In Galatians 5:23, Gentleness is mentioned as one of the fruit of the Spirit.
What is gentleness? It is a state where you strip yourself of all judgemental traits. A place of inner peace where you see others the way the Lord sees them. Gentleness is the act of showing love from a place of deep understanding, forgiveness and love.
Why isgentleness important?
Would you want someone to pour fresh pepper on a fresh wound? No, because the wound is painful enough. When you are compassionate and considerate, you become a magnet that draws others to the Christ-likeness in you. You help wounds heal faster; you are like a chilled lemonade on a hot day. Proverbs 15:1,4
But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] islove [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, GENTLENESS, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
How can I be gentle?
Pause! Do not be hasty to join the angry crowd. Let the Holy Spirit dictate your response at all times.
Forgive! This removes the tendency to want to “get back”. Forgiveness erases the bitterness on your tongue and fills your heart with love.
Obey! The Bible has charged us to be clothed with gentleness. (Colossians 3:12-17) Obedience brings a blessing
Prayer points
Lord we thank you for day 10. It is by your grace that we have tarried in the place of prayer.
Lord, open my eyes to see how important it is to be gentle. To see how much of you I would reflect with this fruit of the Spirit.
Lord, I ask for a heart full of love for myself and others. I know I cannot give what I do not have. I also know that without love, it is impossible to be gentle to others.
A soothing tongue [speaking words that build up and encourage] is a tree of life, but a perversive tongue [speaking words that overwhelm and depress] crushes the spirit. – Proverbs 15:4
Lord, I ask for a gentle tongue that will bring healing to nations. Let gentleness be heard each time I open my mouth.
Lord, I pray for those who try to make it difficult for me to exhibit gentleness. May they have a memorable encounter with you that will lead to the redemption of their souls.
Lord, may I not mistake gentleness for a license to condole sin. May I be gentle and yet bold to speak against evil like Jesus, my perfect example.
Lord I am grateful for the time spent in your presence. I believe that my prayers have all been answered. I have a new spirit and renewed strength to be gentle in this toxic world. Thank you Father, in Jesus name l pray. Amen
Faithfulness is quite a common word in today’s world. This is because when it comes to marriages or relationships, it is a word that qualifies a person’s committment to his/her spouse.
However, faithfulness as a Fruit of the Spirit has to do with being FULL OF FAITH. This I say in the most simplest form so we can understand. Now faith is defined in Hebrews 11:1 as “the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.” So now let me ask you, how faithful to the Lord or how full of faith in the Lord have you been?
For me, I must confess that for the past few months, I’ve seen myself doubt a lot of times and Oh, God being a faithful God has kept proving Himself faithful to His word and this embarrasses me that I just fall on my face and ask for mercy. Faithfulness can be a challenging one I must confess but guess what, we don’t have to struggle on our own because the Holy Spirit is in us to help us.
God is forever faithful. It is us that stay unfaithful
The relationship we have with God as individuals, is like our marriage and I want to believe we are faithful to our husbands. If we as wives can be faithful to a man God created, what’s our excuse for not being faithful to God? I am also asking myself.
But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] islove [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, FAITHFULNESS, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
How about we start trusting God no matter what and becoming his loyal person? Believing what He said without looking for proof. Trusting that He is working even though it might not look like it. And this through the help of the Holy Spirit in us.
Prayers
The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. – Lamentation 3:22,23
Dear God, everyday you sign a new agreement of your faithfulness to me. From today I begin to sign a new agreement of my faithfulness to you. Because Lord if I am faithful to you, I will be faithful to those and all you have committed to me.
Lord, your love reaches to the heavens. Your loyalty goes to the skies. – Psalm 36:5
Lord, if I take a tape measure and start to measure out the distance from here to the sky, I will go on for days. I know how immeasurable your faithfulness is to me, So help me to trust you everyday completely.
