101+ Practical Applications of the Fruit of the Spirit (Free Resources)

Are you ready for some great practical applications of the Fruit of the Spirit? If you’d like to expand your knowledge on this topic, you’ve come to the right place.

Not only will we take a close look at each of the fruits mentioned in Galatians, but we will also discuss how you can apply the lessons you learn today to your everyday life.

Have you always wanted to cultivate more patience? Have you ever wished that joy or peace were more prevalent in your life? Perhaps you wanted to be kind to everyone you met but felt you had a cold heart. God can help in these areas! That’s what the fruit is all about!

The Lord can help you conquer anything you believe you cannot do. Remember, with Him, nothing is impossible (Mark 10:27). As you hop on this journey, aim to see how you can allow the Holy Spirit to transform your life so that you can be more fruitful!

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our Privacy Policy for more information.

Why is the Fruit of the Spirit Important?

Fruit is what we produce as Christians. When we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are given His Spirit, the Holy Spirit. This Spirit gives us fruit. However, it is up to us to fully produce and cultivate this fruit through our words and actions.

For this reason, we will go over how to find practical applications for the fruit of the Spirit in this article. This way, you can incorporate the practical applications of the fruit of the Spirit into your daily life. Consider adopting at least three applications per fruit listed.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things, there is no law. – Galatians 5:22-23

101+ Practical Applications of the Fruit of the Spirit

You do not have to aim to apply every listed practical application of the fruit of the Spirit. Rather, aim to do one or two per fruit. If you take this in baby steps, you are more likely to achieve your goals and improve as a person.

Love

In 1 Corinthians 13, we learn about what love is and isn’t. As you read over this passage in the Bible, make a list of all of the things that love is and is not.

Practical Applications of Love

Do you have difficulty in one of the listed ways to show love? Where do you find it easy to demonstrate love?

Study 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 to determine where you need to improve on the topic of love.
Celebrate the areas of love where you excel. Write out a prayer of thanksgiving to God. Grab our free gratitude journal.
Learn to listen to others when they speak to you. Show genuine interest in what they have to say. Improve your listening skills if needed.
Be willing to sacrifice your time, money, energy, and more to show love to others.
Forgive those who have wronged you. You are only hurting yourself by holding on to those feelings of resentment.
Build others up. Be encouraging with the words you speak and the actions you take.
Learn the five languages. This will certainly be life-changing.
Learn your love language. Understand how you best receive and give love.
Learn the love language of your spouse. He or she will be eternally grateful if you understand how they receive and give love. Grow spiritually with your spouse.
Help others shine. Seek out the good in others and give them a compliment or two.
Accept others as they are. Don’t try to change them. God made them into the unique creatures they are.
Care for one another. Think about what you might need if you were living in their shoes.
Bear the burdens of others. Realize that other people have problems that you don’t, and aim to lend a helping hand.

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ. – Galatians 6:2

Joy

When you turn your life over to Christ, you will be filled with the joy that the Holy Spirit brings.

Practical Applications of Joy

Which application of joy will you adopt? How will you change today to make things more joyful?

Adopt a quiet time routine. Starting your day with the Lord will certainly bring joy to any sorrow you are experiencing. Grab our Quiet Time Bible Study.
Consider trying a new exercise regime. Exercise can release endorphins, which lead to feelings of happiness and gratitude toward the Lord for allowing you to feel better.
Start a gratitude journal. When we realize all of the blessings bestowed upon us by the Lord, it is hard not to feel joyful!
Spend additional time in prayer. When we speak to our Creator, it is easy to be taken over by feelings of joy as you recall His faithfulness.
Smile. While it is a simple gesture, just the motion of forming your mouth in that manner can bring elevated feelings inside of you.
Spend time with those you love. A hug from a dear friend or the laugh of a child can certainly bring more joy to your life.
Pick up a fun new hobby. Staying busy doing something you enjoy can give you energy and a newfound sense of joy.
Read God’s promises in the Bible. This is an excellent way to get to know God better and see how His promises have been fulfilled. This newfound trust in God will lead to further joy.
Spread joy through volunteer work. Often, when we help others, we experience joy as we see their gratefulness and their sorrow turn to amazement at the love you share with them.
Study your Bible with an open attitude. If you study your Bible prayerfully, you can easily experience God’s Spirit as you dive into His Living Word. The Spirit brings joy!
Discover your spiritual purpose or calling. Often, when we realize why God created us as individuals, we experience joy and satisfaction in knowing we matter!
Surround yourself with believers on fire for Jesus! Seeing how the Lord has blessed others with joy will certainly contribute to your feelings of joy!

