The Fruit of the Spirit Study Week One
Welcome! So delighted that you have come to visit on the Front Porch today. Pull up a chair, grab a hot cup of java, and open your Bible to the book of Psalms. Stay for five minutes or as long as you can. You’re encouraged to leave comments on A Woman’s Fellowship/Ministry Page where this study is posted, but you’re also welcome to comment on my WordPress website. I’ll jump into the conversation from time-to-time, too. Are you ready to begin? Let’s go!
Week 1: Intro
Spiritual Renewal for the New Year
Psalms 51 (See 2 Samuel 11-12:15 for further study)
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalms 51:10 NKJV).
Do you make New Year’s Resolutions? Most of us vow to diet and exercise after months of feasting over the holidays. That’s great for our physical bodies, but what about our spirits? How do we get them in shape?
How do we get our spirits in shape?Like King David, let’s begin with prayer to cleanse our spirits from sin. He prays, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Psalms 51:7). David asks the Lord to restore the joy of his salvation and sustain him with a willing spirit. His request isn’t selfish, as we might expect, but he desires restoration so that he can help other sinners find salvation. Then he states he will joyfully sing of God’s righteousness and declare His praise.
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise” (Psalms 51:17).
As we enter a fresh start in 2019, let’s make a list of spiritual resolutions. What can you do differently to grow closer to God this year? Spend more time in prayer? Read and study more in the Word? How is the Lord leading you to be more involved this year? (Share your commitment in the comments below.)
Dear Lord, may we begin the New Year with a clean, pure heart in Your sight. Cleanse us with your blood and clothe us with your righteousness. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.
Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much ~ James 5:16.
I am thrilled to be in this study group. Monday is a perfect day as it sets the mood for the week.
Thank you for this extra push that I so need for my spiritual well being.
So glad to have you here, Sandra! Have a blessed day! ❤️
Karen, As we begin the first lesson in our new Heart”wings” “Front Porch” Bible Studies series, I am thankful that you started out by having us pray about and consider the condition of our hearts. Thank you for your humble obedience to His call as you prepare and host these lessons. May many, many hearts grow closer to God through the lessons for His purpose and glory. j
Yes, I’m very thankful the Lord has called me to lead this year. I agree with your prayer that many hearts be drawn to Him and surrender their lives even more in obedience to His Word. May the Lord be glorified here as we study and grow together. ❤️
First off, let me say I’m so excited about what God is doing here at the Heart”wings” Front Porch Bible Study!” Thank you, dear Karen for answering the call and putting in the hours and hours to bring this to us! I know God will reward you greatly!
I love the song of verses 10-12 in Psalm 51 : ♥♪♫•✞*¨Create in me a clean heart*•✞.♪♫•*¨Oh, Lord, my God!♪*✞•♫♪ And renew a right spirit within me. ✞♪♫ Create in me a clean heart ✞♪♫•And renew a right spirit within me✫♥*♪•.♪♫ within me!•*♪*•♫♪ Cast me not away♪♫♪•✫*from Thy Presence, oh, Lord.♪♫♪✫♥Take not Your Holy Spirit from me!*•♫♪ Restore to me the joy Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ♫• of my salvation✞•*¨*♪*and renew a right spirit within me.✫*✞*•.♪♫within me.*♪•*✞♪♫.•*ღ(̆̃̃ڿڰۣ✿
I also love verse 6: “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.” It’s what’s deep inside of us that matters, not how we appear on the outside. So what if we’re in church every Sunday and even read the Bible and pray for an hour every day . . . if deep on the inside, we are still liars, thieves, and cheats . . . we need to turn from our wicked ways! The Truth IS Jesus. No lie is acceptable.
In the hidden parts, down deep in us, “HE WILL REVEAL and make me KNOW WISDOM!” What a promise! Hallelujah!
I love that song too, Caryl. Jesus is our fountain of living water from which we can drink and never thirst again. I’m so grateful to Him for His precious blood that cleanses us from our sin. That’s something to shout joyfully about!
