Fruits of the Spirit: Goodness
"And God saw that it was good."
Seven times it was good. The sun, the seas, the plants, the animals, humankind, everything.
All of it was created good, but we seem to lose that somewhere along the way. We stumble, we fail, we lash out, we lie, we cheat. How can we get back to what we were meant to be?
The fruit of goodness doesn't mean that we never mess up. It doesn't mean that we won't fail. It means that we will recognize those moments quickly and strive to change them just as quickly, because the only way of living that fulfills us is one of goodness.
Goodness is lived out in our being the absolute best we can be. Goodness is lived out in actions and choices that are not just right, but are the best for us and for those around us. It includes the ability to see what is best through the eyes of faith and to act on it.
In today's challenge, actively try to do the best thing in your day in all situations. If something is hard, pray that the Holy Spirit will change your heart. It doesn’t have to be a long prayer – it can just be the words, "Holy Spirit, change my heart." Sometimes an invitation is all the Holy Spirit needs.