This past week I’ve been thinking a lot about what our actions say about our roots. I’ve asked myself, “What does this action say about the foundation I’m building on?”. Are these trials I’m going through a result of me cracking my foundation, or is Christ restoring the broken parts of it by using the correction and heartache for my regrowth? If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it is that the fruit does not lie.

Galatians 5

I remember a day of memorizing the fruits of the Spirit, but I don’t remember learning their importance. The fruits of the Spirit show you what side you are feeding. Are you always grumpy, critical, and not showing any compassion? You are aligning more with the fleshy side. Are you compassionate and always positive, knowing God holds your life and is guiding you? That aligns more with the Spirit. The last verses of Galatians are not calling us to passively sit by and look at what’s going on but to actively discipline ourselves to know which side we are feeding.

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

Galatians 5:17

One thing I have noticed lately is that the rotten fruit also creeps in in ways you may not expect. Recently, I have realized doubt and shame are the fruit of the enemy. He causes me to doubt God’s goodness and to reject His truths because I feel unworthy. Or when I am looking back on the past and reliving my emotions about a certain event, that, too, is harmful. Not only for you but for everyone around you. Driving while looking in the rearview mirror is dangerous because you cannot see the traffic in front of you. Just like if you are looking at all the rush hour hectic lane switching, you will not see the curve approaching. Galatians 5 is calling us to be rooted in the Lord. Only when we are rooted in Him do we produce the fruit of the Spirit.

Rooting yourself

The question, though, is how do I root myself? As proactive people who wish to do something to help God out, we want details and spoken words. Yet, if we always received a playbook, where would our faith be? God gives us the guidelines for our free will. He provides the playing field. It is up to us to decide which plays to make and how to act. Will we stumble and get back up, or will we mope around, hurting our team, and focus on that bad play last season? We are called to walk in the Spirit, for only in the Lord is there freedom.

Walking in the Spirit means devoting and prioritizing time for the Lord. Do we spend time actively seeking His face? Or do we listen to 5-minute devotionals and a feel-good worship station? Rooting means digging up dirt. It will get dirty; you will be discouraged when you feel you are getting nowhere. But that is merely the breakthrough. Keep digging and exposing your foundation. Stabilize yourself on the Chief Cornerstone and build your life on His principles if you want to be steady.

Produce

Not only are we to root ourselves and establish ourselves on His foundation, but we are to test everything in the Spirit of the Lord. Galatians 5:17-22 isn’t only about actions, it is also about results. If we find ourselves in a situation that brings these up, check yourself and ask if you are supposed to be there. Often, it is both the situation and how you respond to it.

One last word before you enjoy your first day in November: when you doubt, don’t stay there in the rut and ruminate over the past and your current failings. That is where the devil wants you – anywhere but moving forward. Instead, let the doubt propel you forward – even if it’s through tears and emotionally distraught moments. He is closest when you are broken. I know, for I’ve been there frequently.

So live out and choose to actively walk according to the Holy Spirit by choosing to move forward. He deserves our attention and devotion if nothing/no one else. Live in His truth.