Galatians 5:22-23a – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (ESV)

John 14:26a – But the Comforter, even the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things. (ASV)

I use hairspray every day, and sometimes more than once a day if I am going out in the evening. I have a can of hairspray in my bedroom where I do my hair. I have a can of hairspray in the bathroom. I have an extra can of hairspray to replace one when it is empty. Hairspray is part of my life — no question about it!

I have thought about the hairspray in those cans. It is a liquid, waiting to come out to be used for its intended purpose. The only thing that can make it come out is a push of the finger on the top button. Then the hairspray will serve its purpose on my hair.

As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit living inside us. He has a purpose as well. As we see in our text for today, He produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We have these inside of us — gifts from the Holy Spirit. Do we recognize that we have these fruits of the Holy Spirit living inside us at all times? Or do we try to produce those fruits of our own will power? Like the can of hairspray, are we willing to be pushed in order to spray these qualities to others in our family? Our neighbourhood? Our city?

I would like to suggest that sometimes painful circumstances in our lives are needed in order for us to be pushed to display the fruits of the Spirit that God has given us. Sometimes we really have to look at ourselves during those painful times to see where we have taken our eyes off the Lord. Is it easy to look at our failures? No. The Holy Spirit is also our Comforter during those times. Is it easy to spray God’s joy, peace, and gentleness to others? Not always. Sometimes, pain is necessary for us to spray love onto others, for us to spray patience to others, for us to spray goodness to others.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we come to You today, claiming Your Word as ours today. You sent the Holy Spirit into our lives to be our Comforter. You have given us the fruit of the Spirit. It is a fact. Yet so many times, we live our lives knowing that in our heads, without really knowing that in our hearts. Help us not to forget Your truths which we have considered today. Amen.

Judy Miller gjmiller@telusplanet.net

Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada