God gives us, as believers, victory over sin and enables us to be Christ like. He does that by producing the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.

Love tops the list. Paul may have mentioned it first because all the other attributes flow from it.

Joy and peace are the result of our relationship with God. They replace guilt, anger, resentment, and a host of other destructive emotions that characterize our lives when we’re not walking with God.

As we deal with other people, the Spirit gives us patience, kindness, and goodness. We develop the ability to live with the failings of others; in fact, we are even prompted to lighten their load.

At the same time, the Spirit produces faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in our lives. These three character traits are impossible for a man to experience without the Spirit, whose work in us helps us keep our promises, gives us a gentle touch and tone and enables us to live a disciplined life.

There’s no way you can succeed in cultivating these qualities on your own. But by accepting Jesus Christ and becoming a devoted follower, you’ve opened your heart so that God’s Spirit can do the work for you.

Do these attributes characterize your life as a believer in the workplace? At the family reunion? In the middle of a traffic jam? The journey of faith may have its setbacks, but your goal should be to pray for the Spirit’s presence and work in your life at all times and in all situations.