Bringing the Fruits of the Spirit Into Your Home

This Fall our family went to an apple orchard and had the joy of picking our very own apples to eat and devour in my favorite season of all here in Michigan.

At one point, my 3-year-old daughter looked at me puzzled when she couldn’t pick apples off of a specific tree because that tree wasn’t producing fruit, in fact, the apples had rotted, and the leaves began to wither and die.

Her question got me thinking to myself, “how many times have I been like that tree?” So empty, felling withered and defeated, nothing left to give, so much so that I was unable to produce the fruit God has called me to produce in our home as a wife, and as a mother.

I began to think about bearing fruit in our homes and how that’s only possible when we are ALIVE in Christ.

So mama, let me ask you, are you spiritually healthy today?

When was the last time you opened your Bible and let God’s words refresh your soul?

When was the last time you had an intimate encounter with the one who created and destined you for connection?

When was the last time you surrendered your busy at the feet of the Father long enough to listen to His plans in the midst of this season in your life?

“Those who are planted in the house of the LORD will flourish in the courts of our God.” -Psalm 92:3

Healthy plants produce good fruit, period.

Just like a healthy heart produces spiritual fruit.

But mamas, we are not called to bear fruit in our own strength, and I don’t know about you, but oftentimes, I still try. But, God has a way of gently leading me back to his heart for me as a daughter, as a wife, and as a mother.

He reminds me that He is the vine, the source, sustaining strength, we are the branches.

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5

The first step to being fruitful is surrender.

It’s acknowledging that it can’t be done without Christ in us.

Apart from Him, we can do nothing.

We can read all the blogs, pin all the pins, and deeply DESIRE a home that displays love, joy, peace… (you know the rest) but only through Christ can we truly DEMONSTRATE these traits within the walls of our homes, as it pours out into our communities.

By humbling ourselves we must come and invite God to work through us to show His love to others. Which leads me to my last point - have you ever thought that the very reflection of you bearing fruit has eternal rewards?

When the Spirit bears fruit in our lives, it can affect how others spend their eternity.

Read that again.

By YOU bearing fruit in your homes, as a mother and as a wife, it can affect how others spend eternity. Not just those we raise in the walls of our homes, but everyone who steps inside, and sees from the outside.

You can exude the love of a father to your children’s friends who may not know His love.

As playful laughter still shows in your marriage, your kids experience the joy of the Lord through you loving your spouse in a way that brings honor to him.

Others can encounter the peace of Jesus as they walk in your home.

You can offer kindness when someone cuts you off in traffic, as your kids are watching from the back seat.

You can be a light in the darkness when others see your head held high as you speak of the father’s goodness, no matter the storm you are walking in!

You can demonstrate faithfulness as your children see you tithing every week to your local church, and, as you make the commitment to attend church on a regular basis.

As you practice living out the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:23) it can affect how others spend their eternity.

That’s not a task that should be taken lightly.

So, will you join along?

Let’s commit to bear fruit and make our homes a little sweeter! Let your life be an orchard that others can bear fruit from the seeds that you sow and plant through your faithfulness and obedience in walking out these principles!

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 [g]gentleness, self-control. Against such, there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” - Galatians 5:23 22

Blessings,

Dayna Mager