The world says, “Follow your heart” and “Be true to yourself,” but Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matt. 16:24). According to Jesus, obedience means laying aside our love of comfort in order to pursue obedience. This is hard to do! But God provides help in the form of self-control, a strong ally in our struggle with sin. As the Spirit works within us, he frees us to be the kind of people who can say no to what feels good so we might say yes to what is good.
—Sharonda Cooper

1. The fruit of the Spirit points us to Jesus.

The fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22–23 is a familiar list of virtues. You may have memorized it or learned a childhood song based on it. On good days, it’s an encouraging list—a reminder that the Spirit is at work in you. On bad days, it can be a crushing list—a testimony to how far you have yet to go. But the fruit of the Spirit isn’t merely intended for self-examination. The list of fruit in Paul’s epistle points us upward, away from ourselves, toward our Savior. Jesus is the only perfectly loving man, the only perfectly joyful man, the only perfectly peaceful man. Day after day in his earthly ministry, and still to this very minute, he kept in step with the Spirit (Gal. 5:25). And he did this for us. He was patient where we are not, kind where we fail, and good where we stumble. His is the perfect righteousness for all who lack faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. As we abide in him, we become like him, bearing good fruit that will last. Do you want to know what Jesus is like and what he accomplished on your behalf? Savor the fruit of the Spirit.
—Megan Hill and Melissa Kruger

2. Love is more than a feeling.

One thing you should know about love is that it’s not actually a feeling at all. In fact, more often than not, love is a choice we make or an action we take in spite of our feelings. It’s also something we simply cannot conjure up within ourselves—because love comes from God. The good news is that though love may feel completely unnatural (you can hardly “fall” into it), God’s word tells us that it leads to joy. Jesus issues a command to his followers to “love one another . . . that [their] joy may be full” (John 15:11–12). Somehow, the sacrificial prioritization of another leads to fullness of joy.
—Abbey Wedgeworth

3. Joy refreshes our hearts.

Warm weather and longer days—we’re eager to get outdoors and breathe in spring. There’s nothing like fresh air and sunshine to strengthen our winter-weary spirits. But the reality of our routine so often limits those refreshing hours. When confined to a house, an office, a car, or, for some of us, a bed, brisk walks in the sunshine are a luxury. How wonderful that in Christ, refreshment is ours indoors or out, at work or in the pickup line, and even on a sickbed. Renewed strength of all kinds is the fruit of rejoicing. As we delight in God, we are renewed in every way. Joy comes to those who fix their gaze on him in his word, because that’s how we find what his people have always found: “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh. 8:10).
—Lydia Brownback

4. Peace is possible. Right now.

Peace is possible. For you. Right now. You might be thinking, “You don’t know what I’m going through,” and you’re right. There are seasons and situations when peace seems unattainable. But Jesus not only purchased peace on the cross (Col. 1:20), he has made that peace readily and abundantly available (John 14:27). Paul wrote in Colossians, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.” The word “rule” means “to act like an umpire.”

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