AHSS: Fruit of the Spirit (Lesson 6)

Fruit of the Spirit
Living by the Spirit produces the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These lessons from the Learn It, Live It Bible Studies are to help you learn about each of these qualities and how you can live by God’s Spirit and grow in fruit. Find a quiet place with a peaceful view or play some soothing music to get you ready to grow in your faith. Journal about or discuss the lessons with a friend or two. Go back to the lesson and take a second look to see if you discover something new or have a change of perspective. It is your journey to take, and the path always leads to a closer relationship with God.

Galatians 5:22-23 – Peace

In this world that is wrapped up in anxiety, we worry. Terrorism, violence in our schools, global warming, stock markets all drive our emotions toward worry. Any hope of having true and lasting peace in the midst of this is, for many, a pipe dream. Still, Scripture comes to us and tells us that the fruit of the Spirit is peace. What can that mean for us in a world like ours?

The Hebrew word for “peace” is shalom. It means more than just the absence of conflict. It is a positive state of inner harmony and well-being. This kind of peace consists of three attitudes.
First is self-acceptance. We need to be glad to be the person God made us to be. Guilt and feelings of inadequacy wage war on our psyche.

Second is positive hope for the world. It helps to keep us from the constant turmoil of wondering what horrible news will arrive next.

Third is confidence in one’s future. We know who holds the future! Confidence about one’s future means we don’t have to fret over whether we will ever “make something of ourselves.” We know the real issue is what God will make of us, and God never fails. Knowing that is real peace!

Take a moment to be silent and quiet your mind. For two minutes focus on and repeat a Scripture over and over. Psalm 46:10a or Isaiah 26: 3 would be a viable choice.
 
Were you able to experience peace during this exercise? What natural setting comes to mind for you when you hear the word peace? Is there a moment in your life that you remember feeling most at peace? What destroys your peace? What encourages it?