We sing with our kids almost every day about the fruit of the Spirit. It’s a song that is one of their favorites about the Scriptures, based on, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22). There are times after we sing the song that I ask for examples of how they’ve demonstrated the fruit of the Spirit that day. They have to think a little about what it means to live and make decisions that conform to what they like to sing about. There are other times we talk about situations where they, or others they’ve seen that day, fell short. However, the point is that it’s often easy to read about praising God, loving Jesus or being a follower of Christ, but we should closely examine and understand what that means in the context of what we do each day—or refrain from doing. Praising God in song on Sunday morning may sound easy, but do we praise Him in our thanksgiving? “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” (Hebrews 13:15). It’s easy to be thankful when things go well, but do we have the mindset of Paul when Jesus told him that His strength was made perfect in weakness? Paul concluded, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power

The Psalmist addressed one of the most secret parts of man and revealed a characteristic that divides the wicked from the righteous. He said, “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts” (Psalm 10:4). It’s hard to argue with a divinely revealed judgment that pride is the root of this trait, but it also means that if there are times that God is not in our thoughts, then we have room to improve. In fact, God and Scripture judge our thoughts. Paul noted through a rhetorical question that we cannot know what anyone is thinking unless he tells us. “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?” (1 Corinthians 2:11a). It’s easy to think about God when we’re in trouble or need something special to happen in our lives, but do we think about God when we’re praised for doing well? Herod didn’t when he was complimented by the people for a speech, and God knew it. “And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost” (Acts 12:23). Does our pride prevent us from seeing God in others who are made in His image? He told us He is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). Or, do we think about God as we make plans? James admonished, “For that ye