For Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness
Holy Spirit,
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. As I look at the ministry of Jesus, kindness and compassion ooze from his lips and his life. In his kindness, he not only met the physical needs of others, feeding the hungry and healing the sick, but he also spoke the words of life to all who would listen.
When I look at my own life, I see how sorely lacking genuine kindness is. With sharp words I tear down and belittle, rather than kindly building up and encouraging. I see other people and their needs as inconveniences rather than opportunities to put kindness into practice. Even when I am kind to others, it is too often either begrudgingly or with self-serving motivations. Instead of a heart that is naturally careless, give me a heart of kindness, and make its fruit in my life a blessing to others.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.