Papaya! Have you had a papaya? I love papaya and one of my favorite things is finding good fruit on a tree and picking it. I had found a lovely looking papaya once and carried it back to where I was at the time, holding it with delight and appreciation. I cut it open to enjoy and AH! It is filled with maggots. Excitement crushed, filled with disgust – depleted, grossed out – what looked fruit full was lost.

Unfortunately, a lot of us are exactly like that papaya – look perfect on the outside but, are actually completely corrupt, broken, dark and lost…

You might fool others living in the same manner, but you cannot hide the truth from God – He sees through everything and knows it ALL. If that doesn’t get you stirring to face some things then maybe you have just accepted being overrun by rot and ruled by darkness.

I can say these things in this manner because I know what it is like to think I was good but really be totally like that papaya – accepting seeds of lies, living “just the way it is” type life, thinking I was doing “okay” but also seeing that nothing was actually progressing. Thank God (!), I called out for His help and was ready to shift into real fruitfulness.

While the shifting is an ongoing process – I plant in myself differently now and can see, feel, taste, be and receive greater and with actual progress. Matthew 7:16-17 says, “By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.”

What are fruits and how are we to recognize “them” by their fruit?

As a mom, I think it is obvious to see my child as a fruit and I make sure that I show them how I am a “good tree” and to produce “good fruit” in each day. There is also the every day fruits that most don’t always think about – words you say, how you present yourself, the energy you put out (and let in)… Almost everything is a fruit and deserves proper evaluating. Do you cuss? Do you worry? Are you grateful at all times and about all?

Did you know that you cannot be upset or anxious at the same time as grateful? Your brain literally cannot do both, it is either one or the other – one is good and gives life and the other creates sickness – which do you prefer? Seems like an easy enough question and yet people will agree and then act in accordance with the world instead of the Word.

Sound impossible to get around?

Thankfully, we are not left to our own understanding and have been given tools to practice and shape into our own, becoming the trees that give the fruits to good living – to others and ourselves both abundantly and concurrently.

I was able to see how I fell for the enemies lies at an early age and so I know the importance of being a God fearing mama and making sure I represent all that God has worked out of me and made me into, while also establishing easy tools for my child to practice and integrate daily. So, they not only know how to go against the grain of the world, they also know they have a proper foundation and sounding board with me… parenting is tough and I’m not at all saying that I have figure it out. Sharing all of this to catch your attention and maybe provide some help along your progress as well.

We are given a beautiful instruction and imagery with the fruit of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 “But, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against, such things there is no law.” No law means that you can never use these wrong, you never out use them and honestly the more you use them the more you grow and become. In order to get us into a rhythm with these, Holy Spirit led me to read this for us and then ask which fruit we should focus on to practice. Then, it turned into a jingle to sing and enjoy – sinking into the brain and heart more – music is so powerful in effecting one’s life. I have also created a small downloadable image that can be printed, looked and practiced along with (you can find that here). I will add the jingle to this post so that you can hear it and add into your own rhythm of progress – it is simple but, sticks.

I just want to encourage you to take a look at yourself for real, take a look at your days and ask the very raw question of: “Am I producing good fruit..?” Please take those moments with care and make sure Jesus is with you to help in the questioning, pruning and growing. You are worth the fruitfulness! If any of this catches your attention or makes you think of someone else, please pass it along as a means of betterment and if you feel compelled in your heart to add a donation, you can do so below the post – this keeps me going and authentic keeping my content without ads.

Listen to the jingle once and then join me the second time. You are worth it and God Bless!