Be Transformed by the Fruits of the Holy Spirit

 

How often do you think about the Holy Spirit? If you are like most Catholics, you probably know that you received the Holy Spirit at Baptism and Confirmation. You might even remember at least some of the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit from your religious education classes. However, many of us do not make a conscious effort to invite the Holy Spirit into our lives on a regular basis. The Holy Spirit is within us, but we need to work with the Spirit to gain the full potential of that gift.

In Let Go of Anger and Stress: Be Transformed by The Fruits of the Spirit, Gary Zimak emphasizes the importance of working with the Holy Spirit. “Learning to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit is the secret to finding the peace you seek and living the life that God planned for you.”

By virtue of our Baptism and Confirmation, we have the power of the Holy Spirit available to us. It is a gift that has been given. However, “having the ‘power’ means nothing unless I make a conscious decision to open the box and use it.” One of the most powerful prayers we can use to invite the Holy Spirit to work in our lives is “Come, Holy Spirit.”

Zimak examines each of the Fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. For each Fruit, he describes what it is and how it manifests itself in our lives. He also shares concrete steps to encourage the development of that fruit.

We all can benefit from cultivating the Fruits of the Spirit in our lives. Zimak reminds us that it is, however, a life-long process. We need to invite the Spirit to work in us every day, if not several times a day. Due to our human nature and tendency to sin, we will have setbacks even as we work to grow in holiness. The important thing is to keep trying.

Let Go of Anger and Stress is a practical, down-to-earth handbook for inviting the Holy Spirit into our lives and cultivating the Fruits of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is within us, waiting for us to cooperate with the Spirit and grow in holiness. If you want a more joy-filled, peaceful, God-centered life, acting on this book’s lessons will help you achieve that goal.