Focused On The Root Not The Fruit

Today, Monday September 28 - Maybe you are like me, as over the years and especially in my early ones as a young believer, I did my best to be a "good" follower of Jesus Christ.  And it seemed that the harder I tried to do the right and good things I should do, the more discouraged I would get, as I failed time and time again.  Over the years I began to realized the "truth", that I can't produce the fruit of the Spirit with the work of the flesh, but I need to trust (instead of trying) and enjoy the freedom that comes when I simply obey the promptings of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit and then He produces the fruit!!!!  For the next several days we are going to look at 1 Timothy 4:7-8, where the Apostle Paul is encouraging his son in the faith, Timothy, to "discipline yourself for the sake of godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and and also for the life to come...." May the Lord bless you richly as you pursue a life of godliness! God bless!