He never doubted that God would keep his promise. Abraham never stopped believing. He grew stronger in his faith and gave praise to God. Abraham felt sure that God was able to do the thing that God promised. So, “God accepted Abraham’s faith, and that made him right with God.” – Romans 4:20-22
Lord, even when I cannot see it, help me to trust you. Even when it doesn’t look like it, help me to stay loyal to you. Even when others don’t understand me, help me to be more confident in you. When you look at me each day, find me trusting, confident and loyal.
We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously. – 1 Corinthians 10:12,13
Lord, no matter how the test comes, help me always remember this: “There is a way of escape. I got the Spirit of God who will give speed to my legs if I have to run and bring words to my mouth if I have to speak and boldness to my heart if I am pressured.” in Jesus name.
So Sarai said to Abram, “The Lord has prevented me from having children. Go and sleep with my servant. Perhaps I can have children through her.” And Abram agreed with Sarai’s proposal. – Genesis 16:2
Dear Lord, don’t let me be the one that makes my husband or children or friends doubt you. Make me the catalyst that makes everyone believe all you have said.
You can trust these words:If we were joined with him in his death, then we are joined with him in his life!If we are joined with him in his sufferings, then we will reign together with him in his triumph. But if we disregard him, then he will also disregard us. But even if we are faithless, he will still be full of faith, for he never wavers in his faithfulness to us! – 2 Timothy 2:11-13
Lord, I know there will be moment when my doubts want to triumph over my faith, when it looks like it’s all over; or it feels as though time is gaining on me. In the times when my faith cannot carry me, let me remember you are ever faithful.
The master answered, ‘You did well. You are a good servant who can be trusted. You did well with small things. So I will let you care for much greater things. Come and share my happiness with me.’ – Matthew 25:21
Lord, help me be that servant you can trust.
Reflection
Are there some areas in your life where you have been unfaithful to God?
Are there things that have taken the most loyal place in your heart?
How would you grow in faithfulness to God?
Thank you so much for joining in today. We are almost at the end and I hope to share with you again tomorrow.
We are gradually coming to the end of this challenge and I hope you have been thirsting more for the workings of the Holy Spirit in your life. Today we would be looking at the sixth fruit – Goodness.
The greek word “agathosune” is goodness which means an uprightness of heart and life. I don’t even know how best to put my thoughts to words on this topic. It’s no doubt that when we are asked how we are doing, majority of the time, the response is “I am good or we are good.” But can anyone be really good? In Mark 10:18 and Luke 18:19, we see Jesus’ response to the rich Jewish man who addressed Him as “Good Teacher.” His immediate response was that “there is no one good except God alone.” So with that, we can rightly say that Goodness as a Fruit of the Spirit is godliness.
Living a life in God’s likeness. Living a holy life. Pursuing after the things that God approves of. It means Righteousness.
The wondeful thing is that the Holy Spirit of God within us is the one who helps us like holy lives. Of our own effort, we will fail. The Bible tells us that the state of the natural man’s heart is wicked and evil; and the only person who can look into it is God. So if you are wondering why you are struggling to live a holy life even when you are saved, you may want to see if you are completely surrendered to the Holy Spirit and does He have you.
But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] islove [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, GOODNESS, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
As believing wives, we should pursue after holiness, after righteouness, after uprightness. Our moral compass should be to a very high standard that our spouses, our children, our extended family, our friends, our colleagues, our community, our church and others can see Jesus and want to come to know Him. And off course we can’t do this on our own. We can through the Spirirt of God.
Prayers
I will be giving you scriptures to try and guide you to pray because this is as personal as it gets. Make sure you pray from a place of understanding that it is God’s desire to have you live like Him everday and that’s why He has given you His Holy Spirit to HELP you.
