Feeding on the Fruit of the Spirit (Instead of Overeating!)

Spreading The Truth One Byte At A Time

By Ron Bender© 2008, 2013

All of us are hungry for God – more than we know!

But many of us use food to meet emotional needs or to deal with conflicts.  For some this becomes a compulsive pattern of overeating, bulimia, or anorexia.

The key to overcoming compulsive eating patterns is learning to take your struggles and needs into relationship with God and Christ’s Ambassadors. Then you can discover that God and the fruit of his Spirit is what your soul hungers for.

Consider the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23. These nine characteristics summarize God’s way of being and relating with us. Each blessing is connected to the others – when you’re loved you’ll be joyful and when you’re joyful you’ll be at peace and when you’re at peace you’ll be patient and so forth.

Often we tire of caring for others.  Feeding on the fruit of the Spirit enables us to share this soul food with others.  This is when it’s more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:35): when we share God’s blessings that we’ve received.  To help you do this, meditate on the following sample of Bible verses that put all nine of the fruits of the Spirit right out on the table for us to eat and then pass out to others who are hungry!

Love: “He guards [his people] as the apple of his eye” (Deuteronomy 32:10). “But God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1).

Joy: “He will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17b).

Peace: “In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6b-7).

Patience: “Wait for the Lord and keep his way. He will exalt you….” (Psalm 37:34a).

Kindness: “Give, and it will be given to you….” (Luke 6:38a).

Goodness: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Faithfulness: “There is a friend who sticks closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24b).

Gentleness: “Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

Self-control: “Keep my commands in your heart, for they will… bring you prosperity” (Proverbs 3:1b-2).

 

It’s people like you who support "Bytes of Truth", which includes articles like this. Perhaps you would like to invest in the transformation of men in the community, Future leaders, productive workers, and care-givers? Your tax deductible donation to Transition To Community will support this website, help the transition of broken lives back into the community, and the spreading of truth one byte at a time. When giving just say Bender Bytes sent you.

Thank you!

Ron

Ronald Bender- President/CEO Bender Consulting.~http://www.benderbytes.net/bender_consult