Boundless Daily: Day 32: Walking in the Fruit of the Spirit
- Boundless Team
- Mar 12
- 5 min read
Hey there, and welcome back to Boundless Daily. We are on Day 32 of our journey together, and today we’re stepping into a beautiful, lush topic that impacts every single interaction we have.
We’re talking about the Fruit of the Spirit.
If you’ve been around church for a while, you’ve probably heard this list before. But whether you can recite them by heart or this is your first time hearing about them, there’s always something new to discover when we look at how the Holy Spirit works in our daily lives.
At Boundless Online Church, we help people meet Jesus and grow in faith online. We know that growth isn’t always about big, flashy moments. Most of the time, it’s about the quiet, steady growth of character.
It’s about what happens in your heart when you’re tired, when you’re stressed, or when life feels a bit too heavy to carry.
What is the Fruit of the Spirit?
In the book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul gives us a list of traits that show up in the life of someone who is following Jesus.
He calls it "fruit."
Think about a fruit tree for a second. An apple tree doesn’t struggle and strain to grow apples. It doesn’t wake up in the morning and give itself a pep talk to be "more appley."
Fruit is just the natural result of a healthy tree being connected to its roots and getting the right nutrients.
In the same way, the Fruit of the Spirit isn’t a "to-do" list of things you have to achieve on your own. It’s the natural result of staying connected to the Holy Spirit.
The Nine Facets of One Fruit
One interesting thing to notice in Galatians 5:22-23 is that the word "fruit" is singular. It’s not "fruits" of the Spirit.
It’s like an orange with nine different segments. You don't just get the "patience" segment and leave the "love" segment behind. When the Holy Spirit lives in you, He begins to develop all these traits together.
Here is the list Paul gives us:
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control
These qualities are a reflection of God’s own character. When we walk in the Spirit, we start to look a little more like Jesus every day. This process of becoming more like Him is what we call sanctification.
If you’re curious about how this fits into our core beliefs, you can check out what are the 16 fundamental truths of the Assemblies of God. Specifically, Truth #9 talks about how we are set apart for God and grow in holiness.
Walking, Not Running
Paul uses the phrase "walk in the Spirit."
There’s something very intentional about the word "walk." Walking isn’t a sprint. It’s a steady, step-by-step pace.
For those of you joining us while working a late-night shift, or those of you who are at home caring for a loved one, or maybe you’re tuning in from a place where it’s not even safe to talk about your faith, this is for you.
Walking in the Spirit doesn't require a stage or a spotlight. It happens in the kitchen, in the warehouse, in the hospital room, and in the quiet moments of your day.
It’s about choosing to respond with kindness when a coworker is rude. It’s about finding peace when the bills are piling up. It’s about having the self-control to walk away from a temptation that you know will only lead to hurt.
The Internal Fruits: Love, Joy, Peace
The first three traits, love, joy, and peace, often start on the inside.
Love is the foundation. Without love, the rest of the list doesn’t really matter. This isn’t just a feeling; it’s a choice to seek the best for others, even when they don’t deserve it.
Joy is different from happiness. Happiness usually depends on our circumstances. If things go well, we’re happy. But joy is a deep-seated confidence that God is in control, even when things are falling apart.
Peace is that "calm power" we talk about. It’s the ability to stay steady in the middle of a storm.
For many of our community members who are shift workers or caregivers, these three can feel hard to find. But remember, they aren't something you have to manufacture. They are something you receive as you spend time with God.
The Relational Fruits: Patience, Kindness, Goodness
The next three, patience, kindness, and goodness, are all about how we treat the people around us.
Patience is especially important when we’re feeling burnt out. It’s the ability to endure difficult people or situations without getting angry or resentful.
Kindness is love in action. It’s the small gestures that show people they matter.
Goodness is about integrity. It’s doing the right thing even when no one is watching.
In our groups, we often talk about how these traits are the "salt and light" in our workplaces and neighborhoods. When you show kindness to someone who expects a harsh word, you’re showing them a glimpse of Jesus.
The Character Fruits: Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control
The final three, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, are about our inner strength and reliability.
Faithfulness is about being trustworthy. It’s staying true to your word and your commitment to God, day after day.
Gentleness is often mistaken for weakness, but it’s actually "power under control." It’s being humble and considerate of others.
Self-control is the ability to say "no" to the impulses of our old nature and "yes" to the things of God.
These aren't always easy. We all have moments where we lose our cool or fail to be faithful. The good news is that God is patient with us as we grow.
Cultivating the Garden
So, how do we actually "walk" in this? How do we grow this fruit?
First, we have to stay connected to the source. You can't grow spiritual fruit without the Holy Spirit. This happens through prayer, reading the Bible, and being part of a community of believers.
If you’re looking for a way to start your day with focus, our daily parent devotionals are a great resource, even if you aren't a parent. They offer quick moments of reflection for morning, midday, and evening.
Second, we have to pull the weeds. The Bible talks about the "desires of the flesh" that fight against the Spirit. These are things like anger, jealousy, and selfishness. When we notice these weeds popping up in our heart, we need to ask God to help us pull them out.
Finally, we need to be patient. Fruit doesn't grow overnight. It takes time, sunshine, and sometimes even a little bit of rain.
A Community for the Journey
You don’t have to do this alone. Boundless Online Church is a global community of people who are all trying to walk in the Spirit together.
Whether you join us for Sunday live worship or connect with others on our prayer wall, you are part of a family.
We know that life can be exhausting. If you’re a caregiver feeling drained of patience, or a worker feeling like you’ve lost your joy, we want to support you.
Walking in the Spirit isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being headed in the right direction. It’s about waking up each morning and saying, "Holy Spirit, lead me today. Help me to love like You love. Help me to have Your peace."
As we wrap up Day 32, take a moment to look at that list of nine traits again. Which one do you feel like you need the most today?
Ask God for it. He is a generous Father who loves to give good gifts to His children.
We are so glad you are here with us. Keep walking. Keep growing.
Boundless Online Church is a ministry of FA Memphis.
Need prayer? Text 1-901-213-7341 (message & data rates may apply). Not for emergencies.
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