The “fruit of the Spirit” is something I heard frequently as a child growing up in a Christian church. But a familiar phrase like that loses its meaning when heard so often, especially when learning about it as a kid. I have images of grapes and bananas and apples in my head. But what does the fruit of the Spirit really mean?

For some reason, I am reminded of the Fruit of the Loom brand. They had very memorable TV commercials when I was a kid. Some of them included people dressed up as grapes and an apple… Maybe that’s where the images in my head came from.

The fruit of a loom literally means products (originally muslin fabric for the Fruit of the Loom company) that are created by the workings of a loom.

And likewise, the working of the Holy Spirit produces fruit.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.” (Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬-‭23‬, ‭CSB‬‬)

As a loom weaves muslin fabrics, the Holy Spirit weaves beautiful love and joy and peace….

When I accepted Jesus’s salvation, He promised to send His Spirit to live in me until His return. The Spirit is always with me to remind me of Jesus’s commands, to guide me, and to comfort me. If I let the Spirit work in my life and affect me, He will weave great things for me: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

If I am lacking joy, maybe my loom has gone still. I have neglected the voice of God too many times. To regain peace in my life, I need to set the Spirit to weaving again.

Dear God,

Thank you for installing your Spirit in my heart. I’m sorry for closing my ears to His warnings and reminders. Open my heart to all that your Spirit wants me to hear so I can be filled with your fruit today.