In his incomparable prayer,

“I pray that out of his glorious riches, he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith….”
Ephesians 3:16‭-‬17a NIV

Paul asks the Lord for the Holy Spirit’s power to work in our hearts so that Jesus, through His Spirit in us, will feel completely comfortable and at home in our hearts.

Like us who feel at home when we are surrounded by our familiar possessions, Jesus is at home in our hearts when He is surrounded by an environment familiar to Him.

The qualities the Holy Spirit produces in us, called “fruit”, (the natural outcome of a maturing plant that prepares for
reproduction), are the result of our union with Jesus.

“Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.”
John 15:4 NLT

This fruit, these ninefold qualities growing in our lives, provides the environment in which Jesus feels comfortable and at home in us.

God is always concerned with cultivating relationships in three directions – with Him, with people, and with ourselves. So, what is this three-directional fruit the Holy Spirit produces in us as He leads, guides, and teaches us to remain in Jesus?

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
Galatians 5:22‭-‬23 NLT

We must learn to recognise the Spirit’s voice and leading, and obey Him. Then He enables us to adjust our attitudes and behaviour so that our relationship with God, others, and ourselves becomes more like Jesus. When the Holy Spirit controls our lives, the fruit the Spirit produces in us is the way God wants us to treat Him, others, and even ourselves rather than being controlled by selfishness.

PRAYER

Thank you, Father, for the Holy Spirit who lives in me to cultivate the fruit that creates a comfortable environment in my heart for Jesus to be at home.

Teach me to love what Jesus loves, mercy and compassion, and to hate what He hates, all the fruits of unbelief. Teach me to be a giver, not a taker, and to live in fellowship with and obedience to the Holy Spirit.

Let my life be a sweet-smelling fragrance of the presence of Jesus.