It Seems To Me ...
by Pgil Miglioratti, Curator @ REimagine.Network
NOTE: See also"Fruit of the Spirit Evangelism"
It Seems To Me ..... prayer is not listed a a fruit of the Spirit.
We all know the list by heart. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (OK, I confess, I had to think about the correct order as they appear in Galatians 5:22-23). I like how the Contemporary English Version puts it: God's Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways.
The apostle Paul is reminding us that the indwelling Holy Spirit's role is to produce these nine character qualities in each Christ follower. No matter what our society values today, there is no law against showing authentic love or simply being kind, even to people who do not seem to deserve it. It is not yet against the rules to be good. No one needs to force a believer to be gentle at times when others get angry. Some commentators would say: The fruit of the Spirit's work in our lives is love; love as evidenced in our joy, through our peace (peacemaking?) and patience, in our acts of kindness and goodness, when we are faithful or gentle or self-disciplined.
Recently this thought was downloaded into my mind: If the fruit of the Spirit is evidenced by at least nine character qualities, then what is the fruit of the Spirit's work in us as we grow in prayer? Or, is it possible that this same fruit cluster of the Holy Spirit should also be evidenced in our praying? Should we not expect similar evidence that our praying is Holy Spirit inspired, informed and instructed?
Holy Spirit motivated prayer is loving, joyful, peace-producing, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, self-controlled.
Both in our private prayers and certainly as we seek to coach those we lead in corporate praying, we must learn to listen for these vital markers of the Holy Spirit praying through us.
Holy Spirit prayers are loving -- Even when we are responding to hurt or fear, love must be the motivation of why we are asking God to act.
Holy Spirit inspired prayers are joyful -- Too many Christians only offer reactive prayers, seldom expressing or experiencing the joy of the Lord.
God Spirit's presence brings peace -- No matter what our circumstances, no matter how difficult the situation.
The Spirit of the Lord produces patience -- Are our prayers demands for instant gratification or are we capable of both patience (waiting upon) and perseverance (walking with) Christ?
Holy Spirit people are kind -- And the text and tone of their prayers reflect a kind heart, even toward enemies.
God is good -- As should be what the answer to our simplest prayer would produce . . . and not merely what is good for us.
Christ is faithful -- Every prayer uttered in His name must also be faithful to His name, faithful to the values of His kingdom.
Jesus was gentle -- Gentle prayers are meek (humble) not weak (sentimental); they destroy strongholds by releasing God's grace, mercy, healing, forgiveness, creativity.
Holy Spirit prayers are self-controlled -- Not self-focused but submitting self to the word of Christ and the will of the Father and the work of the Spirit.
It seems to me . . . that prayer may not be listed but if we look closely, it is all over the fruit of the Spirit!
Pastor Phil
NOTE >>> It Seems To Me... originally appeared in Prayer Leader Online @ www.prayerleader.com
Comments