Never let evil defeat you, but defeat evil with good. – Romans 12:21
So devote yourselves to lavishly supplementing your faith with goodness, and to goodness add understanding, and to understanding add the strength of self-control, and to self-control add patient endurance, and to patient endurance add godliness, and to godliness add mercy toward your brothers and sisters, and to mercy toward others add unending love.Since these virtues are already planted deep within, and you possess them in abundant supply, they will keep you from being inactive or fruitless in your pursuit of knowing Jesus Christ more intimately. – 2 Peter 1:5-8
In every relationship be swift to choose peace over competition, and run swiftly toward holiness, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. – Hebrews 12:14
People don’t hide a lamp under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand. Then the light shines for everyone in the house. In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven. – Matthew 5:15-16
Let the inner movement of your heart always be to love one another, and never play the role of an actor wearing a mask. Despise evil and embrace everything that is good and virtuous. – Romans 12:9
Every gift God freely gives us is good and perfect, streaming down from the Father of lights, who shines from the heavens with no hidden shadow or darkness and is never subject to change. – James 1:17
Blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to dwell in Your courts. We will be filled with the goodness of Your house, Your holy temple. – Psalm 65:4
Dear God, I know you know my heart. I know you see everything. I know you hear even the most silent thoughts of my heart. Lord, whatever is in my life that though may be little now; but can grow to affect the other fruit within me, Lord do a thorough housecleaning. You don’t need to ask me Lord, You have my permission. Just do as you like Lord until I look just like you.
Reflections
Have you always struggled with sin? Do you want to stop struggling with sin? Let the Holy Spirit HELP you. That is what He wants to do. He wants you to just give Him access to HELP you.
Thank you beautiful woman for joing in today. God bless you abd see you tomorrow.
Hello Beautiful Woman. Welcome to Day 7. How has it been? Today we would be looking at the fifth Fruit of the Spirit that should characterize our lives as believing wives who want to be more Christlike everyday. Today we look at Kindness.
What is Kindness? Off the top of my head, I’ll say it is to be nice to someone. But judging from the world’s perspective on kindness, we are naturally often kind to those who are kind to us. It is automatic. It just happens. And that is us just being human. But as believing people, kindness goes beyond being nice. It doesn’t even choose based on past or previous experiences. The Kindness that the Spirit builds in us is pure and just like God.
See, I’ve been caught up in the bubble of “be kind to me and I’ll be kind to you.” Even with my husband. Yes. I remember the day I was going to go down that route again and the Holy Spirit would not leave me alone. So it happened that I was not happy that my husband didn’t put away the Laundry after I had done it so I wasn’t going to do it this time and let him, you know, “suffer” for it. Well, after that conversation with the Holy Spirit beside the Laundry basket, I ended up doing it and even more putting it away. Very funny right but yeah, that was one of such situations.
Kindness is having a compassionate heart towards others irrespective of whether they deserve it or not.
Kindness is an act of Love. Mark Twain said, “Kindness is the language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see” and I indeed agree. God’s kindness extends to everyone. Just like the sun, it doens’t choose to shine on the path of good people alone, it shines for everyone to see. So, when we are filled with the Holy Spirit of God, we exhibit kindness easily. And guess what when we are kind, it makes us feel good as it does the person we are kind to.
But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] islove [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], KINDNESS, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
Prayers
“Now swear to me by the Lord that you will be kind to me and my family since I have helped you. Give me some guarantee that when Jericho is conquered, you will let me live, along with my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all their families.” – Joshua 2:12
Dear Lord, fill my heart with the type of Kindness that was in Jesus so that I will not treat poorly the people who you have positioned to save me from destruction.
So, as God’s own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper] – Colossians 3:12
Lord I know I am human and there are times when I just want to be kind to only those who in my own eyes deserve it. But Lord, I pray that everday as I wake up, I will always put on through your Holy Spirit a heart of kindness in Jesus name.
But instead be kind and affectionate toward one another. Has God graciously forgiven you? Then graciously forgive one another in the depths of Christ’s love. – Ephesians 4:32
Oh Lord, you have been so good to me. You didn’t judge me as the sinner I was, but because of your lovingkindness, you forgive me all my sins and in turn you have given me the best gift of Jesus. Lord, today, I let go of anyone I have locked up in the prison of my heart through unforgiveness and today I forgive them in the name of Jesus.