The joy of the Lord is your strength. – Nehemiah 8:10

Peace

Peace can be manifested in almost any situation. You only need to trust the Lord’s plan for your life.

Practical Applications of Peace

Try one of these suggestions to gain more peace in your life today.

Start a daily gratitude journal. Thankfulness can easily lead to feelings of peacefulness.
Meditate on Scripture. Find verses on the topic and dive in. Praying the Scriptures can help, also.
Stay off social media feeds that cause you anxiety. Many of these can be quite toxic.
Forgive others. Address any feelings of resentment or bitterness you have. You are only hurting yourself by hanging on to them.
Find a quiet place to walk outside. Enjoying God’s creation can bring a great deal of peace to your life.
Make a prayer closet. If the outdoor life is not feasible, you can make a prayer closet or prayer corner of one room to have some peaceful time with God.
Don’t let your past control you. Remember that what lies ahead is what truly matters. Adopting this mindset will certainly bring you peace.
Talk to someone. Often, when we air our feelings of uneasiness or share our burdens with others, we feel a sense of peace.
Unplug. The quiet and stillness you will feel will be life-changing. Give it a shot!
Spend time in nature. Being outside in the sun can be very beneficial.
Turn that frown upside down. When you are feeling overwhelmed, the best way to find peace is to smile and develop a positive attitude.
Be around positive people. When you realize the importance of a positive attitude, you’ll want to surround yourself with people who are positive, not Negative Nellies.

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in You. – Isaiah 26:3

Patience

This is one I can truly relate to, as I struggle with patience. It only comes with practice and the strength of the Lord.

Practical Applications of Patience

Feel newfound peace and calm once you’ve mastered the art of patience.

Practice makes perfect. Try to do little things that cause you aggravation to train yourself for the bigger moments when you normally lose your cool.
Similarly, expose yourself to uncomfortable things that cause you anxiety. Exposing yourself slowly can greatly improve your patience skills.
Try deep breathing before taking action. We often lose our cool and a great deal of patience when we have shallow breathing. Take a few deep breaths and try to relax.
Make a list of the times you are impatient. Think about what you could do about those situations and pray about how to best improve there.
Always be hopeful. If you get impatient often, try to remember that there are things to look forward to.
Think about the big picture. When we think about what really matters, we realize that these little things that we get upset over do not really matter that much.
Remember that you have flaws, too. When it comes to people, it’s easy to get impatient. Just remember that you are not perfect either, and they are not acting that way toward you.
Focus on the good things in life. Try not to allow yourself to lose your cool over the bad things. Good things are likely just around the corner.
Pray. There is no better way to get rid of an impatient attitude than through prayer.
Develop compassion. Love everyone as Jesus did.
Cultivate a greater amount of empathy. When we slow down to see another’s point of view, we are not as eager to interrupt or not listen. Slowing down like this can develop patience.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. – Colossians 3:12

Kindness

Kindness is all about making a conscious effort to help others out of the love that is found in your heart.

Practical Applications of Kindness

How will you become a kinder person? Which suggestion fits you, and which one takes you out of your comfort zone?

