Lord Jesus, it’s finally watermelon season where I live, and the first ones have been so sweet. Gratefully and needfully, the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-26) are always in season, and we are desperate for a bumper-crop.
Love – Keep us alive to your unparalleled, outrageous, scandalous love. Only the intensity of your love can melt our hearts, conquer our prejudices, and free us to love everyone equally.
Joy – Jesus, grant us a joy fueled by your delight in us—a joy powerful enough to topple our idols of “My-ness”—my tribe, my group, my rights, and the non-trinity of “me-myself-and-I”
Peace – As the Prince of Peace, may your peace calm our anxieties, tame our fears, and diffuse our anger.
Patience – This is a season for listening, not reacting—rushing to you, Jesus, not rushing to judgment and execution.
Kindness – There’s no justification for us ever being curt, rude, or harsh—ever.
Goodness – Not merely “goody-two-shoes,” but good in our core, Jesus, good like you—with our thoughts, words, and deeds.
Faithfulness – Jesus, your faithfulness is the basis for our faith-fullness. We can stay present and hope because of your faithfulness.
Gentleness – You are gentle and lowly—always have been, always are. By nature, we are proud and prickly. By new nature, we are becoming more like you, Jesus. Throw some fresh Spirit-fertilizer on us—a lot.
Self-control – When we choose harshness over kindness, and harmful words over life-giving ones, help us see and grieve the choice we made. It really was/is our choice. Jesus, may the Spirit-fruit of self-control compel us to start, live, and end every day in fellowship with you, our most wonderful and merciful Savior. So Very Amen.
