Devotional Guide by Mendy McClure Edited by Gerrye Indermill 40 Days of Fasting and Prayer Sunday, February 18 Thursday, March 29
Sunday 2/18 Saturday 2/24 ASV: But the fruit of the Spirt is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control: against such there is no law. AMP: But the fruit of the Spirit (the result of His presence within us) is love (unselfish concern for others), joy, (inner) peace, patience (not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Fruit #1 LOVE: Love binds everything else together in perfect unity. (RS) Prayer: This week pray daily that the Holy Spirit shows us the way to walk in love. Our deeds are useless if we don t love. The proof of God s presence in your life is a transformed life following Jesus Christ, in love. If possible, use a journal to list the many scriptures and ways that Jesus shows the fruit of Love. How can you show the love of Christ? Fasting: Matthew 6:16 Jesus says when you fast Look up fasting in the scriptures. Have a conversation with the Lord as to how this practice would change your life and your love for others.
Sunday 2/25 Saturday 3/3 ASV: But the fruit of the Spirt is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control: against such there is no law. AMP: But the fruit of the Spirit (the result of His presence within us) is love (unselfish concern for others), joy, (inner) peace, patience (not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Contemporary English Version(CEV): God s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. Fruit #2 JOY: Joy is different than happiness. This week spend some time daily to look up the word joy in the Bible and find out more about this amazing fruit! Fruit #3 PEACE: In order to understand and have peace in Christian experience, one has to begin with the issue of peace with God. (RS) Prayer: This week pray for the Holy Spirit to give you peace and joy. We cannot do this on our own because of the difficulties of this world. It is a contradiction to talk about a joyless Christian. A joyless life just isn t a Christ life. (RS) Pray daily for an understanding of the importance of joy and peace and how it impacts ourselves and others. Peace with God is an internal phenomenon, one which is not determined by circumstances. It is a peace built on the foundation of faith. (RS) You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Isa. 26:3 Fasting: Fasting, put simply, isn t really about what you re sacrificing or giving up. It s about making room for God. (SW)
Sunday 3/4 Saturday 3/10 Easy to Read Version (ERV): But the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these kinds of things. God s Word (GW): But the spiritual nature produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There are no laws against things like that. Good News Translation (GNT): But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. There is no law against such things as these. Fruit #4 Patience: Difficult in this day and age when everyone wants immediate gratification. The biblical idea is not that we suppress feelings and seethe with anger, but that we should seek long-suffering and slow to anger. Psalm 86:15: But you, O LORD, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Fruit #5 Kindness: Jesus is the King of kindness. Jesus reminds us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute others. Prayer: Pray daily for an understanding of the importance of patience and kindness. These works of love are expected of children of God. During your prayer time, write down different ways that you can show kindness to others. Pray for the missionaries and pastors who need support. Fasting: Fasting is going without something. In the scriptures, Moses, God s people in the Old Testament, and Jesus fasted. Read the story of Daniel chapter 1 to better understand how fasting creates a more in-depth relationship with God.
