"But the fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law" (Galatians, chapter 5, verses 22-23*).
All believers yearn for the fruit of the Spirit, but many lack confidence that they truly possess it. The fruit doesn't consist in what we do, but rather who we are. There are two principles that can help us recognize its manifestation both in other Christians and in ourselves.
Fruitful believers do not allow themselves to be controlled by the surrounding world. Everyone goes through trials and pain, but those who are filled with the Holy Spirit are not controlled by the situation they are in. They maintain their joy even when the circumstances are overwhelming (see Romans, chapter 5, verses 3-5). Since the Holy Spirit takes control, He can produce His fruit regardless of the circumstances. Although such believers may feel pain or anger, they choose to trust God to protect them and take care of the outcome.
Fruitful believers recover quickly after falling. These Christians are not perfect, but they are sensitive to the Spirit's conviction and are quick to repent to God. In fact, they are grateful for correction and praise God not only because He has revealed their weakness but also because He has brought them back onto the path of obedience.
Believers cannot develop this fruit in themselves on their own. The transformation of character happens when we surrender to God and give Him full control over our lives. Only then can the Holy Spirit produce lasting fruit in us, even during the most difficult periods of our lives.
Link to the original article: https://www.intouchuk.org/read/daily-devotions/looking-for-fruit
* Biblical quotes are from the Bible, new translation from the original languages © Bulgarian Bible Society 2013