A Prayer Based On Galatians 5:22-24

Christians say many prayers that revolve around them living in holiness and growing in Christlikeness. It is through praying that they will continue to show mercy towards their enemies, doing them good, which is like heaping burning coals toward them (Romans 12:20 “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.). It could also be that they would continually abhor that which is evil and do only that which is good to others, outdoing them in showing honor (Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.). Another common prayer that Christians pray is that they will continually display the fruit of the Spirit in their lives, not by their own power and work, of course, but by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Heavenly Father, I pray that the fruit of the Spirit will continually be evident in my life, in how I talk, act, and think, so that Christ may be seen in my life and bring glory to the Father. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Why Do We Pray For The Fruit of the Spirit In Our Lives?

As Christians, we pray and desire for the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. But why is that so? It is because being believers means that we have the new heart of new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ezekiel 36:26). Being a new creature with a new heart that has been transformed from stone to flesh means that we now have new desires, namely to glorify God and honor Him, which means that we desire to live a holy life and grow to become more like His Son Jesus. Hence, out of that desire comes praying that the fruit of the Spirit will continue to be more evident in our lives and that we will grow in it, even if there are times when we are challenged to exercise it. The fruit of the Spirit consists of all virtues found in Christ. Desiring to become like Christ also means desiring that we will live out the fruit of the Spirit.

However, it is important to note that whenever we pray for the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, we are praying for the “fruit” and not the “fruits” of the Spirit. This is interesting because if we look at Galatians 5:22-24, we see love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control as the fruit of the Spirit in our lives, meaning that when we pray, we don’t just pray for one or two of those virtues. Rather, we desire all of them, as they are all part of one fruit that He produces in our lives.

We pray to the Holy Spirit regarding the fruit of the Spirit. It is something that the Holy Spirit produces in us. Indeed, we have a responsibility to fulfill—keeping in step with the Spirit and living by the Spirit—because how can one expect to grow and exercise the fruit of the Spirit if one lives by the flesh? Still, in the end, it is the Holy Spirit’s work in us (Galatians 5:25; Philippians 2:13). With that, we pray to the Holy Spirit, knowing that it is His grace and power that enables us to live and exercise the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Even when we find it hard to respond to the fruit of the Spirit, the strength we find in Christ allows us to respond by exercising the fruit of the Spirit (Philippians 4:13).

Father in heaven, give me the grace to grow in Christlikeness and always exercise the fruit of the Spirit in my life. Help me always be patient with others, loving, kind, showing goodness to all, and trustworthy in my faithfulness. May I always be gentle and self-controlled and always maintain joy and peace. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

How Do We Pray Galatians 5:22-24?

We pray Galatians 5:22-24 or the fruit of the Spirit by simply asking God or the Holy Spirit to empower us and give us the grace to grow and live out the fruit of the Spirit, which will be evident by how we live our lives. In John 14:26, it is written that the Holy Spirit is our helper. This does not only mean that the Holy Spirit will help us to remember and guide us into all truth, but rather that the Holy Spirit is the One who helps us as we live our Christian lives. It means that whenever we need strength to preach the Gospel, to uphold moral fortitude and purity, it includes living by the fruit of the Spirit.

Aside from asking God or the Holy Spirit to empower us and give us the grace to grow and live out the fruit of the Spirit, we can also pray and ask for the grace to not live by the flesh but to always live by the Spirit and keep in step with Him (Galatians 5:25). If we live by the flesh, how can we expect to exercise the fruit of the Spirit? The flesh and the spirit are always at war with each other. Ultimately, we pray to the Holy Spirit out of dependence on His power and grace at work in our lives. Titus 2:11-12 tells us that God’s grace appeared not just to save us from sin but also to allow us to renounce ungodliness and its worldly passions so that we may live godly, upright, and self-controlled lives.

Holy Spirit, help me never to gratify the desires of the flesh but always to walk and live by You and keep in step with You. As I keep in step with You, empower me and give me the grace to exercise the fruit of the Spirit in my life, especially when it seems hard to do. May I grow in them and live them out, not just for the sake of doing, but as being someone who is growing in Christlikeness. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

When we exercise the fruit of the Spirit, it is not just about doing but being. In other words, our aim is not to be better in doing but to grow in being Christlike. Whenever we practice the fruit of the Spirit, we practice it because it is who we are in Christ.