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ZMI Dose of Encouragement

Fruit of the Spirit – SELF-CONTROL

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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” 
Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

This picture could easily be me (sans the beautiful water in the background). Head down, heart sad, feeling like such a failure… again. Why? Because I’ve blown it… again. My three year old knows just the right buttons to push to bring mommy to her breaking point. And sometimes, I do. I crack, I lose my patience and self-control, and I blow up. And then the remorse comes. Did I really just allow a three year old to steal my self-control? It is MY self-control to hold onto or throw away. For my husband, losing his self-control comes when he’s driving on the road with other drivers. It’s like a person I never knew can break forth from that man when we’re on the road!

Whatever your triggers are, you have to recognize that it is YOUR self-control. No one can steal it from you, no one can make you lose it. To lose it is a choice you make all on your own. It is not an easy task, but with the power of the Holy Spirit living inside us we can be victorious! For me, I know it will be a lifelong task of growth, but I will become a more self-controlled, godly woman. I’m praying that over you right now as well friend.

I’ll close today with 2 Peter 1:3-9. “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.”

God bless!

Noree Wegmeyer

Photo Credit:  https://pixabay.com/photos/girl-sitting-jetty-docks-sad-1822702/

Fruit of the Spirit – FAITHFULNESS

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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” 
Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

When I was eleven, my family moved to Israel as missionaries. Every time we crossed the ocean the airplane would be full of Jews. Sometime during the flight (depending upon what time the flight was) the Jewish males would wrap what is called “tefillin” around their hands and foreheads as part of their prayer ritual. Tefillin are small black leather boxes that contain scrolls inscribed with parts of the Torah. The Orthodox Jews faithfully wrap these little boxes around their hands and foreheads when reciting their daily prayers. They do this because in Deuteronomy 6:8 the Lord commands the Israelites to bind His law on their foreheads and tie them as symbols on their hearts.

Sometimes it made me so sad to watch them so faithfully reciting their heartfelt prayers to God while at the same time rejecting Jesus as the Messiah. So many Jews are so faithful in their worship to God, while remaining blind to the Truth of Jesus Christ. But as followers of Jesus Christ we are not blind! We have been set free to faithfully worship our Lord and Savior. In Proverbs 3:3 the father is telling the son, “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.” I pray you would take a few moments as we close to get vulnerable before God and ask Him to convict you of any areas in your life that you are unfaithful to Him. Sit in silence for a few moments and allow God to speak. If there is anything, I encourage you to confess it back to God, ask for His forgiveness, ask Him to help you become faithful in that area, and find an accountability partner if needed. The Bible continually emphasizes the everlasting faithfulness of God towards His creation. As His children it is only fitting that we strive to do the same toward Him.

God bless!

Noree Wegmeyer

Photo Credit: https://www.freeimages.com/photo/faith-1221055

 

Fruit of the Spirit – GENTLENESS

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“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” 
Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

Several years ago there was a popular show on TV called “19 Kids and Counting,” a story about the Duggars, a Christian family with (guess how many kids???) 19 kids! Several years ago I caught an interview on TV with the family and I will never forget what one of the daughters said about her mom. She said (this is not verbatim) her mom was one of the most patient people she’d met. She had never witnessed her yelling, but always witnessed her mother’s gentle, but firm, correction.

The affirmation of Mrs. Duggars gentleness was a profound example to me of how I can live my life with my children and husband, but especially my children. While I firmly believe it is not a spiritual gift, the vast majority of children do have a “gift” for knowing just the right buttons to press to get their parents to their boiling point. For you maybe it’s your co-worker, your spouse, or a friend. Whoever it is, through the Holy Spirit’s power living in us we do have the ability to maintain our self-control and speak and act gently in exasperating situations.

Proverbs 15:1 states that “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger, ” (NIV). And Proverbs 18:21 tells us that “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” It may be a lifelong process, but through the power of the Holy Spirit we do have the ability to tame our tongues. It is a daily prayer of mine. I shall pray it over you today as well friend.

God bless!

Noree Wegmeyer

Photo Credit: https://www.freeimages.com/photo/butterfly-13-1176576