Scripture for Today: Galatians 5:22-23 “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.”

I am not sure who Murphy is but I would like to have a word with him!  The old adage says, “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.”  There are many versions of how this saying came to be.  But in any case, the identity of Murphy, if ever real, has been lost.  His law was definitely at work on me as my computer crashed the same day as I dropped and broke my cell phone.  It was not a good day.  I hesitated to get into my car!

Today’s verse describes the Christ-like qualities that the Holy Spirit produces in a believer.  There will never be a law against these beautiful characteristics in any culture or in any century.  The previous verses describe behaviors for which all kinds of laws are needed.  But laws will never be needed to control or stifle these admirable qualities.  Even with Murphy’s Law, a Spirit-controlled person will respond to that horrible awful day in a different manner.

I guess I was not so Spirit-controlled as all those negatives happening at once caused me to lose it!  Where did the patience go?  What happened to forbearance and self-control?  Responding with the flesh is so much easier.  But some days I can laugh it off or at least take things in stride.  The toast landing wrong side down is the perfect litmus test of where my heart is with the Lord.  Regardless of what problems arise, I cannot respond like Him without His help.  It is only by His Spirit that I can keep it together!

Lord, keep me filled and controlled by Your Spirit today.