Help your neighbors. Bake cookies for those who are new to your neighborhood and offer to have coffee with your neighbors that you do not know very well.
Volunteer in your community. Dedicate time to a food pantry, a homeless shelter, or an animal shelter. There are many ways to volunteer and help others.
Be empathetic. Put yourself in the shoes of another to try to feel how they are feeling or to see their point of view.
Go above and beyond. When you are at the line at the bank or post office, allow someone to go in front of you. Do something that puts others ahead of yourself.
Talk to people. Be friendly. Make an effort to be a sweetheart, showing love to others in the way Jesus did when He walked this planet.
Help the homeless. Offer money or a gift card to a food establishment. Do something kind, expecting nothing in return.
Send cards out of the blue to loved ones. Everyone loves getting snail mail!
Do not be judgmental. You never know where someone is coming from, where they’ve been, and what has happened to them that was out of their control. Don’t judge.
Step outside your comfort zone. Kindness rarely happens while you binge your favorite television show. Aim to get up and get out there in a way that’s uncomfortable! That might be exactly where God needs you the most!
Write letters to the less fortunate. You can write letters to soldiers who do not have any family – individuals who are looked over when “mail call” comes each day or week. Consider making a pen pal with someone in jail. You could affect their eternal life!
Help your family. Family can have the most difficult relationships, but they need you. Offer to lend a helping hand whenever you can.
Do random acts of kindness. Pay for someone else’s coffee when you are at a coffee shop or offer to carry out the groceries for an elderly person.

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you. – Ephesians 4:32

Goodness

Goodness is often about just choosing the better way over what you know to be wrong.

Practical Applications of Goodness

How can you display goodness today by using one of these suggested applications?

Develop a positive attitude. When you reflect positivity, you will show God’s goodness.
Start a gratitude journal. You will shine with goodness if you have a grateful attitude.
Practice. Goodness does not always come naturally because we are made of flesh! Go against the grain to show the goodness of God.
Make a conscious choice to be good. When decisions come your way, do the better option. Your conscience, guided by the Holy Spirit, will help you know what that is.
Develop healthy habits. When you rid yourself of bad habits and develop good ones, your goodness will bloom.
Make God-centered goals. Focusing on what God has called you to do will allow you to show His goodness through the things you live for. Check out our Goals Bible Study.
Study your Bible. Understand God’s goodness better.
Expose yourself to wholesome media. Watch what you’re exposed to. If you steer clear of bad language, excessive violence, sexual promiscuity, and sinful behavior in the media or on television, it will surely help you develop goodness.
Watch out for negative influences. Those people who always have a complaint are the ones you want to aim to turn around. Show the benefits of a positive outlet by being a great example of the goodness of God in mankind.
Find a Christian mentor. When possible, surround yourself with positive Christian influences who can help you grow in goodness.

We know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. – Romans 8:28

Faithfulness

Faithfulness involves loyalty, trustworthiness, and consistency. It means an eternal commitment to the Lord when speaking of your spiritual life.

Practical Applications of Faithfulness

How are you faithful? When have you seen God’s faithfulness?

Obey God’s commandments. God calls us to love Him above all and to love others as ourselves. Make sure you are living for the right things.
Learn of God’s faithfulness. Read and study your Bible to better understand how God keeps His promises and demonstrates faithfulness.
Understand the promises of God. There is no other way to learn of the fulfillment of God’s promises than to study your Bible.
Listen to God. When you read and study the Bible, speak to God in prayer, spend time in silence and solitude, and enjoy the quiet of nature, you will hear God and witness His faithfulness.
Have a genuine relationship with Jesus. Once you have a relationship with our Lord, you will see how faithful God truly is.
Attend a Christ-centered church. Watch how God works through others at church or in the stories you hear from the pulpit to witness God’s faithfulness amongst His people. Attend online if you need to.
Trust the Lord. When you truly believe, you will see that God is wonderfully faithful every day.
Give thanks to God on a regular basis. Show you are a faithful servant by giving thanks to God daily.
Tithe. Giving God a portion of your income shows that you are faithful.
Do not be afraid when trials come your way. This is an excellent time to trust the Lord and show you are faithful in your beliefs.
Rejoice in the Lord. Demonstrate the joy in your heart, showing you faithfully and wholeheartedly believe that God will fulfill His promises. If you need a prompt, try listening to some powerful praise music.

