Nov 01
Today’s Truth
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! (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT)
Friend to Friend
One month ago, I had my last surgery after a second bout with breast cancer. It’s been such a weird year, standing outside the hospital 
a handful of times, saying my goodbyes to my family as I walk in to have surgery alone.
It’s been a hard, hard year; it’s okay to say that.
It’s also been a year of faith and growth. Galatians 5:22-23 has been a part of that.
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! (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT)
In this passage, Paul lists strong and beautiful attributes of a Spirit-led heart. I have wanted to be all these things even in this hard season.
I long to love like Jesus, especially to my family for they have been impacted by this battle too.
I desire to be marked by joy – not pretend happiness, but joy that comes from trusting and knowing God, right where I am.
I long to feel peace and also to offer it.
I desire to be patient with God’s timing, even in a battle I didn’t ask for, and in a pandemic that seems to go on forever.
But the truth is I am not all of these things, even when things are easy.
Perhaps that is why I love Galatians 5:22-23 so much. These verses are not a list of you-must-dos, but an inventory of what the Holy Spirit brings to us.
These attributes are available to us because the Holy Spirit dwells in us.
We can’t be all these things on our own, nor are we asked to be. Our role is to listen for the Holy Spirit and follow Him day by day. The more we do this, the more those attributes lead and guide us, and at some point we have a Spirit-wrapped heart.
In this last year, I’ve spent a lot of time wrapped in gauze. A double mastectomy. Reconstruction. Surgery after surgery. I should have stock in gauze!
The promise I see in Galatians 5 is that you and I can be Spirit-wrapped.
The strength we walk in is not ours; it’s His.
The wisdom we need; it’s there.
The capacity for love is greater than our own.
We find rock-solid joy tied to our relationship with God rather than our circumstances.
All of these attributes – love, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, peace, self-control – these are not decisions of a spur-of-the-moment heart but produced as we trust and grow and make mistakes and get back up, all the while listening for the voice of the Holy Spirit inside of us.
That’s what a Spirit-wrapped heart looks like.
I’m so excited that this last surgery was my final chapter in breast cancer battle #2. I can move forward again and I’m excited by that.
Yet I don’t want to forget what this season has taught me. A Spirit-wrapped heart leads me – not only in the hard spaces, but wherever I am. And it will do the same for you.
Remember that the Holy Spirit has everything you need in this season.
Ask for what you need. It’s right inside of you.
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, the Holy Spirit is inside of me and that’s hard to fathom. I realize I cannot have the fruits of the Spirit on my own, and You don’t ask that of me. When I reach for what is natural, remind me of the supernatural so very close at hand.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Which one of the fruits of the Spirit do you need the most right now in your life?
Click comment and share. You’ll see you’re not alone.
Do you feel ill-equipped? We all do and that’s natural. The good news is that the Holy Spirit lives inside of you and that’s supernatural.
More from the Girlfriends
In Suzie’s book, JoyKeeper: 6 Truths That Change Everything You Thought You Knew About Joy, she invites you to explore key joy stealers and how to exchange them with JoyKeeper truths that change your heart and your faith.
One joy stealer is when we place greater expectations on ourselves than God does. Suzie shares how to release what is not our job to step fully into what we can do.
(As an Amazon Associate, Girlfriends in God earns a small commission from qualifying purchases using this paid link.)
© 2021 by Suzanne Eller. All rights reserved.
Self control! Will work on that as we head o to the holiday season. Also gratitude !
Great on time devotional. Right now what I need most from the spirit is peace, followed by gentleness.
Lord, we pray for peace that is greater than the natural over Stephanie’s heart. In Jesus’ name. Out of that peace may gentleness flow.
I need the fruits of Patience and self controll rite now in my life, can you please keep me in prayer that God would help me in these two areas of my life.
Holy Spirit, you are our Helper. You are Anne’s Helper. You are right inside of her. Hold her close and teach, direct, and show her the heart of the Father day by day, moment by moment. Amen.
Thank you for writing this devotional!
Hope you are well and have a Godly speedy recovery.
I am! It’s nice after two years of surgeries and recovery to be on the other side. Thank you, Julian!
Oh my God ! A pearl of wtsdom in Galatians five I will cherish.
Blessings to you who are walking in HIS glory.
A great word.
Praying that today is a beautiful, sweet day for you. Thank you for being such an encourager.
Thank you for sharing such precious words of faith. I am touched deeply by your words and as we start November may this always remind me of the things to be thankful for.
Thank you, Terry. <3
Dear Suzie…
I won’t go on into an explanation, but you don’t know how much this devotion has
touch me.
I will say, God blesses us , it seems, in the valley experiences the most!
God “has got this!” for you!
During the height of the isolation phase, Apostle Paul was a spiritual guide for me. 2 Corin. 4: 8-10 “We are pressed on every side by, troubles, but not crushed and broken…” became strength verses I printed on notes to friends, on post-it notes. That small section of verses was my “rocky balboa” inspiration.
