Connection is a craving deep within our soul. It’s a biological drive that seeks a feeling of belonging and to be really known by others. We were created to connect to God, others and ourselves. This natural connection allows us to grow and flourish together.

True connections grow when we feel safe and comfortable with who we are. We settle into who we are when we can be self-aware and then intentional with the expression of ourselves.

To truly be real with someone else, we first have to be real with ourselves. Authentic knowledge of yourself comes from being tuned in to your own needs and the areas where you can learn and grow toward greater connections. To genuinely love others, we have to love ourselves first. When we feel loved, we are able to connect with others on a level deeper than the surface. This is the level that connects our spirit to the spirit of others through love.

This kind of love is rooted in our identity in Christ and how He sees us. Loving and connecting to others comes from knowing that you are enough and you were created for greatness. Leaning into the Spirit allows us to be more self-aware and more connected to our true selves. This awareness lends to a knowledge of your best way to connect – which is unique to you.

When you lean into God, your soul is renewed. The renewal process begins with your faith in Jesus and that faith transforms your heart’s condition for better connections. This transformation makes way for the continued giving and receiving relationship with God and others.

Galatians is a book in the Bible written by Paul, a man who truly had to reconnect with his inner spirit to be able to connect with people and carry out the mission God had called him toward. In Galatians 5:22-23, Paul writes, “the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

The Fruit of the Spirit is a connection between the spirit and the self that begins with love. This is a love for God, for ourselves and others. Love is the production of the Spirit and what overflows is joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Jesus is the ultimate expression of love. He came down to earth so we could have a real-life example of love. In Jesus, we see the example of how living out a loving life can be messy and beautiful at the same time. Love is strong and unpredictable. Love is a calm in the storm and a fighter of injustice. Love is confusing and at times very absolute.

The nine qualities listed in the Fruit of the Spirit scripture are not simple expectations. Rather, they hold a great deal of weight and have a direct correlation to the depth of your own self-awareness and your ability to connect to others and to Christ. There is such beauty in recognizing that the same Spirit that placed love in us also allows us to draw on His strength to love others. Even if we try harder, we simply can’t bear the fruit without the help of the Spirit.

Like guardrails on a highway, we can use scripture as a place to keep us going on the journey God has set before us.

Personal values are an established list of values that represent how you want to live your life. They help define your priorities and behavior in situations, keep healthy boundaries and ultimately honor God and yourself in the way you live out your life. Anything that is important for your health, happiness and well-being should be included in your values. Having established values in place can allow you to respond in an intentional way, especially when your emotions are vulnerable. Create your own personal values list using the nine fruit of the Spirit qualities.

My personal values list is here as an example:

I will love myself and show love to all people I encounter.

I will be intentional with finding joy in everyday situations.

I will seek peace-giving activities and strive to bring peace to environments I am a part of.

I will practice patience with my own transformation, knowing change takes time.

I will be kind to myself when I fall short of my goals or when I find myself off the path.

I will be confident that God’s goodness will come from my life’s work.

I will be faithful to God and seek to know Him more.

I will be gentle in the way I speak to myself.

I will maintain self-control in making the healthiest choices for my body and mental health.

God is the Spirit within us and His breath gives us life eternal. In Him we find the love and strength that connects us to our inner self and others. Your soul is fueled by the creator of the universe. You are connected to the God almighty who not only put every star in the sky, but knows every single freckle your beautiful body displays. Spend time to connect to your inner spirit, the Spirit of God that breathed life into your soul and placed the craving for connection. Align your personal values to focus on living a more connected life and experience all God’s promises.

Aligning Values with the Spirit