My granddaughter Chloe

My 6 year old granddaughter Chloe, is a part princess and part tomboy. She loves her frills and practices being a ballerina or tap dancer one minute and the next is off building fortresses with her brother Sebastian. But to tell you the truth, I must admit that sometimes the choice of her clothing can leave much to be desired. Like a light frilly dress without a coat in a snowstorm. She also can forget to check in the mirror to see if there is spaghetti on her face after lunch.

Chloe is so precious, yet she needs someone- her mom or me, someone to remind her to wash her face and hands and to lay out the clothes she is to wear (especially if we are going somewhere.

GOD does the same thing for us, because we need it just as badly.

Colossians 3:12…as God's chosen representatives, holy (set apart) and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion (mercy), kindness, humility, gentleness and longsuffering. 13Put up with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

So where are we suppose to get these things? I thought we were to rest in GOD, not work.

Chloe doesn’t go outside and try to find something to wear, nor does she go to the sewing machine and try to make something. Her mom, Shirley, has provided for her what she needs. It is the same for you and me. GOD has given us all that we need and we have to pick it up and put it on.

2 Peter 1: 2Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of HIM who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
2 Peter 1: 5For this very reason, make every effort in using your faith to bring in goodness; and exercising goodness bring in knowledge; 6and exercising knowledge bring in self-control; and exercising self-control bring in perseverance; and exercising perseverance bring in godliness; 7and to godliness bring in brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness bring in love. 8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Note: Compare the lists in Colossians 3:12-14 and 2 Peter 1:5-8 with Galations 5:22.23 and you will see these things we are to put on and use are the fruit of the Spirit. GOD has provided all of these things and our job is simply to give them access and let them flow.

But how? Let me illustrate by giving you my testimony from a few days back.

The other day one thing after another kept going wrong and all of a sudden I felt the irritation rising and becoming frustration. The moment I recognized what was happening, I knew I was not walking in the Spirit for what was forcefully rising up within me was not the joyous peaceful fruit of the Holy Spirit but rather the striving works of the flesh.

Although I was in the middle of after work rush hour traffic I cried out to GOD. “Help! I am in the flesh, forgive me and fill me, I need YOU.”

Immediately GOD answered and give me help in my time of need. How can I be so sure? The frustration subsided, peace flowed in and somehow my perspective changed.

Hugs
Sharon