Fruit Of The Spirit / 2026

As I began this painting, the Holy Spirit was speaking to me about the fruits of the Spirit, specifically the fruit of patience.  He’d given me a picture of fruit that was not fully ripe and I knew He wanted to address a relationship that I’d been struggling with for several months. Honestly, I've struggled with patience in other areas as well more than I cared to admit. 

I first met Mary (name changed for privacy) who had come to me for prayer and I really wanted to help and encourage her. I knew she was fearful, lonely and had health issues so I shared my contact information with her and had peace about it. 

The phone calls from Mary began the very next morning at 6:30 a.m. and to my surprise continued frequently throughout the first week until I had a conversation with her about boundaries.  We continued to talk as the weeks passed and I knew she needed love and friendship. There was very little improvement in her behavior regarding boundaries in spite of ongoing prayer and getting together with her on occasion. I still knew very little about Mary. I began studying the fruits of the Spirit after Holy Spirit gave me the picture of fruit and knew I needed patience  (also called "longsuffering" in some translations) with Mary but was struggling greatly and felt horrible about it. Frustrated, I just wanted to give up, which I knew would hurt her and was not an option.

The painting was progressing very slowly as I continued to seek Holy Spirit for direction and then saw a second picture of a carpenter. He was sanding a wood surface, his arm going back and forth with care and precision, and I knew this was Jesus showing me the relationship with Mary was not only helping her but sanding off the rough edges in my life.

I realized I was trying to overcome the problem primarily in my own strength. I needed to spend more time in the secret place meditating on scriptures on the fruits of love, kindness and patience specifically and let Him build upon those character traits within me. Very beautiful and humbling picture that touched my heart deeply.

Another week or so passed and He gave me yet another picture and this time a picture of the Bible, opened to the book of Acts and it was full of light and life, the pages moving, alive and beautiful. I felt His peace and finally knew how to move forward with the painting.

Jesus has been preparing His church for the coming days that will be very much like the book of Acts, only we will do even greater things. We are His lightbearers, light in the darkness of this world and many fearful, hurting and bound people will come to us for help because they will be drawn to the Spirit of Jesus within us. The fruits of the Spirit are the character traits of the Spirit of God within us and they are a byproduct of our relationship with the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience (longsuffering) , kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. He had my full attention and I knew things would be different going forward, especially with Mary because He had lovingly, patiently revealed His heart to me.

"I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience (longsuffering) , kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." (Galatians 5:16)

"Love suffers long and is kind." (1 Corinthians 14:3)

Mary and I had planned a full day of art in my studio to celebrate her birthday and the day had arrived. We enjoyed lunch together and Mary opened up to me more than ever before and the pieces of her life that she struggled to share in previous weeks quickly came together and I understood. We celebrated with birthday cake, art, worship and prayer and the entire day was a joy, no frustration, only love, patience and compassion.

We've both grown in life changing ways, the tension, the impatience, GONE. The Holy Spirit is the One who produces fruit in our lives as we walk in the Spirit with Him. Surrendering to Him, studying His word in the area of struggle and sitting at His feet. Mary and I are planning another day soon and she is greatly looking forward to creating more beautiful art and so am I. Thank You Jesus.

Fruit Of The Spirit

Mixed Media Collage On Canvas

20" X 24"X1.5"

Scriptures:

“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh…But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5:16)

Fruit of Love

“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails” (1Corinthians 13:4-8)

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.”  (1John 4:7-8)

Fruit of Joy 

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4)

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17)

Fruit of Peace 

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Plilippians 4:6-7)

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

Fruit of Patience (Longsuffering)

“Love suffers long and is kind”  (1 Corinthians 13:4)

Fruit of Kindness 

“Love suffers long and is kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4)

Fruit of Goodness 

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)

Fruit of Faithfulness (Faith) 

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”(Romans 10:17;

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because Igo unto My Father.  (John 14:12)