But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

Devotion:

Recently, on a weeknight, I was in a room with a few volunteers and about fifteen young men (ages 16 and 17). We were making fools of ourselves and singing a song about the fruit of the Spirit we practiced for the first time the week prior. 

The song is quite comical; you have to act out different “fruits” with your voice and with body movements. We were jumping around, singing LOUD, and I’m pretty sure you could hear us from outside. 

During our energetic performance, a shift change must have occurred and a new prison guard came in to count the young men now hopping all around the room. See, this wasn’t a typical youth group… These young men are in a place where it would be so easy to be anything but joyful. They are in an adult men’s medium security prison, away from their friends and family, and have gone through more pain and hardships in their first 16-17 years than most go through in a lifetime. 

But, it was at that moment I was filled with joy. The singing and dancing didn’t stop and I was getting to see the Fruit of the Spirit we were singing about taking place in real time. The whole room was filled with joy that could only come from the Lord.

And I wasn’t just seeing joy… I was seeing kindness as they were silly and vulnerable with others to encourage them to sing along. I saw gentleness and patience as they cheered on a few guys who wrote songs and performed them for the group. I was even blessed to see some of these young men perform raps about the Fruit of the Spirit they wrote during the week.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

This evening was a beautiful reminder that the Holy Spirit can work in all people and all situations and we need to pay attention to the fruit he is producing in our own life as well as the lives around us.

PRAYER

Dear Lord, 

Thank you for the fruit you produce in us. Please help us remember all good fruit comes from you. We ask that you prune us so we may grow more in your likeness. We ask that you help us to be more observant of the fruit you grow in us and in those around us. Thank you for blessing us with your fruit and please help us to share and not hoard these blessings. 

In your name we pray,

Amen.

Lindsey Jackson is the Reentry Manager at Crossings Community Church. She is passionate about connecting individuals coming out of incarceration with the resources and community they need.

Resources: 

• “How He Loves” - worship song
• How People Grow - Cloud & Townsend
• Volunteer with Crossings Prison Ministry
• Volunteer with Crossings KIDS 
• Volunteer with Crossings Students

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