Day 12 — Checking Your Fruit

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law… Since we live by the Spirit, let us walk in step with the Spirit.”

— Galatians 5:22–23, 25 (BSB)

Over the last eleven days, we’ve looked at each fruit of the Spirit one at a time. Today, let’s take a step back and look at the whole tree.

Notice something about the verse: it says “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…” It doesn’t say “fruits.” It’s one fruit with nine flavors. Think of an orange with nine sections. You don’t get to pick just the sections you like! God wants to grow all of them in you together.

That means you might be really good at some of them and still growing in others. Maybe you’re naturally kind, but patience is a struggle. Maybe you’re faithful and hardworking, but gentleness doesn’t come easily. That’s normal. God is growing the whole fruit, and every part matters.

So how is your fruit doing? Let’s do a check-up. Read through this list slowly, and for each one, ask: “Is this growing in me?”

• Love: Do I care about others, even when it’s hard?
• Joy: Do I have a gladness in God that goes deeper than my circumstances?
• Peace: Do I trust God instead of worrying?
• Patience: Can I wait and put up with people without getting upset?
• Kindness: Do I go out of my way to do good for others?
• Goodness: Do I keep doing right, even when no one notices?
• Faithfulness: Can people count on me?
• Gentleness: Am I calm and careful with others?
• Self-control: Am I in charge of my actions and words?

Be honest, but don’t be discouraged. Remember, fruit grows slowly. And it grows from the Spirit, not from you straining.

Paul ends with a beautiful picture: “Let us walk in step with the Spirit.” Imagine walking beside someone and matching their steps. Left, right, left, right. That’s what it means to follow the Holy Spirit’s lead, day by day, step by step. As you walk with Him, His fruit grows in you.

Think about it: Which fruit do you see growing most in your life? Which one do you most want God to grow next?

Try this: Go back to the vine you drew on Day 1. Draw nine pieces of fruit on your branch, and color in the ones you see growing. Ask God to help with the rest.

Dear Holy Spirit, thank You for living in me and growing Your fruit. Thank You for the fruit I can already see. Please keep growing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in me. Help me walk in step with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.