The Lord taught me years ago that the most important thing to Him is the heart. I agree with you, we must all turn from our wicked ways and turn to Jesus. He will fill us with His Holy Spirit and lead us into truth, wisdom, and knowledge. Amen 🙏🏻
I am so excited about this new study. Thank you Karen, for leading us and encouraging us. I don’t usually make new year’s resolutions. But, I am very interested in making a spiritual resolution. I want to be very intentional about my Bible reading and Bible study. I don’t want to rush through any Scripture reading. I plan to relax, take a deep breath and soak in God’s Word every time I read His message. 🙂
I agree, dear Mimi, that slowing down and soaking in the Word is the best way to grow deeply. I’m looking forward to growing with you this year! So glad you’re here! xoxo
I didn’t answer the question! 🙂 Like Melissa, I don’t make New Year Resolutions either. In the flesh and in the ministry of writing Christian fiction, I must plan ahead (as you know) so I keep an attitude of God Willing . . . I’ll do this or that.
In my lifetime, back in the ’70s, I had a pastor who stayed open to the leading of God’s Holy Spirit. He’d get behind the pulpit and start preaching and then stop, announce Holy Spirit was redirecting him, then give a completely different “highly anointed” sermon.
SO anointed, sometimes I could almost see God’s anointing as a shaft of light coming down on Him. Those teachings touched deep in my heart and served as a mighty example of the value of always led by the Holy Spirit. It’s made such a difference in my life.
Just as we picked up and took off on a 4300+ mile journey on the Oregon Trial last month, —basically leaving ‘the next day’ for all practical purposes, because from the Wednesday Ron asked, to the Sunday we left, we spent Thurs, Fri, and Sat traveling to see our grandson graduate from Texas A & M (a five hour trip each way) 🙂
Anyway, like we picked up and went on the nudge God’s leading, I want to be ready to change my plan’s at a moment’s notice to obey Him and do or go wherever He leads!
Obedience is how I grow closer. Each step I take to obey is a step toward His throne and His presence. Obedience to the Logos and Rhema Word. <3
Yes, I totally agree with you, Caryl. We must stay open to the leading of the Holy Spirit and be obedient to change direction if He desires. Your trip sounds marvelous and I’m glad you were blessed to go on that adventure. Blessings! xoxo
I didn’t answer the question! 🙂 Like Melissa, I don’t make New Year Resolutions either. In the flesh and in the ministry of writing Christian fiction, I must plan ahead (as you know) so I keep an attitude of God Willing . . . I’ll do this or that.
In my lifetime, back in the ’70s, I had a pastor who stayed open to the leading of God’s Holy Spirit. He’d get behind the pulpit and start preaching and then stop, announce Holy Spirit was redirecting him, then give a completely different “highly anointed” sermon.
SO anointed, sometimes I could almost see God’s anointing as a shaft of light coming down on Him. Those teachings touched deep in my heart and served as a mighty example of the value of always led by the Holy Spirit. It’s made such a difference in my life.
Just as we picked up and took off on a 4300+ mile journey on the Oregon Trial last month, —basically leaving ‘the next day’ for all practical purposes, because from the Wednesday Ron asked, to the Sunday we left, we spent Thurs, Fri, and Sat traveling to see our grandson graduate from Texas A & M (a five hour trip each way) 🙂
Anyway, like we picked up and went on the nudge God’s leading, I want to be ready to change my plan’s at a moment’s notice to obey Him and do or go wherever He leads!
Obedience is how I grow closer. Each step I take to obey Him is a step toward His throne and His presence. Obedience to the Logos and Rhema Word. <3
I’m getting a late start to this party, but I want to join in. I have a focus this year of Alacrity – liveliness, eagerness, enthusiasm. And though I haven’t made an actual resolution, the Lord put it on my heart to join a ladies’ Bible study – something I haven’t done in over a decade. But He’s already given me such enthusiasm for studying His word. It’s been building over the last 6 or 7 years, but this year is different. I look forward every morning to seeing what He has for me. So I’m delighted to find you leading a study as well, and it will fit in perfectly with the other one that I’m doing. Looking forward to worshiping with y’all!
That’s wonderful, Marji! So excited to have you join in. Your focus will in perfect harmony with our study on the fruit of the Spirit. This first month is our introduction where we’re preparing our hearts to receive the Word, and beginning in February, we’ll study one fruit each month, except for April and December. I’ll have a special study for Easter and Christmas, which will round out the year. Looking forward to the Lord’s rich blessings! So glad you’re here, dear friend. ❤️ xoxo