“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
In plain words: When God's Spirit lives in a person, He grows good things in them, like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. No law could ever be against any of these.
What Galatians 5:22-23 means.
Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. You don’t have to find it on your own. The Spirit grows it in you.
Common questions about Galatians 5:22-23
What does "fruit of the Spirit" mean?
Think of an apple tree. It doesn't strain to make apples. They grow because of the life inside the tree. In the same way, the Spirit is God's own presence, and He lives in everyone who trusts Jesus. When He lives in you, He grows good things in your character: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are not a list of rules to carry out. They are what a life with God slowly starts to look like. [[Galatians 5:22-23]]
Apply it today: Choose one of the nine in this verse that you would like more of, and ask God in a short prayer to grow it in you today.
Do I have to make these things grow by trying really hard?
No, that is not the picture. Fruit grows when a branch stays joined to the vine. Jesus said that apart from Him we can do nothing. So the work is staying close to Him: reading His Word, praying, and spending time with others who follow Him. Growth takes time, and a slow day does not mean you have failed. If self-control feels hard, you don't have to find it on your own. You can ask God for help, and the Spirit is the one who grows it. [[John 15:4-5]]
Apply it today: Pause once today before you react to something, and ask God to help you with self-control.
What does "against such things there is no law" mean?
Laws are rules that say what people must not do. No judge has ever made a rule against love, joy, or kindness. No one gets in trouble for being patient or gentle. The writer, Paul, is saying these qualities are good all the way through. Just before this verse, he lists harmful things like hatred, jealousy, and angry fits. Those hurt people. The fruit of the Spirit does the opposite. It heals and builds people up. [[Galatians 5:19-21]]
Apply it today: Read Galatians 5:19-23 slowly and notice the difference between the two lists.
Ask anything about it.
Every question gets a clear answer in seconds, and a way to live it today.
Live it today.
Ask the Holy Spirit for self-control in the area where you struggle most today.
Pray it back.
Holy Spirit, grow self-control in me today.
Carry it all day.
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