Today's reading

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! –Galatians 5:22-23 NLT

April 17, 2019

Spiritual Fruit: Self-control

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! –Galatians 5:22-23 NLT

If you’re convinced there’s nothing special about you or you have nothing to offer others, nothing could be further from the truth. Because you are a unique creation of God, you have a unique combination of skills, abilities, and gifts that no one else has. And God expects you to not only discover your gifts but use them to gather more disciples for His Kingdom.Have you figured out your gifts yet? Read the Bible daily and delve into God’s Word with the help of a small group. Seek a mentor. Join in regular prayer with other moms, dads, friends, students, etc. Start your journey on the Bayside Growth Track. Become attuned to the Holy Spirit, your personal Sage, Advisor, and all-around Best Friend. If you diligently seek to know, understand, and serve God, He’ll reveal everything you need to know. Once you uncover your strengths, act on them. The clock’s a-ticking, and it’s time to get a move on. There are as many ways to serve the Lord as there are people on the planet. The options are endless. Write, sing, or perform worship music. Write a book. Act. Preach. Teach. Be a missionary. Be an intercessory prayer warrior. Feed the hungry. Visit schools, nursing homes, prisons, hospitals. Start a business and run it the way Jesus would. Start a prayer group. Start a church. Whatever you do, do it in your own unique way. Do it for God, with God, and from God. Do it with love, humility, joy, patience, and cheer. Do it until your final breath.

prayer focuses

Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love(2 Peter 1:5-6 NIV).

Father, help me exercise self-control in every area of my life!

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about the

Author

Barbara Alpert

Barbara was a wife, mother, and grandma who sought to love the LORD with all her heart, soul & strength. She has authored several books for adults and children. She has enjoyed mentoring other writers and seeing them turn their manuscripts into published masterpieces for God's glory. She believed that every person has a God-story within them to be told and shared. Barbara passed away peacefully in November 2023, but Bayside continues to remember and honor her legacy by sharing devotionals written by her in order to inspire and encourage others.