The Fruit of the Spirit Study Week 33: Goodness
Welcome to our fourth and final study on the sixth fruit of the Spirit, GOODNESS. Goodness is a main attribute of God, and all His promises for us are good. As children of God, we have the legal right to claim every one of them for our lives. Which promises are you standing on?
“And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises.”
2 Peter 1:4
This week we will have our scriptures attached to each category of God’s promises. You can read each one by clicking directly on the scripture reference.
Right now the hymn, “Standing on the Promises of God,” is playing in my memory. Our church frequently sang it on Sunday mornings–such a good reminder as we began a new week. Let’s refresh our spirits as we begin this new week by remembering some of God’s good promises from His Word.
A long life…
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.”
Exodus 20:12 NKJV
See Psalm 34:11-14
Good plans for our lives…
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV
More scriptures: Romans 8:28, Psalm 103:2-5.
Redeemed through salvation in Christ…
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
1 John 1:9 NKJV
Also see John 8:16, Revelation 3:5, Romans 10:9-10, Romans 6:23.
Blessed with His love and peace…
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV
More references: Isaiah 54:10, Psalm 86:5, Proverbs 1:33, John 14:27, Romans 8:37-39.
Strengthened to be victorious overcomers…
“He gives power to the weak,
Isaiah 40:29-31 NKJV
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.”
Additional scriptures: Isaiah 41:10, Isaiah 43:1-3
Delivered out of trouble…
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,Hungry and thirsty,
Their soul fainted in them.
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
And He delivered them out of their distresses.Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
Psalm 107:1-3, 5-6, 8-9 NKJV
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
For He satisfies the longing soul,
And fills the hungry soul with goodness.”
See Isaiah 54:17, John 8:36, Psalm 34:17
Blessed through tithing…
“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,
Malachi 3:10 NKJV
That there may be food in My house,
And try Me now in this,”
Says the Lord of hosts,
“If I will not open for you the windows of heaven
And pour out for you such blessing
That there will not be room enough to receive it.”
Provision for our physical needs…
“Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
Matthew 6:26 NKJV
Also Philippians 4:19, Matthew 6:31-33
A place prepared for us in heaven…
“‘In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.'”
John 14:2-3 NKJV
Healing the land…
“‘If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.””
II Chronicles 7:14 NKJV
More scriptures: Genesis 9:8-17, Genesis 8:22
The benefit of discipline…
“Train up a child in the way he should go,
Proverbs 22:6
And when he is old he will not depart from it. “
Also see Hebrews 12:3-11
Trusting God for direction…
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
Proverbs 3:5-6
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
The list of promises continues and is longer than I could possibly write here. Which promises are you standing on? If not mentioned above, please share the ones that are special to you.
Nothing is more powerful than praying God’s Word back to Him. Please join me in Paul’s prayer of blessing found in Ephesians 3:16-21.
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:16-21 NIV
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
What a glorious ending to this fruit of the Spirit! Rehearsing God’s promises refreshes our hearts and minds. No matter what you may be dealing with in your personal life today, Jesus is the answer. Pray His promises back to Him. Stand firm and be encouraged. God will always bring His Word to pass, and His Word never fails. We can trust God completely.
Next month we will be studying about one of my favorite fruits–FAITHFULNESS. I’m looking forward to October, and I’ll be saving you a seat on the “Front Porch!”
I got up earlier than usual to have my quiet time with you before my husband interrupts.
I especially took notes on Isaiah 40:29-31. John 14:2-3. and Proverbs 3:5-6.
I would add nothing to this wonderful Bible study.
I’m fortunate because we are hours ahead so therefore, I always get the best seat in the house.
You have so much going on in your life and yet you are so dedicated in spreading the word.
I’ve grown so much in my faith but I am aware I have so much more to learn.
I’ll never give up especially when I have the Lord and godly people such as you in my court.
I pray that you will have the stamina to care for your mom.
My prayers are with you always.
Thank you sister in Christ.
I’m so glad you joined me early
today, dear Sandra. It’s such a joy to converse with you over God’s Word. My favorite promise is Jeremiah 29:11, but all of His promises are wonderful. They make us feel so loved and protected in His strong arms. What an amazing God we serve!
Thank you for your prayers. Mother’s foot is healing rapidly and the pain is minimal. Returning your loving prayers. Blessings and hugs ❤️xoxo
What a great study! I look forward to the next one on faithfulness. 🙂
Hi Mimi—thanks for joining us today. Aren’t God’s promises so encouraging to read! Let’s dwell on them all week. Hugs and blessings, sweet friend. ❤️xoxo
Amen. His promises are encouraging and comforting. Have a wonderful week dear friend. Hugs.
Psalm 34:8 contains one of my favorite promises: “O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” I love the promise that if we will just taste, we will see that the Lord is good! It requires an action on our part. Taken in context with the preceding verses, we experience this “taste” when we rely on God during our times of distress: “This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.” And the 2nd half of the verse ties it to “who takes refuge in Him”. Our troubles reveal the goodness of God when we take refuge in Him, and if we will just “taste” it. Taste means to perceive or experience the flavor of, and to try or test the flavor. His promises are just “tastes” of His goodness, and all that is to come. Everyone who “tastes” finds they hunger for more.
When we experience His goodness, it becomes more than a word, beyond what we can comprehend, because it is only a “taste”. Each taste makes me love Him more, and want to please Him more! With each taste, we only want more! Jesus said in Mark 10:18: “No one is good except God alone.” That’s why His goodness is such a hard concept, but we are promised that we can get a “taste” of it! Whew! What a promise! Taste & see!
Wow, I love your comment, Becky. I agree with you—the more we taste, the more we crave His goodness. He satisfies the longings of our soul and fills us to overflowing with His love. Yes, what a wonderful promise! How comforting to know we can rely on His goodness in times of trouble if we just “taste and see that the Lord is good.” ❤️xoxo
Karen, I love visiting your page. I enjoy reading the comment’s as much as I enjoy the lessons! Hugs and blessings, dear friend. Praying your mom is better soon!
Thanks for your prayers, Gail. I love having you visit! (Sorry this reply is so late–somehow I missed it!) Hugs and prayers back to you, sweet friend. xoxo