soul journey 
When we choose to follow Jesus, we’re not just adopting a set of beliefs — we’re inviting His Spirit to live within us. This isn’t just a symbolic presence; it’s transformative. The Spirit of God reshapes our character from the inside out, and the evidence of that transformation is visible in how we live, love, and respond to the world around us.
The Fruit of the Spirit: A Mark of True Discipleship
The Apostle Paul paints a vivid picture of what a life filled with the Spirit looks like in Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV):
“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.”
These qualities aren’t something we manufacture through willpower or effort. They grow naturally from a heart surrendered to Jesus. Just like fruit grows from a healthy tree, spiritual fruit is the natural outcome of living close to God.
What’s On the Inside Comes Out
Jesus said, “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart…” (Luke 6:45). What’s inside eventually shows. If our hearts are filled with the Spirit, then our words, our actions, and our responses — even under pressure — will reflect that divine influence.
Kindness that doesn’t expect anything in return, peace in the midst of chaos, patience when it’s hard — these are signs of something deeper happening within us. This isn’t about perfection, but direction. Are we growing more like Jesus?
How to Know If You Have the Spirit and Are Being Transformed
- You See Change in Your Character Over Time
Are you more patient, more joyful, more forgiving than you used to be? The Spirit changes us from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18). Transformation may be slow, but it’s steady. - You Desire What God Desires
Instead of chasing what the world values, your heart longs for righteousness, mercy, and closeness with God (Matthew 5:6). - You Love Others More Deeply
True love is the first fruit mentioned — and for good reason. “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:8). When we love even those who are hard to love, that’s the Spirit at work. - Conviction, Not Condemnation
The Spirit convicts us gently when we fall short, but doesn’t condemn us. Instead, He leads us to repentance and restoration (Romans 8:1). - Your Life Points to Jesus
When people see your kindness, your patience, your faith — do they see Jesus reflected in you? That’s the goal: to be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29).
Final Thought:
Living by the Spirit is a daily walk. It means yielding to God in every area of life, trusting that He is cultivating something beautiful in us. We don’t have to force the fruit — we simply need to stay rooted in Him.
“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.” – John 15:4
Let the fruit of the Spirit grow in you — quietly, steadily, and powerfully — as the evidence that Christ truly lives within you.
