray? How do I pray effectively? I trust that every Christian regularly prays for family or friends or colleagues or neighbors who do not yet know the Lord. And while we can and must pray for matters related to their lives and circumstances, the emphasis of our prayers for unbelievers must always be for their salvation.

I regularly encounter a person who makes me uncomfortable. She’s brash and rude. She’s one of those people you can’t tell anything. And, when she’s wrong, you can’t find a drop of humility. She brags about not getting along with anyone. And, she’s often praised for her behavior. I’ve tried being friendly. I’ve tried being positive. But, when I see her – I cringe. I want to walk the other way. I just wish she wasn’t present.