(At this point, you will want to mention their names out loud and if you cry at this point please do but commit before God to forgive them.)
When you’re kind to others, you help yourself; when you’re cruel to others, you hurt yourself. – Proverbs 11:17
Lord, I pray that my eyes is open to understand and treat everyone around me with kindness like Jesus. Don’t let me hurt myself Lord. Don’t let me hurt myself.
“I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind. – Luke 6:35,36
Lord, while I may not be able to be kind to everyone in the whole wide world, help me Lord to be kind to those you bring my way and let me do it expecting nothing in return but doing it because it is your command and I must obey you.
Now let it be that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please, let down your jar so that I may [have a] drink,’ and she replies, ‘Drink, and I will also give your camels water to drink’—may she be the one whom You have selected [as a wife] for Your servant Isaac; and by this I will know that You have shown lovingkindness (faithfulness) to my master.” – Genesis 24:14
Oh Lord my God, if just a simple act of Kindness is the key that open doors to all your promised blessing in my life, I pray that I will not be so carried away or insensitive to your Spirit that I lose this key. In this time when being kind to a stranger can be misunderstood, Lord let me not play it safe that I lose my reserved blessing in Jesus name.
Then the word of the Lord came to Zechariah, saying, “Thus has the Lord of hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion, to each other; – Zachariah 7:9
Lord, help me through your Spirit to practice Kindness everyday, showing your love to everyone that come in contact with me in Jesus Name.
Reflection
Have you been selective in your acts of kindness? What will you be doing differently from now on?
Until I share with you tomorrow, if this is one area you have been asking the Lord to work on in your life, trust Him and show kindness today.
I welcome us all to day 6 of the WIVES ON FIRE Prayer challenge. Today, we’ll be looking at the subject: PATIENCE.
Now, what is PATIENCE? It is beyond waiting. It is what we do, and how we act while we wait. It is the capacity to remain calm and unperturbed even in the face of unpleasant situations; either in the home front or external circles. Many of us as wives will be sincere with me that, at one point or the other, we have exhibited impatience, either by reacting in anger to our spouse, or by transferring aggression to the innocent kids based on the overwhelming demands and long ‘to-do’ list on our tables as wives and mothers. Is that all? What of in situations where we had to wait for a particular ANSWER to a request from God; were there no times of complanings and sighing and even going after other options for ourselves, instead of waiting on God, and keep serving (In Marriage and In Purpose) while we wait?
But do we really have an excuse to act impatient? Does God overlook some of the instances we act in impatience? ABSOLUTELY NO, WE HAVE NO EXCUSE! God wants us to get to a point where NO MATTER what is going on around us, we can remain calm, cool, and collected; as we trust His grace and help to see us through every situation. To be honest, this can only be done through the help of the Holy Spirit. The natural me and you, want to jump, act, react, take that immediate step, say those plenty ‘uncontrolled words’ as it is in our heart; but the Lord is saying to us; NO, WAIT, BE CALM, BE QUIET, BE PATIENT!!!
Let’s look at what the scripture says in Galatians 5: 22 (AMPC): But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness…”
Patience is a virtue. It is the Holy Spirit within us that can help us possess this great virtue.
We need to get to a point where Christ rules and reigns in us and His Spirit controls our every being; our emotions, thoughts, words, actions, and helps us act in patience towards every and all situations. Let’s take a look into the life of mother Sarah. Her impatience, made her suggest to her husband to go in with her maid because she desired a child so badly. But, that singlular act of impatience, has formed the basis for the big trouble we are facing against the gospel of Christ in our world today! But thank God, in the end, Sarah and her husband Abraham, still obtained the promise! In the same vein, many wives have pushed their husbands out of impatience to take decisions outside God’s will, and this (these) decisions have pushed a lot of marriages into trouble. Wives, we need to earnestly desire this vitue by thirsting and crying out to God to FILL US WITH HIS SPIRIT. To build our homes according to God’s pattern, relate well with our husbands, and bond well with them, get close to our children and train them in the way of the Lord; we need PATIENCE! In path of ministry, career, business, and fulfilling purpose; we cannot do without this GREAT VIRTUE, CALLED PATIENCE! Definitely, we will continue to face situations that will try our patience on a daily basis: the kids are climbing the walls, you’re stuck on customers orders, trying times; these ordinarily makes it difficult to just “Keep Calm and Carry On”; BUT thanks to the Holy Spirit who is able to work in us, make us perfect, and produce fruits of righteousness.
