July 12

I Chronicles 12:19-14:17, Romans 1:1-17, Psalm 9:13-20, Proverbs 19:4-5



Pray: Father, help me to look for the fruit of the spirit in others. When I find it, give me holy boldness to boldly ask them to impart seed into my life. Also, help me to ask and listen to these fruit tree saints as to whether they see ground in my life that needs tilling. Help me to understand that I have not, because I didn’t ask.

Read: Read Romans 1:11. Paul longs to visit with the believers living in Rome. He wants to give them some spiritual gift that will help them grow strong in the Lord. Now read Romans 1:13. Paul wants his Roman brothers in Christ to know that he had planned many times to visit them but had been prevented until now. Now, at last, he would get to work among them and see spiritual fruit. There is a process here.

Edify: There is a process here. We can impart seed but we cannot impart fruit. Seed is given. Fruit is grown. God is more than willing to give seed to the sower. And for that matter we can give seed (if we possess seed) to others. But the seed freely given must be planted and it must grow into a fruit tree. The fruit of the spirit in our lives does not grow overnight. It takes time to grow.

Practice: Practice looking for fruit trees. When you get to know another believer that has some special fruit like love or patience or faith take the time to ask them to lay hands on you and impart a seed of love or patience or faith that will one day turn into fruit in your life. Maybe they might be willing to cultivate the seed they planted in your life. Sometimes your heart is not really ready for the seed that is planted, but don’t give up. Continue to have those that impart seed to pray for you and to till your heart until the seed planted falls on good ground.