Beloved author and trusted Bible teacher Elizabeth George shares wisdom from the Bible about how girls can experience the first three fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, and peace. Share this article with your daughter today.
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But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
The Holy Spirit gives you the ability to understand the spiritual truths of the Bible. The Spirit also provides what you need to be a girl after God’s own heart. Evidence of the Holy Spirit at work in your life is revealed in what is called “the fruit of the Spirit.”
Throughout the Bible, “fruit” refers to the outside evidence of what is on the inside. Every person who has received Jesus as Savior has the Lord living within them (1 Corinthians 6:19). God’s presence is evidenced as good “fruit” or godly character. Let’s learn more about each individual fruit of the Spirit. Let’s see what your life will look like when you walk by the Spirit—when you exhibit the fruit of the Spirit.
You will demonstrate love
Love is self-sacrifice. Love is not merely an emotion. Love is an act of the will. Love involves effort, not merely emotion. Love demands action, not just feelings. Love is something you do, not something you only feel or say.
You will display joy
When the sun is shining brightly in your life, it’s easy for you to be happy. But when life turns dark and stormy and things aren’t going your way, you are not quite so happy, are you? You will always find joy “in the Lord.” Joy has nothing to do with your situation, but everything to do with your relationship with Jesus. In Jesus you can experience joy anywhere, anytime, no matter what is happening! What is the greatest trial or disappointment you are facing today? Whatever it is, turn to God for His joy.
Joy is not dependent on circumstances, but on the spiritual realities of God’s goodness. Joy is not merely an emotion, but the result of choosing to look beyond what appears to be true in your life to what is true about your life in Christ.
You will have peace
I like to call peace “the sacrifice of trust.” You make the sacrifice of trust when you face pain and stress in your life and choose to trust God instead of stressing out. Note the reason you can experience God’s peace: Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).
Peace comes with knowing that Your heavenly Father is continually with you. Peace also comes with acknowledging that God will supply your every need.
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The above excerpt is from A Girl’s Guide to Studyng Her Bible. Girls will learn that the Bible is God’s message especially for them. Help a young girl in your life (ages 8-12) take her first steps toward discovering just how much He loves and cares for her!
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