My Heavenly Father, I confess there are times I grow impatient when things don’t go according to my plan, or when people don’t behave the way I think they should. I know this negative act is not from You, Please forgive me! Help me to be patient with others, as You have been patient with me. Give me Your peace that passeth all understanding in all situations!
“…But I obtained mercy for the reason that in me, as the foremost [of sinners], Jesus Christ might show forth and display all His perfect long-suffering and patience for an example to [encourage] those who would thereafter believe on Him for [the gaining of] eternal life”. – 1 Timothy 1:15-16
Dear Lord, I thank You for displaying perfect patience to us through Jesus Christ. Please help me to also follow Your example of patience, so that my life can draw men unto You.
“I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved”. – Psalm 16:8
Dear Lord, help me to always set You before me, in my relationship with my husband and my children, that I’ll be moved by absolutely none of their actions or inactions! Please, give me an infinite amount of patience when it comes to understanding my husband, and to act in submission towards him. Teach him also how to be patient with me and love me as You command.
“So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:” – 2 Thessalonians 1:4
Dear Lord, please grant me patience and faith during times of persecutions and affliction. Give me the grace hold on to Your Word and obtain the promise, and in the end, help me to be considered worthy of the kingdom of God.
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not”. – Galatians 6:9
Dear Lord, help me never to stop doing good to people around me, no matter what they do. Help me to be encouraged about the fact that my reward is from You and not from them. Help me to be controlled by Your Spirit, and not their deeds or actions either to me or against me.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. – Philippians 4:4,7
Dear Lord, help me to have the right attitude while waiting. Help me to resolve to praying, and giving thanks even in seemingly hopeless situations, knowing assuredly that You will work situations out for our good.
I WAITED patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. – Psalm 40:1
My Heavenly Father, I know You can never lie. Please in Your MERCY, give ears to our requests, and that which You have promised to do in my life and home; Grant us Your grace to wait for You, and not miss our blessing. While we wait, help us to keep labouring steadfastly for You.
Welcome to day five of this prayer challenge. Today’s post is coming in very late because there were a lot to do today and we wouldn’t have today end without this.
Today we will be praying for Peace. Now when we talk about peace, I’m sure you have experienced peace at some point in your life either peace regarding a situation or regarding a decision or even regarding marrying someone. Peace seems to be the dominant proof of why many people enter into a relationship or get married altogether.
But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] islove [unselfish concern for others], joy, [INNER] PEACE, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
The hebrew word for Peace is Shalom and this means to be complete or whole.
Peace in itself stems from a complete trust in God.
It is not simply the absence of war but the presence of calmness from deep within because you know there is a plan. As believers and women filled with the Holy Spirirt, Peace is a fruit of the Spirit. Now this Peace is broad because it involves the part of living in peace with God, with yourself and with others. And guess what, you grow in peace. As you grow as a believer through the help of the Holy Spirit, you find out, you are more peaceful, you pursue after what makes for peace and everyone who comes in contact with you can see you are a peaceful person.
Prayers
Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.] – John 14:27
Dear God, thank you for giving me your peace. I know that the peace you give is like no other and I pray that I would hold on to it and not be overcome by the peace the world offers no matter how enticing it is.
Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. – Romans 12:18
Dear Lord, I know sometimes I would be faced with situations that present themselves in ways that may justify my actions if I choose to look the other way. But dear Lord, I ask that everyday, I receive the strength to ensure that from my own end, I follow after living peacefully with everyone.