Sunday 3/11 Saturday 3/17 International Children s Bible (ICB): But the Spirit gives love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. There is no law that says these things are wrong. King James Version (KJV): But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance; against such there is no law. Living Bible: But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control; and here there is no conflict with Jewish laws. Fruit #6 Goodness: Goodness is that which is both upright and honorable as combined with and tempered by generosity. Goodness and wickedness are polar opposites. (RS) Fruit #7 Faithfulness: Dependability An indicator of the Spirit s presence in a believer to watch for is the consistent, long-term dependability in that person s life. (RS) Prayer: Pray daily for an understanding of the importance of goodness and faithfulness. Pray to keep our eyes on the goal, keep moving toward it, and finish the journey that God has ordained for us. Fasting: A physical way to show the posture of your heart empty and insufficient, but devoted and calling upon God. (SW)
Sunday 3/18 Saturday 3/24 The Message: But what happens when we live God s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves, involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about: it only gets in the way. Among those who belong to Christ, everything connected with getting our own way and mindlessly responding to what everyone else calls necessities is killed off for god crucified! New American Standard Bible (NASB): But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Fruit #8 Gentleness: The gentleness of Jesus is the perfect example. In Matthew 11:29, Jesus said of himself, I am meek and lowly in heart or I am gentle and humble in heart. Only a person who is strong can exhibit the gentleness which is given by the Spirit of God. Fruit #9: Self-Control: The only element of the fruit of the Spirit which is negative. It points to the restraint of factors that can lead to the destruction of self-esteem, character, and spiritual life. (RS) Prayer: Pray daily for an understanding of the importance of the fruit of the Spirit in living a life of gentleness. The Son of Man didn t resort to coercion and intimidation. He never threatened or stepped on people. Choosing a gentle approach to life by the power of the Holy Spirit allows you to live in peace and security. If the Spirit of God lives in you, you will be less harsh, less arrogant, less provocative. You will be less inclined to throw your weight around, and you will be increasingly humble and gently leading others to Christ. (RS) Genuine self-control by God s Spirit includes the whole of a person s life. (RS) Pray that you will be able to turn over your will and submit your life to Christ. Pray that you will be Spirit controlled, not self-controlled. Praise God that we are given grace through faith. Pray that we can give up our control and lay it at Jesus feet. Fasting: If you are choosing not to fast (for any reason), how about praying for those who are fasting
Sunday 3/25 Saturday 3/29 New Living Translation: But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! The Passion Translation (TPT): But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: Joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit. Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless. Tree of Life Version (TLV): But the fruit of the RUACH is love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control against such things there is no law. The Voice: The Holy Spirit produces a different kind of fruit: unconditional love, joy, peace, patience, kindheartedness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. You won t find any law opposed to fruit like this. This week focus on the book ends of the nine different fruit. Joyce Meyer writes in Keys to a Victorious Life: Love and Self-Control that the fruit of the Holy Spirit is beautiful, and it enables us not only to enjoy our life, but also to show true love to the people we deal with in our daily life. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is in us as believers in Jesus Christ, but it must be developed into maturity. Maturity occurs as we study and use the fruit repeatedly. Love is the first of the fruit listed, and self-control is the last. I think they are listed in that order on purpose. Love and self-control are like bookends that hold the rest of the fruit of the Spirit. All the fruit initially grow from love and are kept in place by self-control. Walking in the fruit of the Spirit involves being patient, kind, humble, displaying good manners, not being selfish, and other good fruit as well. Although it would be nice if we automatically behaved that way toward people, it rarely happens without developing and using self-control. We may be able to control ourselves sometimes, but at other times we may not feel well physically, or a day might be filled with frustrations, and walking in the fruit of the Spirit is more difficult. But thank God that He is patient with us and will continue helping us develop the fullness of the fruit in our lives if that is our true desire. Prayer: Pray daily for an understanding of the importance of the fruit of the Spirit. The proof of God s presence in your life is a transformed life following Jesus Christ. Practice the nine fruits on a daily basis. Pray that the Holy Spirit will indwell in your heart so that you will be more like Jesus.
Fasting: God s people fasted and prayed at many times during the Bible, but God wasn t just all about fasts. He also scheduled many celebrations with His people they were commanded to remember. God loves parties! He loved them so much, He put them on the calendar so His people would be forced to stop what they are doing and remember Him through feasting and thanksgiving.
