As Christians, we face temptation on a daily basis, whether it be the temptation to sin, give in to our fears, or doubt our faith.
It can be all too easy to give into temptation and stray from God’s path for our lives.
However, the good news is that we have been given the fruit of the Spirit to combat these temptations.
Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
In this post, we will explore how each of these fruits can help us overcome temptation and stay strong in our faith.
Love to overcome temptation
When we are faced with the temptation to hate or hold grudges against someone who has wronged us, we can turn to the fruit of love.
Love helps us to forgive and pray for those who have hurt us, and reminds us that everyone is a child of God and deserving of love and grace.
When we choose to love in difficult situations, we are following in the footsteps of Jesus, who loved even his enemies.
Joy to resist temptation
When we are faced with the temptation to become bogged down by our problems and worries, we can turn to the fruit of joy.
Joy reminds us that no matter how difficult our circumstances may be, we have a reason to rejoice in God and his goodness.
When we focus on the joy of our salvation, we can find the strength to endure difficult times without giving into despair.
Peace
When we are faced with the temptation to worry and be anxious, we can turn to the fruit of peace.
Peace reminds us that we can trust God with our cares and concerns and that he is in control of all things.
When we choose peace over anxiety, we are able to rest in God’s promises and experience the peace that passes all understanding.
Patience
When we are faced with the temptation to act impulsively or give up in the face of adversity, we can turn to the fruit of patience.
Patience reminds us that God’s timing is perfect and that we must wait on him and trust him to work things out for our good.
When we choose patience, we are able to endure difficult times and see God’s faithfulness in our lives.
Kindness
When we are faced with the temptation to lash out or be unkind, we can turn to the fruit of kindness.
Kindness reminds us that we are called to treat others with respect and love, even when they don’t deserve it.
When we choose kindness, we are able to reflect God’s love and goodness to those around us and start to break down walls and heal broken relationships.
Self-control
Without self-control, we are powerless against temptation.
The Fruit of the Spirit that pertains most to self-control is patience.
Sometimes we may feel the urge to give in to temptation because we want immediate gratification.
However, if we can wait and exercise patience, we can overcome temptation and resist the devil. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Faith
In Mark 11:23, Jesus tells us that if we have faith in God, we can have whatever we ask for in prayer.
When we have faith, we trust that the Lord will provide for our needs and give us the strength to resist temptation.
The Fruit of the Spirit that pertains to faith is faithfulness.
When we are faithful to God and His word, we will have the faith we need to overcome any temptation that comes our way.
Gentleness
When we approach temptation with a gentle spirit, we are less likely to give in to our fleshly desires.
The Fruit of the Spirit that pertains to gentleness is goodness.
When we do good for others, we are being gentle and patient with them and showing them the love of Christ.
As Christians, we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit and the Fruit of the Spirit to help us overcome any temptation that comes our way.
When we exercise self-control, love others, choose joy, have faith, and approach temptation with a gentle spirit, we are using the Fruit of the Spirit to resist the devil and draw closer to God.
Let us remember the words of James 4:7, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
May we all grow in our faith and become stronger in resisting temptation with the help of the Fruit of the Spirit.
