Day 2: Overcoming Obstacles to Fruitfulness

Key Passage:

Galatians 5:16-17 (NLT) "So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves. 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."

Related Passages:

• Romans 7:15-25
• Hebrews 12:1-2
• 1 John 2:15-17

Devotional:

The fruit of the Spirit doesn't grow automatically or without opposition. Today, we examine common obstacles to spiritual fruitfulness and strategies for overcoming them through the Spirit's power.

Galatians 5:16-17 describes an ongoing battle between our sinful nature and the Holy Spirit. This internal conflict explains why, despite our best intentions, we sometimes find ourselves responding with anger instead of love, anxiety instead of peace, or self-indulgence instead of self-control. Paul captures this struggle vividly in Romans 7:19: "For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing."

Common obstacles to the fruit of the Spirit include:

• Unresolved sin: Hebrews 12:1 instructs us to "throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles." Unconfessed sin creates blockages through which the Spirit's fruit cannot flow freely. Regular self-examination and confession are essential for maintaining spiritual fruitfulness.
• Worldly influences: 1 John 2:15-16 warns, "Do not love the world or anything in the world... For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world." When we're constantly immersed in media, relationships, and activities that glorify values contrary to the Spirit's fruit, we shouldn't be surprised when that fruit struggles to grow.
• Busyness and distraction: Luke 8:14 describes seed that falls among thorns, representing those who hear God's Word but whose growth is choked by "life's worries, riches and pleasures." Spiritual fruitfulness requires margin—space in our schedules and attention in our minds for the Spirit to work.
• Self-reliance: John 15:5 reminds us, "Apart from me you can do nothing." When we attempt to produce spiritual fruit through human effort rather than dependence on Christ, we inevitably fail. Pride and self-sufficiency are major obstacles to the Spirit's work.
• Unforgiveness: Matthew 6:14-15 establishes a direct connection between our willingness to forgive others and our experience of God's forgiveness. Harboring resentment creates a toxic environment where the Spirit's fruit cannot flourish.

The good news is that these obstacles, while formidable, are not insurmountable. The same Spirit who produces fruit provides power to overcome what hinders growth. Romans 8:13 reminds us that "if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live."

Strategies for overcoming obstacles include:

• Regular confession: 1 John 1:9 promises, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
• Intentional input: Philippians 4:8 directs us to focus our minds on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.
• Strategic simplification: Creating margin in our schedules and reducing distractions to allow space for spiritual growth.
• Conscious dependence: Beginning each day with acknowledgment of our need for the Spirit's empowerment.
• Forgiveness practice: Regularly releasing others from the debt of their offenses against us.

Call to Action:

Conduct a "spiritual obstacle assessment" today. Prayerfully examine your life for hindrances to the fruit of the Spirit. Which of the common obstacles mentioned above are most relevant in your life right now? Choose one specific obstacle and develop a concrete plan to address it this week. This might include confession of sin, changing media consumption habits, creating margin in your schedule, practicing dependence through hourly prayer pauses, or extending forgiveness to someone who has hurt you. Take the first step in implementing your plan today.

Reflection Questions:

1. What specific obstacles most commonly hinder the fruit of the Spirit in my life?
2. How have I tried to produce spiritual fruit through human effort rather than dependence on the Spirit?
3. What practical adjustments to my environment or habits would remove barriers to spiritual fruitfulness?

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, I acknowledge the ongoing battle between my sinful nature and Your work in my life. Forgive me for the ways I've hindered Your fruit from flourishing. I specifically confess [name the obstacle you identified]. Give me both the desire and the power to overcome what hinders Your fruit from growing in my life. Help me to cooperate with Your transforming work rather than resisting it. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. I surrender my attempts to produce fruit through my own efforts and instead invite Your supernatural work in my life. May the obstacles that have hindered growth be removed so that Your fruit can flourish for Your glory. In Jesus' name, Amen.