They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. – Lamentations 3:23

Gentleness

When we are gentle, we do not say the first thing that comes to mind, especially when around a sensitive person.

Practical Applications of Gentleness

Learn how to be gentle by adopting one of these suggestions.

Be sensitive to others. You never know what someone else has really been through or how they truly feel inside.
Forgive people quickly. Harboring resentment will only harm you.
Be patient. Practice this virtue over and over again. Eventually, you will have it mastered.
Love others. In your heart, decide to love everyone, especially those you do not care for.
Be understanding when it comes to the faults of others. Remember that you are not perfect, either.
Be humble. Never let pride be the chief goal in a situation or circumstance. Celebrate those who go in front of you. God might have a different plan for you.
Stay calm. Practice deep breathing exercises or take a walk when you feel uneasy.
Listen to others. Take the time to truly consider what other people are saying.
Remember the Golden Rule. Treat others as you wish to be treated.
Be respectful of others. Think about their feelings before you say something you might regret. In the end, is it really worth it?

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. – Proverbs 15:1

Self-Control

Self-control certainly takes practice to master. We often know what we should do and even what we really want to do deep down, but our flesh urges us another way. We must exercise self-control to overcome this.

Practical Applications of Self-Control

How can you further develop your sense of self-control today?

Remember what’s important. When you refocus on what really matters, you can control your negative emotions better.
Get plenty of rest. A lack of sleep can cause you to be snappy or on edge.
Set spiritual goals. Setting spiritual goals can help you focus on your eternal life rather than temporary “highs” you might feel here on earth.
Develop positive spiritual habits. As you establish spiritual goals, you’ll want to have positive spiritual habits to help you achieve them in manageable steps.
Try different spiritual disciplines. There are a myriad of spiritual disciplines that you can try in order to keep things interesting.
Steer clear of temptations. If you know a place causes you to be tempted to do something that makes you feel out of control, stay away from it.
Stay busy. When you have things in your life that make you feel out of control – detrimental habits, unhealthy obsessions, or other hurts, keeping busy will help you focus your mind on other things.
Dig into the Word of God. Bury yourself in God’s Word to develop better self-control.
Pray about the matter. When you feel a loss of control, pray to God for guidance on the matter.
Find motivation and passion in a new place. Consider becoming “addicted” (for lack of a better word) to something positive, such as the Bible or a sermon series.
Be mindful. Keep things in the moment. Do not dwell on the past. You cannot go back and change it.

Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control. – Proverbs 25:28

Fruit of the Spirit Resources

Use the following Fruit of the Spirit resources to enhance your study of this topic.

Fruit of the Spirit Sermon Series

To learn even more about the Fruit of the Spirit, consider listening and/or watching these sermons and/or messages. They are very helpful in understanding this topic.

Fruit of the Spirit Bible Studies

I have both of these Fruit of the Spirit Bible Studies and strongly recommend them.

Fruit of the Spirit Games and Printables

These entertaining and free Fruit of the Spirit resources are sure to give you some enjoyment!

Fruit of the Spirit Journal (Our Freebie)
Fruit of the Spirit Crossword Puzzle
Fruit of the Spirit Coloring Page

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed this article on the practical applications of the Fruit of the Spirit. Remember not to attempt all suggestions at once. It will take time to grow your fruit! Pick one or two out and aim to master those before trying another one.

If you felt you learned from this article or liked it, please share it with your community online or with friends and family! We love our readers! May God bless you on this journey!

Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes that it may bear more fruit. – John 15:2