December 17

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. — Gal 5:22-23

Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. — John 15:8

O Breath from out the Eternal Silence! blow
Softly upon our spirits’ barren ground;
The precious fulness of our God bestow,
That fruits of faith, love, reverence may abound.
—G. TERSTEEGEN.

Is it possible we should be ignorant whether we feel tempers contrary to love or no?—whether we rejoice always, or are burdened and bowed down with sorrow?—whether we have a praying, or a dead, lifeless spirit?—whether we can praise God, and be resigned in all trials, or feel murmurings, fretfulness, and impatience under them?—is it not easy to know if we feel anger at provocations, or whether we feel our tempers mild, gentle, peaceable, and easy to be entreated, or feel stubbornness, self-will, and pride? whether we have slavish fears, or are possessed of that perfect love which casteth out all fear that hath torment?
—HESTER ANN ROGERS.