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b'What\\u2019s your favorite fruit? How about a juicy Georgia peach, a cluster of green grapes, or some fresh-picked strawberries? (I like my strawberries dipped in chocolate, thank you!) \\nThink about where fruit comes from. It is not manufactured. There are no grapefruit factories or blueberry assembly plants. Fruit comes from a life process.\\nLeft to ourselves, what we \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153manufacture\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d is obvious: not such good stuff. The \\xe2\\u20ac\\u0153works of the flesh\\xe2\\u20ac\\x9d (or sin) are ugly, destructive, and damaging to our relationships with God and others.\\nThe fruit of the Spirit, on the other hand, although equally obvious, is quite different from what we produce on our own. When we know Jesus and set our minds on things of the Holy Spirit, He begins to dominate our thoughts and actions, producing the fruit of the Spirit:LOVE: caring for others the way God cares for us.JOY: finding contentment in Christ in spite of how crazy our circumstances might be.PEACE: seeking harmony and reconciliation instead of drama and conflict.PATIENCE: taking a deep breath and giving others (and ourselves!) a break.KINDNESS: responding without harshness or being short-tempered.GOODNESS: looking for what\\u2019s excellent in people and circumstances.FAITHFULNESS: being dependable.GENTLENESS: managing responsibility without dominating others.SELF-CONTROL: living a disciplined life rather than being self indulgent and out of control.\\nThe fruit of the Spirit is the result of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. In other words, we\\u2019re not able to produce it on our own. Just like a garden left to itself will grow lots of weeds, the fruit of the Spirit cannot grow in just any life. The fruit of the Spirit grows in a heart saved and cultivated by Christ. \\u2022 Jonathan DeCou\\n\\u2022 Which characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit is most challenging for you? \\n\\u2022 If you want to learn more about knowing Jesus, check out our \\u201cKnow Jesus\\u201d page!\\nI say then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. Galatians 5:16 (CSB)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\nGalatians 5:16-25'