Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. John 15:4 (NLT)
Growing the fruit of the Spirit in your life is a personal choice.
It’s easy to blame others for our lack of joy, love or peace. When things don’t go the way we want it can seem impossible to find joy. Maybe your spouse is constantly complaining whenever you talk to them or your adult child is making poor life choices. The truth is, we serve a God who makes the impossible possible!
Regardless of the choices other people make, we get to choose our focus. Focusing on other’s shortcomings and failures depletes our joy and peace. We can still care deeply about them without letting ourselves revert to worry or sadness whenever they come to mind. Problems in life don’t need to stop us from having Christ-like attributes. It’s a personal choice to hand over our joy or peace to someone else.
Married couples often blame their spouse for their loss of joy or love. However, Galatians 5:9 doesn’t say that the fruits of the Spirit are for everyone but you’re excused from them if the people around you aren’t behaving the way you want! In fact, it doesn’t even mention any of our other relationships! Why? Because the fruit of the Spirit is grown internally, and is not dependant on others.
It’s between you and Jesus.
Imagine a circle that only holds you and Jesus. Friends and family are standing outside of that circle, and Jesus is saying, “It’s just you and me, and I give you my peace, joy, patience…” You alone decide if you will focus on the negative or focus on Jesus. Which are you going to choose?