“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT)

With a renewed interest in our bird feeding this year, we keep a close eye on our birdie friends. We have fed all kinds of birds this season, Baltimore Orioles, Indigo buntings, and for a few days a dazzling rose-breasted grosbeak. Goldfinches have visited along with the garden variety of sparrows, house finches, and tiny hummingbirds. There is one that we particularly try to entice to our feeders, the beautiful Northern cardinal, but they don’t seem all that interested in our fancy food or feeders. They land in the trees near our variety of goodies but fly down only to eat on what they left on the ground. They pick through the shells that are already opened or grab an occasional loose seed that has been dropped during the voracious eating of our other feathered friends. As I sat watching the bird feeders this morning, I thought of this common yet beautiful bird dining on scraps instead of the feast before him.

Sometimes I dine on the scraps of worry and fear in my life that take away my peace. Peace in the bible comes from trusting God and is given by the Holy Spirit who gives to those who love Jesus. Peace is one fruit of the Spirit. According to our scripture in Galatians, the Holy Spirit gives us peace, even in times of trouble. 

One way the Holy Spirit gives me peace is through the words in the Bible. I like to read what we call the promises of God that are there. The promises tell us He will always love us and be with us, even as we are tempted to worry about things. Galatians 5:22-23 promises us He will give us peace as a Fruit on the Spirit.

jeanie@answers2prayer.org
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31