How joyful you are when you make peace! For then you will be recognized as a true child of God. – Matthew 5:9
Lord let my life of peace be the “show and tell” that brings other to come to know you and seek you and follow you.
For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. – Colosians 1:19-20
Prince of Peace, thank you for showing us what peace is and how to extend your peace to others through your life.
Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it. – Psalm 34:14
Dear lord, as I live everyday let me a seeker of your peace and give me all it takes to maintain it even when it is challenging to do so.
So let’s try as hard as we can to do what will bring peace. Let’s do whatever will help each other grow stronger in faith. – Romans 14:19
Lord, I ask for the strength to be a helper to those around me so I can continually grow in peace in Jesus Name.
I say this because I know what [the plans] I am planning for you,” says the Lord. “I have goodplans for you [plans for your peace/security], not plans to hurt you [for your harm]. I will give you hope and a good future. – Jeremiah 29:11
Lord, I trust the plans you have in mind for me. I trust that they will bring me peace, fill me with hope and lead to a prosperous future.
Reflection
Are you peaceful? Can those around you, especially your own family attest to the peace that you bring to every situation that may seem chaotic? Do you need to grow or begin to manifest this fruit of the Spirit? Just tell it all to God.
Thank you for today, Let us pray together again tomorrow.
Hello Beautiful friend. You are welcome to the another beautiful day in this challenge.
Today we look at Joy and if I may ask, what would you say joy is? Don’t read back the topic to me because I need your truest definition. If I am correct, I am sure some of you said happiness right? Well, that is actually the first word that comes to mind when one sees the word joy. But as the second part that makes up the fruit of the spirit, it is not just happiness. This is because Joy cannot be faked like happiness can. When the Holy Spirit comes into your heart, you cannot fake Joy, it is obvious and evident.
But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] islove [unselfish concern for others], JOY, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
The Joy that comes from God is what makes you content even when it looks like everything around you is caving in. It was the Joy of the Lord that made Job still praise God when he lost everything and was afflicted. It was that Joy that made him trust God even more. It is the Joy of Lord that makes us grateful even for challenging times because we know God is working all things out for our good.
When Nehemiah in chapter 8, verse 10 told the people of God “The Joy of the Lord is your strength.” It meant that the satisfaction that God had not abandoned them is what should fuel their hope and give them the morale to go on no matter what. This applies to us today too.
Now let me give you a picture before we pray. “Let’s say you are having a pain in your arm and you just raise the arm, look at it and just smile and then pray over the arm because you know God will heal you.” Now, that smile is an outward expression of the Joy of knowing it will be healed. It can only come from God because who smiles while in pain?
Happiness is majorly based of good things happening but Joy is the inner satisfaction we express even when bad things are happening.
Prayers
For today’s prayers, I have shared 10 scriptures which I want you to read prayerfully and from a heart filled with the joy of the Lord.
You will show me the path that leads to life; your presence fills me with joy and brings me pleasure forever. – Psalm 16:11
But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people. – Luke 2:10
May God, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace by means of your faith in him, so that your hope will continue to grow by the power of the Holy Spirit. – Roman 15:13
May he give you what you desire and make all your plans succeed. Then we will shout for joy over your victory and celebrate your triumph by praising our God. May the Lord answer all your requests. – Psalm 20:4-5
Come, let us praise the Lord! Let us sing for joy to God, who protects us! Let us come before him with thanksgiving and sing joyful songs of praise. Psalm 95:1,2
Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace]. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed [in your faith], lacking in nothing. – James 1:2-4
If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing. – John 15:10,11
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy the good food and sweet drinks. Give some food and drinks to those who didn’t prepare any food. Today is a special day to our Lord. Don’t be sad, because the joy of the Lord will make you strong.” – Nehemiah 8:10
Until now you’ve not been bold enough to ask the Father for a single thing in my name, but now you can ask, and keep on asking him! And you can be sure that you’ll receive what you ask for, and your joy will have no limits! – John 16:24
Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not even see Him now, you believe and trust in Him and you greatly rejoice and delight with inexpressible and glorious joy – 1 peter 1:8
Dear Lord, let my heart be continually filled with the Joy that the world cannot give me.
Reflection
What ways will you be ensuring that the enemy never steals your joy?
I hope you had an amazing one today and I hope to pray with you again tomorrow.
Hello friends and welcome to Day 3 of this year’s prayer challenge.
In the past two days we were introduced to who the Holy Spirit is and having established that, you may want to ask; do I have the Holy Spirit? If you are genuinely saved and have accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, I say Yes you do. And you may ask again, how do I know? There is evidence and this evidence is known as the “Fruit of the Spirit.” You cannot fake it. It will manifest in your life.
But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] isLOVE [UNSELFISH CONCERN FOR OTHERS], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
Well you may say, what’s there in Love? “I love everyone. It is natural for me. Love flows through my blood veins.” Oh how easy to say these things till when we are truly faced with a situation where by natural order of things, Love shouldn’t even be in the room. That’s when we would know why it is one and not just one but the FIRST that make up the Fruit of the Holy Spirit.
Love is the foundation on which everything is built.
No wonder Apostle Paul had to write about it in a chapter of it’s own (1 Corinthians 13). It was Love for us by God that gave us Jesus, who gave us His Holy Spirit. It is Love for God and for man that makes us want to tell others about Jesus. You see how much Love means? Apostle Paul even said, it’s possible that you speak both tongues of men and angels, prophesy, have faith, have wisdom and knowledge, feed the poor, give up yourself to be sacrificed for being a believer but if you don’t have LOVE – Unselfish concern for Others, (i’ll add) and God, just give it all up. It is nothing. I particularly like how the message version puts it:
So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.
Prayers
Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to bejealous when blessing comes to someone else. – 1 Corinthians 13:4
Oh Lord, I know I can be more patient. I know I can be more gentle. I know I can be more kind. Today I rely completely on your help through your Holy Spirit to be more patient with [List them], more kind to [List them]. And Lord when you bless those around me, help me to be genuinely happy for them and celebrate them. I refuse to be jealous. This I pray in Jesus Name.
Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love is not rude and disrespectful, nor selfishly seeking its own honor. – 1 Corinthians 13:4,5
Lord, I know how easily I can cross the line from giving glory to you for what you do in my life or through me to feeling like I did it all by my own power, so I ask you to help me to always remember that all that I have achieved and attained, I did bceause you helped me stay focused and you helped me take up the right opportunities.
Oh how easily one can become rude and disrespectful when we think we’ve made it or arrived. You’ll want to talk to God about this one and address it.
Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. – 1 Corinthians 13:5
Lord, help me to be more tolerating of others.
Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. – 1 Corinthians 13:6
Lord, I know that anything that makes me excited when bad things happen to others is not of you so I pray you give me a heart that pursues the truth.
Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. – 1 Corinthians 13:7
Lord you created everyone in your image and you alone have the power to change any heart. Help me not to always look at people from the lens of who they were/are but help me to see them through the eyes of Jesus in Jesus Name.
Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. – 1 Corinthians 13:7
Dear Lord, when it gets tougher and I fail or when it looks like you are not working, help me to trust that you are working and to never give up in Jesus Name.
Love never stops loving. It extends beyond the gift of prophecy, which eventually fades away. It is more enduring than tongues, which will one day fall silent. Love remains long after words of knowledge are forgotten. Until then, there are three things that remain: faith, hope, and love—yet love surpasses them all. So above all else, let love be the beautiful prize for which you run. – 1 Corinthians 13:8,13
Lord, may I never grow out or fall out of love for you and others. When it’s all being said and done, help me to love like Jesus loves even when love seems so hard to do.
Reflection
Is this one area you really need God to work on in your life? Did you go through this post today saying, I need a manifestation of this Love in my life? Again, it’s okay to tell the Lord about it everyday even after this challenge.
Thank you for joining in today. I am sure it has been a worthy 15minutes. See you on day four.
Beautiful Life Corner 