Bad Mood or Good Fruit

After an explosion of emotional chaos, my children and I sat down at the table to eat dinner. Everyone had a bad mood, including myself. We waited in our chairs with scowls on our faces for someone else to volunteer to pray over the meal so we could eat. After a few moments of quiet grumbles, I decided we all should pray.

Leading by example, I started to pray. But, instead of offering hollow thanks I uttered a prayer of repentance. “I’m sorry.”

My daughters moved from their chairs and wrapped their arms around me. Tears filled my eyes as I continued. My oldest prayed next, following suit. His brother resisted at first, but eventually prayed a prayer of healing. My five-year-old daughter’s turn was next.

“I just don’t want to,” she moaned.

We waited.

Her younger sister chimed in, telling God how much she loved Him. Three of my four children began to eat while my five-year-old turned her face into the chair grunting.

“Why do I have to?” she asked.

“Let me ask everyone a question first,” I began. “How many of us have had perfect, good-attitudes today?”

My four-year-old raised her hand, and we all giggled.

“How many of us have had a bad attitude today?”

Everyone else raised their hand.

“If we have bad attitudes we’re probably missing out on the fruits of the Spirit, aren’t we? Do you remember what they are?”

My children listed them off, “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

“And how do you grow fruit?”

“With sun, water, and good soil.” They took turns answering.

“But you’re missing something really important!” I said.

“Time!” My oldest answered, “Lots and lots of time.”

“You’re still missing the most important thing,” I smiled. “If I have sunlight, water, good soil, and time I still can’t grow fruit without what?”

“Ohhhhhhhhh,” his face lit up. “SEEDS!”

“That’s right, and how do we get seeds for love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”

“When we have an opportunity to be loving and kind?” My oldest asked.

“Well, when we act with love it means that we already have the fruit of love growing in our lives—we have love to give. But, how do we get the seeds?”

Several guesses came pouring in. I interjected when I heard the word “heaven.”

“God gives us the seeds,” I told them. “But how can we get seeds from someone we don’t talk to?”

Their eyes widened with understanding. “We have to pray, give thanks, and worship.”

“Yes, and read the bible.” I beamed. “God’s word is the seed in our lives, and the devil will do everything he can to keep us from talking to God because he knows that God’s word produces the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.”

“But why do I have to pray out loud?” my daughter asked, still stung with frustration.

“Revelation 21:11 says that we overcome the devil by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. When we pray aloud our prayers become part of our testimony.”

“I don’t even know what ‘testimony’ means,” she groaned.  

“It means I had a bad attitude, but then I prayed as asked God to help me. Talking to God put seeds of patience in my heart, and now I’m working through my bad attitude. Testimony is when we talk about the ways God helps us overcome.”

When my children finished eating and left the table, I sat there thinking on our conversation. I had never considered outward prayer to be part of my testimony, but I couldn’t shake what the Holy Spirit was trying to show me.

The word “testimony” is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “a formal written or spoken statement, especially one given in a court of law; evidence or proof provided by the existence or appearance of something; and a public recounting of a religious conversation or experience.”  

The action of praying to God is evidence of faith. It’s a declaration of belief; an act of trust. When I take the time to pray aloud, I’m making a public statement of my faith in God. It’s a testimony!

In Matthew 13, Jesus tells the parable of the sower. In this chapter, seeds are referenced as “the message” and “the word.” The Word of God is the seed in my life. When I take in His word with understanding, I allow the fruit of the Spirit to grow in my life. The fruit of the Spirit becomes action, and action becomes evidence. (Faith with works).

I cleared the table with a new perspective. If I was going to be more loving, kind, patient, good, gentle, faithful and have restraint, then I needed to spend more time talking to Him, buried in His word.

His word would be the seed planted in my heart.

“But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its caried expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit…” (Galatians 5:22, 23a TPT)