Claim Your Crown By Tarah-Lynn Saint-ElienSample

DAY 5 The Gift of Fruitfulness Galatians 5:22–23; John 15:1–11; 16:7 My mother showed my sisters and me that real beauty comes from knowing who we saw when we looked in the mirror: daughters of the King of Kings. Royalty. And it is important we carry ourselves as such. Contrary to society’s standards, having a done-up face and the most tasteful clothing isn’t the most important thing in life. Having a heart led by the Spirit of God is. Real beauty comes from the ability to bear fruit. The Bible says the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Don’t panic! It’s not by our own might. It is only when we accept God into our lives that we can bear the fruit of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the One who empowers us to grow and makes our hearts beautiful. These virtues of the Spirit are produced after the rain and toils of life. You’ll feel growing pains in the pruning process as God strips you of the very things that do you no good. You’ll find your shiny fruit after the sunshine and soil provide the proper nutrients. It’ll be rough because you’ll still find old parts of you there, dormant, waiting to sprout up in the midst of your fruit. Your former self will attempt to take control again. However, we have the decision to choose either the old us or the new life the Spirit gives. We have all the help we need. Jesus is the vine, God is the gardener, and the Holy Spirit produces the fruit. Because He loves us, God, the gardener, cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. You can let go of the pressure to be “good”—we can’t achieve any of these virtues on our own. True beauty may be found within you, but it doesn’t begin in you. It is first found through Christ. And it can only grow when we keep close to Him. Whenever the mirror says you are unattractive, ask God to show you the fruits He is nurturing within.