Daily Devotion for August 15, 2006

Fruitful Influence

 

“ But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self- control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:22-25

 

Influence, in Latin is influens, meaning to flow into, or to cause change in the character, thought or action of. We all have influence and we all are affected by the influence of others.

 

 For me personally, I have to be careful who I allow the power to influence my thoughts. The world is in direct conflict with the word of God. It is so important for me to be connected to the word of God in order that my influence- my “flow into” myself is the Spirit of God, not the spirit of the world.

 

 When I allow God to “flow into” me through his word, through prayer and through the influence of other Christian believers, then my outflow is of the same character of Christ. What goes into a man is the same that flows out. If you put garbage in- you get garbage out.

 

 God is teaching me the influence of food into my body- when I flow into it good healthy foods and clear water- I feel good and my body is fueled properly, but the same holds true when I put garbage in- I feel sluggish and tired, my body can not perform as well.
 Your spirit needs to be fed as well, feed it well with the bread of life- the word of God, and you will experience an abundance of fruit pouring out. You will be filled with joy, peace, love, patience, kindness and goodness, and you’ll have self-control. Isn’t that the kind of bumper crop you want?

 

 Then when you are affecting others- they will feed on your fruit, and they will grow in Christ’s Character as well. It is a cause & effect that flows naturally. What flows in, flows out. What is coming out of your heart lately? How is your fruit? Do you need to spend more time with the Lord to build your strength? What kind of affect do you have on others?

 

Prayer
Lord, I know I have not spent enough time with you because my peace is not what it can be, help me to remember that I need you to flow into me, so you can flow out of me. Help me clean my thoughts and my heart, that you would always be first in my thoughts. Bind my mind to your mind that I may have the very same thoughts as you- that my priorities would be yours. Forgive me for my selfishness, and self- centeredness. Amen

 

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