LOVE
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.
Resources to cultivate love:
Study Guides:
Five Love Languages, Small Group Study
Books:
What Love Is - Bible Study Book: The Letters of 1, 2, 3 John
Love Does by Bob Goff
One Way Love by Tullian Tchuvidian
Crazy Love by Francis Chan
JOY
The sense or state of gladness or elation that people experience through their relationship with God and through good things in their lives.
Resources to cultivate joy:
Books:
Undistracted by Bob Goff
The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness: the Path to True Christian Joy by Tim Keller
Choosing Joy by Dan Lord
Ten Words to Live By: Delighting In And Doing What God Commands by Jen Wilkin
Peace
More than just the absence of conflict or a state of rest, biblical peace means completeness or wholeness, and it points to the presence of something else.
Resources to cultivate peace:
Meditation:
Finding Joy + Peace When You Feel Stuck in Life
Experience God's Peace - Christian Meditation for Anxiety
Books:
Restoring Broken Relationships: The Path to Peace and Forgiveness
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
Live No Lies: Recognize and Resist Three Enemies that Sabotage Your Peace by John Mark Comer
Patience
Not giving way to anger, even in the face of provocation; it is attributed to both God and man and is closely related to mercy and compassion.
Resources to cultivate patience:
Podcasts:
Faithful & Patient
Developing Godly Patience; For Parents
God's Patience
Meditation:
Guided Meditation to Cultivate Patience
Christian Meditation: Rejoice in Hope, Be Patient in Tribulation
Prayer for Patience | Guided Christian Meditation
Books:
Patience (Nine Fruits of the Spirit)
Patience: Waiting with Hope
Patience and Humility
While You Wait: Finding Purpose in the “Not Yets”
Study guides:
Seven Spiritual Gifts of Waiting
Waiting: A Bible Study on Patience, Hope, and Trust
GOODNESS
Moral excellence, virtue, generosity, excellence of quality. Goodness is the learned ability to do the right thing, even when it’s difficult, and proactively avoid the temptation of evil.
Resources to cultivate goodness:
Books:
Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard
Good and Beautiful and Kind by Rich Villodas
The Deeply Formed Life by Rich Villodas
Study Guides:
Goodness (Nine Fruits of the Spirit)
KINDNESS
Kindness is selfless, compassionate, and merciful; its greatest power revealed in practice to our enemies and amongst the least of these. Love your neighbor; show kindness to everyone.
Resources to cultivate kindness:
Podcasts:
Why Kindness and Compassion
Devotional Podcast: Christian Kindness w/ Kaitlyn
True Kindness: Beyond Being Nice
Meditation:
In Pursuit of Kindness
A Christian loving kindness meditation
Lovingkindness 20 min (The Mindful Christian)
Loving Kindness Meditation (5 minutes)
Study Guides:
Kindness (Nine Fruits of the Spirit)
The God Who Knows Your Name
Courageous Kindness: Live the Simple Difference…
Books:
Training the Mind and Cultivating Loving-Kindness
The Law of Kindness
FAITHFULNESS
Faithfulness is a firm in adherence to promises or in observance of duty, regardless of ones situation or emotions. Faithfulness knows that the best qualities are grown slowly over time and is willing to put in the work over the long haul.
Resources to cultivate faithfulness:
Podcasts:
Unschooled and Ordinary
Can I Be the Me God Created?
How Do We Remain Faithful in an Increasingly Hostile Culture?
Meditation:
The Fruit of the Spirit is Faithfulness (Marriage)
Faithfulness- We are Loved and Saved
Faith Over Fear
Better to Lose Your Life Than Waste It
Present Your Bodies As a Living Sacrifice to God
Study Guides:
Now That Faith Has Come: A Study of Galatians
No More Excuses
A Proven, Active, Faithful Walk (a study of James)
Encountering God: Spiritual Disciplines
Faithfulness: Nine Fruits of the Spirit
Books:
Unto Others: Rediscovering the Golden Rule
More than a Battle
Suffer Strong: How to Survive Anything by Redefining Everything
Flooded: The 5 Best Decisions to Make When Life Is Hard and Doubt Is Rising
GENTLENESS
Gentleness is power over one’s Spirit that exudes meekness and humility, especially around those who are hurting or need grace.
Resources to cultivate gentleness:
Study Guides:
Gentleness (Nine Fruits of the Spirit)
Books:
The Quest for Meekness and Quietness of Spirit by Matthew Henry
SELF-CONTROL
Self-control helps us to resist temptation and avoid conforming to the things of this world. It guides our decisions, and it correlates with how we show the other fruits in our lives.
Resources to cultivate self-control:
Books:
The Deeply Formed Life by Rich Villodas
Renovation of the Heart by Dallas Willard
The Life You’ve Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People by John Ortburg