Galatians 5
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Email from Ray
I think that you are confusing "gift" with "fruit." God gives us the "gift" of faith to start the ball rolling , so to speak, but he does not at the same time gift us with "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithFULNESS, gentleness and self-control" so that we can then live a righteous and good life. We must all PRODUCE, YIELD, BRING FORTH, and BEAR much fruit. All of these terms are used in Scripture and all of them are a process of growth, they are not supernatural gifts.
God be with you,
Ray
I can't say enough against the positive thinking techniques and visualization techniques in the way they are used in the church and in the world today. Names like Robert Schuller with the power of positive thinking and Norman Vincent Peale with the power of praise come to mind. Do this and you'll get that.
Proverbs 23
7For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.
I do not believe this scripture is telling us to use positive thinking. I believe this scripture is telling us that we can tell who a man is by what he thinks in his heart. It is not telling us to think differently so we will be different. Only God can change our heart.
Matthew 15
16"Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them. 17"Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' 19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20These are what make a man 'unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean.' "
Philippians 4:8
8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
1 Timothy 4
13Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
14Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
15Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.
16Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Ps 77:12 I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.
Ps 104:34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.
Ps 119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.
Ps 119:99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
Ps 119:148 Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word.
Ps 143:5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.