Compare the following translations of Galatians 2:16-22. How do the variations in wording affect your understanding of how you can live better by living in God s Spirit rather than your own will and selfishness. Galatians 5:16-21 - New International Version: So I say, live by the Spirit and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the Sprit, you are not under the law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: Sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:16-21 - Amplified Bible (AMP) - But I say, walk habitually in the [Holy] Spirit [seek Him and be responsive to His guidance], and then you will certainly not carry out the desire of the [a]sinful nature [which responds impulsively without regard for God and His precepts]. 17 For the sinful nature has its desire which is opposed to the Spirit, and the [desire of the] Spirit opposes the [b]sinful nature; for these [two, the sinful nature and the Spirit] are in direct opposition to each other [continually in conflict], so that you [as believers] do not [always] do whatever [good things] you want to do. 18 But if you are guided and led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the Law. 19 Now the practices of the [c]sinful nature are clearly evident: they are sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality (total irresponsibility, lack of self-control), 20 [d]idolatry, [e]sorcery, hostility, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions [that promote heresies], 21 envy, drunkenness, riotous behavior, and other things like these. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Galatians 5:16-21 - Contemporary English Version (CEV) - If you are guided by the Spirit, you won t obey your selfish desires. 17 The Spirit and your desires are enemies of each other. They are always fighting each other and keeping you from doing what you feel you should. 18 But if you obey the Spirit, the Law of Moses has no control over you. 19 People s desires make them give in to immoral ways, filthy thoughts, and shameful deeds. 20 They worship idols, practice witchcraft, hate others, and are hard to get along with. People become jealous, angry, and selfish. They not only argue and cause trouble, but they are 21 envious. They get drunk, carry on at wild parties, and do other evil things as well. I told you before, and I am telling you again: No one who does these things will share in the blessings of God s kingdom. Galatians 5:16-21 - Living Bible (TLB) - 16 I advise you to obey only the Holy Spirit s instructions. He will tell you where to go and what to do, and then you won t always be doing the wrong things your evil nature wants you to. 17 For we naturally love to do evil things that are just the opposite from the things that the Holy Spirit tells us to do; and the good things we want to do when the Spirit has his way with us are just the opposite of our natural desires. These two forces within us are constantly fighting each other to win control over us, and our wishes are never free from their pressures. 18 When you are guided by the Holy Spirit, you need no longer force yourself to obey Jewish laws. 19 But when you follow your own wrong inclinations, your lives will produce these evil results: impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, 20 idolatry, spiritism (that is, encouraging the activity of demons), hatred and fighting, jealousy and anger, constant effort to get the best for yourself, complaints and criticisms, the feeling that everyone else is wrong except those in your own little group and there will be wrong doctrine, 21 envy, murder, drunkenness, wild parties, and all that sort of thing. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Galatians 5:16-21 - The Message (MSG) - 16-18 My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God s Spirit. Then you won t feed the compulsions of
selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don t you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence? 19-21 It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consumingyet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on. This isn t the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God s kingdom. Galatians 5:16-21 - New Living Translation (NLT) - 16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won t be doing what your sinful nature craves. 17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. 18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses. 19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Galatians 5:16-21 - The Voice (VOICE) - 16 Here s my instruction: walk in the Spirit, and let the Spirit bring order to your life. If you do, you will never give in to your selfish and sinful cravings. 17 For everything the flesh desires goes against the
Spirit, and everything the Spirit desires goes against the flesh. There is a constant battle raging between them that prevents you from doing the good you want to do. 18 But when you are led by the Spirit, you are no longer subject to the law. 19 It s clear that our flesh entices us into practicing some of its most heinous acts: participating in corrupt sexual relationships, impurity, unbridled lust, 20 idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, arguing, jealousy, anger, selfishness, contentiousness, division, 21 envy of others good fortune, drunkenness, drunken revelry, and other shameful vices that plague humankind. I told you this clearly before, and I only tell you again so there is no room for confusion: those who give in to these ways will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:16-21The Passion Translation (TPT) - 16 As you yield freely and fully to the dynamic life and power of the Holy Spirit, you will abandon the cravings of your self - life.[a] 17 For your self - life craves the things that offend the Holy Spirit and hinder him from living free within you! And the Holy Spirit s intense cravings hinder your old self - life from dominating you! So then, the two incompatible and conflicting forces within you are your self - life of the flesh and the new creation life of the Spirit.[b] 18 But when you are brought into the full freedom of the Spirit[c] of grace, you will no longer be living under the domination of the law, but soaring above it! 19 The cravings of the self-life are obvious: Sexual immorality, lustful thoughts, pornography, 20 chasing after things instead of God,[d] manipulating others,[e] hatred of those who get in your way, senseless arguments, resentment when others are favored, temper tantrums, angry quarrels, only thinking of yourself, being in love with your own opinions, 21 being envious of the blessings of others, murder, uncontrolled addictions,[f] wild parties, and all other similar behavior. Haven t I already warned you that those who use their freedom for these things[g] will not inherit the kingdom realm of God!
Materials used in preparation of this study are: Prayer: meditating, studying, exploring and embracing The Fruit of the Spirit. Thoughts from In Step with the Spirit: A Study of the Fruit of the Spirit by Rubel Shelly (RS). Fasting: Excerpts from Fast Like Daniel: 21 Days That Will Change Your Life by Scott Williams (SW) Several versions of Galations 5:16-23 for weekly reading