The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…
Galatians 5:22
The worship team at our church introduced a new song this week. It is a prayer that has deeply impacted my heart and mind, and I want to share it with you here. You can find the song on YouTube to hear the music along with the words.
Less Like Me
Oh, I have days I lose the fight
Try my best but just don’t get it right
Where I talk a talk that I don’t walk
And miss the moments right before my eyes
Somebody with a hurt that I could have helped
Somebody with a hand that I could have held
When I just can’t see past myself
Lord, help me be
A little more like mercy, a little more like grace
A little more like kindness, goodness, love, and faith
A little more like patience, a little more like peace
A little more like Jesus, a little less like me
Yeah, there’s no denying I have changed
‘Cause I’ve been saved from who I used to be
But even at my best, I must confess
I still need help to see the way You see
Somebody with a hurt that I could have helped
Somebody with a hand that I could have held
When I just can’t see past myself
Lord, help me be
A little more like mercy, a little more like grace
A little more like kindness, goodness, love, and faith
A little more like patience, a little more like peace
A little more like Jesus, a little less like me
Oh, I wanna feed the beggar on the street
Learn to be Your hands and feet
Freely give what I receive
Lord, help me be
I want put You first above all else
Love my neighbor as myself
In the moments no one sees
Lord, help me be
(One, two, three)
A little more like mercy, a little more like grace
A little more like kindness, goodness, love, and faith
A little more like patience, a little more like peace
A little more like Jesus, oh, a little less like me
A little more of living everything I preach
A little more like Jesus, a little less like me
Oh, a little less like me
*********************************
As I read the repeated chorus, I realized that these qualities (kindness, goodness, love, faith, patience, peace) are the fruit of the Spirit in the Bible, Galatians 5:22. As followers of Jesus who have been saved by Him, we have the Holy Spirit living in us. To live more like Jesus, it’s not enough to just make up my mind to try harder to live this way. I need to ask Him to change my heart as I depend on His Spirit in me moment by moment to live “more like Jesus, less like me.”
Our pastor challenged us to read through the Psalms this summer. As I read each chapter, I’ve written what I learn about the Lord. Over and over, I see His lovingkindness and compassion. He is our help and our hope in times of trouble. He is a God who hears us when we cry out to Him, and He is a God who speaks to us through His Word.
To be more like Jesus, I need to spend time each day in His Word, listening to what He has to say to me. I can ask Him each day, “Is there someone who is hurting that I can help? Is there someone who just needs a listening ear and encouragement?” And then I can ask Him for a heart that is willing to reach out in love to others, to lead them to Jesus who is their hope.
PERSONAL REFLECTION
Is there someone God has put on your heart that needs the hope and encouragement you can offer them through Jesus?
It’s easy to feel like we just don’t have what it takes to help someone who is hurting. But we can trust God for the words of encouragement He wants them to hear. We can ask Him for a willing heart and wisdom to know what to do and what to say. We can help them turn to Jesus who loves them and is filled with love, kindness, compassion, faithfulness. He is the One who knows what they need, but He can use us to be His hands and feet and voice as we reach out to them.
Thank you, Sherrilyn. I don’t feel like I’m in a season to help anyone but I am very aware of so many who have reached out to me and ask God to richly bless them. Adversity can bring out the worst in people, but I have experienced how my adversity brought out the best in so many people demonstrating the fruit of God’s Holy Spirit. I thank God for His life in and through them and through you, dear friend.