Hearing from God Each Morning (July 1)

This blog is about today's devotion in the book Hearing from God Each Morning by Joyce Meyer.

The Bible says that we will "fully know them by their fruits" (Matthew 7:20). Today's devotion is about examining the fruit in both your life and the lives of others. This doesn't mean we judge them, but we do need to keep our eyes open for those living a genuine Christian life so we know who to follow and who to pray for.

But more important that examining the fruit in others' lives is examining the fruit in my own life. Sometimes I need to stop and look at my own life. Am I really living up to what I believe? Am I being patient, loving, kind? Am I listening to the Spirit when He presses me to do things?

The answer is this: the fruit in my life is not always the fruit of the Spirit. When I am at church and with friends, most of the time it appears that I am the good, Christian girl I claim to be. But at home, I am often times rude, greedy, and all around rough. I can blame it all I want on the environment and how no one else really knows God blah blah blah. But the truth is, part of it is me. I've stayed quiet and turned down my faith in the presence of my family before, but not anymore! That's not what God wants! God wants me to be me ALL THE TIME. And that is what I plan to do.

Anyone reading this: Please hold me accountable to this. It's something I need to work on.