The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Against such things, there is no law.
Lord, we pray that your Spirit would grow its fruit of your Spirit in us.
In the midst of market-style exchanges, grow our love.
In the midst of manufactured desire, grow our joy.
In the midst of fragmentation, grow our peace.
Paul tells us that those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.
Lord, help us to destroy any passions or desires that turn us away from you. Transform our lives and teach us your way.
In the midst of productivity, grow our patience.
In the midst of self-sufficiency, grow our kindness.
In the midst of self-help, grow our goodness.
Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Lord, help us to trust the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that we sow seeds of faith, and not fear.
In the midst of impermanence, grow our faithfulness.
In the midst of aggression, grow our gentleness.
In the midst of addiction, grow our self-control.
Lord, walk ahead of us and help us to follow you. Walk beside us and hold us up in difficult times. Walk behind us and protect us. In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Blessing
(inspired by Philippians 1: 6-11 and Galatians 5: 22-23)
May God, who began a good work in you, continue to be at work in your life, guiding, teaching and equipping you until Jesus Christ returns.
May your love and compassion continue to grow— a love that is full of knowledge and wise insight, so that you will be able to recognize what really matters, and live a pure and blameless life.
May you live a life centred in the Holy Spirit, a life that bears rich fruit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, tolerance and self-control – all the good things that come from following the Spirit, for living this way will bring much glory and praise to God.