When we compromise our faith by seeking the pleasures and following the paths of this world our walls of spiritual security crack and sometimes completely collapse. The result: stolen fruit.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Galatians 5:22-23

When our fruit is stolen:

• Love is replaced with hatred.
• Joy is replaced with sorrow.
• Peace is replaced with conflict and anxiety.
• Patience is replaced impatience.
• Kindness is replaced with harshness.
• Goodness is replaced with wickedness.
• Faithfulness is replaced with fickleness.
• Gentleness is replaced with hardness. 
• Self-Control is replaced with indulgence.

How do we keep our walls strong so our fruit won’t be stolen?

• Stay in the Word of God.
• Stay obedient to God.
• Stay surrendered to God.

This verse hits home when I replace Israel with Wendy.

Oh, that my people would listen to me! Oh, that Israel would follow me, walking in my paths!

Psalm 81:13

Oh, that Wendy would listen to me! Oh, that Wendy would follow me, walking in my paths!

Stop the stealing of my fruit.

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