Cultivating the Soil of Our Hearts, to Produce Good Fruit (4.28.15)

Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree produce good fruit. - Matthew 7:17-18

Faith Believers,

What type of example do you set when faced with difficulties and turmoil?

Jesus used the example of fruit trees when he said, You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? - Matthew 7:16

What kind of fruit are you bearing? Cherry trees all look similar until the cherries are ripe. Only then can you tell a sweet cherry from a sour cherry. The tree itself doesn’t decide what kind of fruit to bear; the type of species determines what is produced. In the same way, our fruit shows what is inside of us - our inner character, as it were.

Several years ago I accepted the challenge to look for three things each day to be thankful for. Regardless of what the day holds, there are always things that I can thank GOD for. I make a conscious choice to look to my Heavenly Father, the giver of all good gifts, and trust that He will indeed work it all together for my good. 

In that way, I cultivate the soil of my heart, which in turn produces the fruit that the world sees when they look at my life.

As we go through our daily lives, are we allowing the Holy Spirit to work His fruit in our lives? Does how we live show love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control toward others? Or do we act out in anger, frustration and bitterness when the pressures and stresses of life are applied? 

_________

Heavenly Father,

Thank You that Your Holy Spirit is at work in my life 

and that He can produce His fruit in me. 

Help me to choose daily to give thanks, 

to rejoice always and to cultivate 

the soil of my heart; 

so that I can respond in love and understanding 

when things become  unraveled and stressed. 

Amen.