My personal goal this month is to memorize the fruits of the Spirit. In reading different versions of Galatians 5:22-23 I noticed KJV used faith, where ESV used faithfulness.
Faithfulness conjures up feelings like loyalty and devotion, whereas Faith reminds me of trust and confidence.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (ESV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (KJV)
The short answer: My conclusion is the Holy Spirit provides both to us when we allow him to work within us. A barrier comes up between us and God when we shift our focus from God towards self reliance and worldly temptations.
My eye opener moment: Faith is Trust.
Faith comes from the Greek word pistis: to be persuaded, come to trust. I do not have to use my strength every day to remember to put my trust in God.
I have been walking along as a Christian feeling like the weight is on my shoulders to have faith. I have been asking God to give me the courage to trust in him.
This prayer I have been praying (up until a second ago) does not acknowledge the freedom we gain if we let the Holy Spirit work within us. When our full lives are given to God it allows the Holy Spirit to fill us with all the fruits of the Spirit.
When I allow the Holy Spirit to work through me, trust in God (Faith) will naturally fuel everything behind my thoughts and actions.
God is changing me day by day. I pray he is also changing your heart, so you may also grow closer to him. There is so much freedom in this life, I have just found an extra piece of it today!
The enemy wants us to think that the burden is on us to find our faith. God will do all of the work because of our love for him and our belief in Jesus. He has big plans for us, we just need to get out of our own way.
Love God, Believe in Jesus, Receive Faith, Overcome the World. 1 John 5: 1-5
(my paraphrased version) - JJ
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. (ESV)
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (KJV)