Galatians 5

Galatians 5:22-24   ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

I tend to be a regimented person – I like things in a certain order, I like to accomplish things in a certain way.  Monday mornings I get up and workout.  Then get ready for work.  I pack up my lunch.  I pack up all my stuff – all my work stuff and then make sure to grab everything I’ll need for Bible Study (I don’t make it home in between).  I head out the door and hit the road for my 45 min commute.  Once I almost get to work, I always stop at the same bank to make deposits and take care of all of that.  Well – yesterday I hit a snag.  When I pulled into the bank, there was a van blocking the ATM lane. 

They were servicing the ATM.  For some this might mean they have to go through a teller line, but I can’t tell you the last time I spoke to a teller.  I don’t even know where my deposit slips might be…that’s what my debit card is for.  So – I just pulled through and figured I’d deal with it later…I still had to get to the office.

Then I realized something.  I was being flexible.  I was ok with the fact that my plan was being altered; that I would have to change my routine.  Now some of you may be thinking, “ok, and what’s your point?”  You see, this is huge for me!  In the past this would have irritated me for the rest of the day.  I would have held a grudge against the bank…I mean, how dare they service their machine during business hours when people (and I mean me) need to use it.  I would have called a couple of people and complained to them.  But I didn’t.  I just thought, “oh well” and moved on.

Every once in a while I think we need to do a “fruit check.”  We need to take a look at our lives and see how we’re doing.  How do we respond when we are required to wait?  When we are required to change our plans?  When people are mean to us?  When life gets tough?  Do we pitch a big fit like a toddler or do we have patience and joy?

I was super excited yesterday when I realized I was making progress!  Well – God was making progress in developing me to look more like Jesus.  Now I just have to be care this excitement doesn’t become pride!! J

I’m praying for you!

Pastor Amy