But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

– Galatians 5:22-25

Are you walking in the flesh or the Spirit?  Generally you can tell right off the bat if you are walking according to the flesh because all these negative things seem to come pouring out of you and all you ever bear is bad fruit.  Yet when you are walking according to the Spirit, you will see the good fruit of the Holy Spirit manifest in your life.  You will begin to see that you have love for people that treat you awful, joy even among the trials, peace in the middle of your storms, patience in an impatient world, kindness for everyone around you, goodness at the center of your heart, faithfulness to those in your life, gentleness as your personality, and self-control within your behavior.  If you have accepted Jesus Christ into your heart – are saved, baptized, and filled up with the Holy Spirit – then you have what it takes to bear the good fruit of the Spirit!  Yet, it is something that must be cultivated…  As you grow in the Holy Spirit through the Word of God and praying in tongues (the Holy Spirit) you will begin to see the fruit of the Spirit appear in your own life.  Since you now belong to Jesus, you have crucified the sinful nature and are able to walk according to the Spirit.  We need to live according to the Spirit and walk according to the Spirit so that we can bear good fruit for eternal life.