Cultivating Spiritual Fruit for an Abundant Marriage - Crosswalk Couples Devotional - January 7
Cultivating Spiritual Fruit for an Abundant Marriage
By: Jennifer Waddle
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)
Imagine a fruit tree in your backyard overloaded with an abundance of fruit ready for harvest. Each year, you cultivate the tree by watering it, feeding it, and pruning it because you know that proper care is necessary for it to remain healthy.
Abundant marriages require intentional care as well, but the real nourishment comes from the Holy Spirit, as stated in the familiar passage of Galatians 5:22-23, which says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
Caring for your marriage means walking in step with the Holy Spirit and actively following God’s lead. It’s about cultivating love, patience, kindness, and self-control, even when difficult. Here are some practical ways to cultivate Spiritual fruit for an abundant marriage:
Choose Love
Loving our spouses consistently isn’t about feelings but moment-by-moment decisions. Whether through words of affirmation, acts of service, or simply being by their side, it’s important to cultivate love above all. Even when you don’t feel it, choose to express love daily.
Create Joy
Create moments of joy by making memories, planning date nights, trying new hobbies, or getting away for a weekend. Reflect on God’s blessings and praise Him for the simple things that bring joy and happiness to your relationship.
Seek Peace
When daily tensions arise, seek peace first. Instead of allowing disagreements to escalate, pause, pray, and try to let things go. Take a walk or step outside to let things cool down. Then, come back together to discuss things peacefully. Remember James 3:18, which says, “Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”
Respond with Patience and Kindness
Remember, no one is perfect. When your spouse makes a mistake, approach the situation with an extra dose of patience and kindness. This will grow your relationship abundantly—especially as your spouse sees you responding with grace instead of blame.
Work on Goodness and Faithfulness
Do good for your spouse as often as possible. Be dependable, keep your word, and build a solid foundation of trust. Think of these Spiritual fruits as nourishment for the roots of your marriage and enrich the soil with as much goodness and faithfulness as possible.
Practice Self-Control
Self-control is one of the most difficult things to maintain in life and marriage. Tempers flare, and emotions rise, often causing unnecessary wounds. Instead of reacting harshly, take a moment to breathe, pray, and respond in love. This simple discipline can transform your marriage into the healthy relationship God intended.
Cultivating Spiritual fruit in your marriage takes time and intentionality, but the reward is an abundance of blessing and peace. Just as you would care for a tree by watering it, feeding it, and pruning it, care for your marriage in a similar way to produce a harvest of righteousness and peace.
A Prayer for Spiritual Fruit in Your Marriage
Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of marriage. We ask for Your guidance as we strive to cultivate the fruits of the Spirit. Help us express our love often, creating an atmosphere of joy and peace. Let patience be our first response in times of frustration, and let kindness flow naturally between us. Lord, please remind us of the importance of walking in step with Your Spirit, leaning fully on You during challenging times. Guide us to seek Your wisdom in the decisions that need to be made, trusting You to lead us in the way we should go. We ask that You bless our marriage with goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. Strengthen our foundation by enriching the soil upon which it was built. Please remind us to forgive quickly, removing any offenses that might try to steal our joy. Let our marriage be a reflection of You and a testament of abundant faith to those around us. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Related Resource: How to Make Your Prayer Habits Stick
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