Galatians 5:22-23, will be another spiritual “tool” for me to use, also.
Blessings to you.
I love your Rocky Balboa mantra!
I need self control….eating is an issue with me (always) but I have been doing well and I have friends praying for me and I have felt the Holy Spirit with me…but I’m slipping. Pray I get back on track!
Lord, thank you that you offer such a Helper in all areas of our heart and life. Thank you for walking with Denise and giving her all that she needs. She is loved, seen, and treasured by you.
Ahora entiendo, que sola no puedo ,el espíritu Santo nuestro ayudador.para tener paz, fidelidad,amor etc.
Gracias.Bendiciones.
I was astonished at Gods timing of this devotional although I shouldn’t be! I’ve had my 2nd lymph node surgery in 5 weeks after being cancer free for 9.5 years (Double mastectomy ). I now sit here waiting for results. So many have told me how strong I am, how brave, etc. Thank you for reminding me that this joy, peace, long suffering, etc does not come from me but the Holy Spirit within me. I say it often but not sure my heart has taken hold of it yet. Thank you and I will pray for your journey.
Thank you for such an appropriate devotional today. In order to produce the fruit of the Spirit, we must have the Hoy Spirit dwelling in us and so I ask for prayer for the continued pesence of the Holy Spirit in my life. Jesus has promised to send us the Holy Spirit who is our comforter and teacher and he has kept his promise. but sometimes my temple is not fit for theHoly Spirit to dwell and this is what I pray that my temple will be a temple of the Holy Ghost.
Praise the Lord! Such an inspiring and heartfelt testimony and encouragement. I feel so ashamed of my need for prayer of joy and peace. I love the Lord and I need him!!
I am praying you have a full recovery and maintain the joy of the Lord!!
Thank you, Sherri!
Thank you for this devotional, what I am missing is the spirit of peace and joy. Like you said this season has been difficult for most people. Thank you for sharing your heart. I pray that you have a full recovery and remain healthy.
Father, thank you for Dawn’s honest request. She knows exactly where to go and you are that safe place. Hold her close. Wrap her in peace and joy. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Peace is what i need right now, this has been a hard year with divorce and financial stresses. I just pray that God Gives me peace through these times and shows me in which way to go.
Father, show her every step day by day. Thank you for walking with her and covering her in peace.
Joy self control peace!
Thank you dear Susie for sharing such an important devotional. We know as believers, the thief comes to rob, kill and destroy. Jesus said I am here to bring you life! My story too has the words cancer, chemo, surgery, battle, fatigue and more. As an older Christian I still fall short of joy and peace, it’s a daily prayer!!! I pray God gives you continued strength with your ministry as you share your story. with so many others. God bless you
God bless you Suzie!!! Cancer survivors are a true testament to the power of the holy spirits work!! I’ve witnessed it first hand…my husband is a cancer survivor…
Thank you, Jannan!
Thank you Susie for this timely devotion, I so needed this today, been praying for about a hooaring problem that we have found out that our oldest daughter has. I have felt so hopeless & angry with not being able to “fix” her. I know in my heart I can’t do this for her. This has had me at so upset but I need all these”fruits” to deal with this, and as a Christian women I let satan steal these from me in this crazy days we are living in. Thank you for reminding me to turn to my helper ! Prayers for your recovery & that cancer will be behind you forever! By the way, my maiden name was Eller from WV, now a Hoosier!
Well, hello to a fellow Eller. I love what you shared and how you will ask for what you need as you love your daughter.
I literally just read this today 11-2 and I wrote every one of these down yesterday 11-1 in my journal with the definitions to them all and I come back to your devotional that breaks them down! Ty so very much for this and my sister had the same surgery and she is doing well so glad you are to praise God ty
I love it when it works that way, Dominque!
I’m in dire need of joy. I’m plagued with 8 chronic illnesses, GI troubles, end stage osteoarthritis, and several other ailments. I live in constant, chronic pain, exhaustion from insomnia, and a compromised immune system. I live alone, have never been married, and have no children. I’ve had to retire from a career I loved and can’t really care for myself or my home anymore. It’s VERY difficult to find joy with all of this alone.
The seasons can feel tricky, can’t they? And yet the Holy Spirit is not limited to a specific day, a specific time, or a specific event. That’s why I love your comment so much. You are asking for the Holy Spirit to bring you what you need when it’s harder. So wise!
Father, Carrie is in a hard place physically. I come to you boldly on her behalf and ask for easing of her pain and a pouring out of your joy, sweet Lord. In Jesus’ name.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer May 2021. It had been a battle and by Gods will I hope to have my last chemo treatment on November 18 2021. Then Surgery I’m January 2022. My cousin sends me these daily devotionals. God is good had been with me every step of this journey in my life. He will continue to do so I have so much to be thankful for.
Cheering you on, Christa! Praying for all the days of healing and recovery, and for you specifically as you bravely fight this battle.
CONFIRMATION!!! OH THAT WRAPPING SPIRIT. AMEN, SISTERS, FRIENDS